Darlin' Arlen Specter: He's Comcastic!

Because of Super Tuesday, the fare will be lighter than usual at Kiko's House today because I have to run around and vote in a bunch of states (Anticipation, Agony, Hope, etc.), so it seems fitting that the lead piece -- at least until the polls close -- should concern our favorite hard-hitting U.S. senator and least favorite cable television company.

The senator is Arlen Specter, who has made a career out of waffling, going back on his word, giving moderates a bad name, and occasionally saying and doing stupid things. The company is Comcast.

Arlen's latest windmill tilt is not domestic surveillance or the suspension of habeas corpus, but why the National Football League took a cue from the CIA playbook and destroyed evidence related to spying by the New England Patriots after the team was caught filming the New York Jets' defense signals in violation of league rules.

All well and good you say, especially since piling on the Pats is now all the rage after their upset loss to the New York Giants in the Stupor Bowl.

Well, not so fast, says my blogging buddy Will Bunch, who points out that Specter's second largest source of campaign funds in recent years has been Comcast employees and their families, who have ponied up at least $153,600.

So what?

Here's what: Philadelphia-based Comcast has been engaged in a protracted war with the NFL over whether the cable giant can and should charge me and its zillions of other customers extra money to view the NFL Network.

Now guess who Specter's top contributor has been?

The Philadelphia-based Blank Rome LLC law firm, their employees and families, who have given Arlen $358,483 in recent years. If you guessed that one of Blank Rome's largest lobbying clients is Comcast you are one smart buckaroo.

Is it all just a coincidence? Does a bear do you know what in the woods?

More here.

Beaucoup thanks to Agitprop for the image