With the Democratic Party primary for U.S. Senate still more than 10 months away, last week’s Delaware County Democratic Party Leadership meeting provided an interesting opportunity to watch the two frontrunners for the nomination.

Interesting because the two men, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter and U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak displayed ambition and attitude for all to see. Egos were also on display.

As reported, the two spoke before the leadership group at the Marple Township building, but they were not in attendance at the same time. Mr. Sestak arrived well after the senator had departed. That’s how the event was planned.

Mr. Specter displayed his attitude by saying how he never abandoned his Democratic Party roots even though he spent more than 40 years as a Republican. It’s unlikely that many in the audience actually accepted his claim to being loyal to the party. Indeed, there’s no question that the only reason he returned to the Democratic Party fold is because polls showed he would lose a Republican party primary to former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey.

So much for loyalty to either principle or party. Mr. Specter simply read the political wind  and jumped ship in hopes of keeping his job.

Yet, the Democrats should take heart. Arlen Specter has spent a career growing the size of government.

There is nothing inherently wrong with political ambitions. What is wrong is when those ambitions are fed or perhaps fueled by a desire for power.

And while we have enormous respect for Mr. Sestak’s 31 years of military service to the country, we must question his thinking.

As a retired admiral, Mr. Sestak is fond of telling the story of how he decided to get into politics. He talks of being in an oncology ward with his daughter and how the healthcare policy he had as a member of the military saved his daughter’s life, how grateful he was and how much he wanted to give back to the country for all it had done for him and his family.

There is no doubt as to the truth of this story, both the physical facts and his emotional reaction. What father doesn’t want the best care for his children? What father wouldn’t be grateful and want to give back to the system that saved his child’s life?

But the reality is that he was an admiral and everyone who has ever served in the military knows, RHIP, “Rank hath it’s privileges. “And that includes healthcare.

Consider an 8-year-old boy visiting his naval officer uncle when he has a bicycle accident. The military doctors did a wonderful job sewing up the gaping wound running from the boy’s knee to ankle. But 12 years later, as an enlisted man in the Air Force, this same young man, having an aggravating cough and difficulty in swallowing had to go to sick call three days in a row before the doctor would even put a stethoscope to his chest. Only then was it discovered the airman had pneumonia.

Would Adm. Sestak have had to go to sick call three days in a row before such a basic diagnostic tool was used? Would a member of his family have had to wait that long? Not likely.

So while the congressman’s story is true, it is true for a few, not all. And a government sponsored healthcare system that he wants to enact, would be just as inequitable. And it will continue to drive up the cost of proper healthcare and coverage.

Government can do more by getting out of the way of those who would bring effective alternative, efficient and more cost effective approaches to healthcare and coverage.

The congressman also revealed something about his own psyche. When asked if the 7th Congressional district would be worse off without him as the representative, he said the 7th would be worse off if he wasn’t elected senator. What does that say about his ego?

Both men talked about healthcare, employment, the environment and the economy. Neither spoke of the need to support, protect and defend the constitution or of maintaining constitutional limits on government. That’s what they should be talking about.

We can’t wait for the race to heat up.