Specter’s Flip

There is lots of news coverage about Arlan Specter’s flip to the Democratic Party.  I have received several e-mails to that end from Republicans deploring the crass deed of this individual.  The left wing news media has been all over themselves in their orgasmic zeal reporting what they see as the death knoll of the Republican party.  For my part I say, “Good move Arlan, it’s about time.”

Arlan Specter is facing a reelection next year and has an announced Republican candidate in the primary race.  That candidate already has a 10+ percent lead according to the pollsters.  Specter knows that if he remains a member of the Republican his days as a US senator are extremely limited and he faces an almost inevitable defeat next spring, so he flipped.  What do you expect from the typical self-serving demagogue in Washington?

If you look at Specter’s voting record, he has always been a Democrat.  On critical issues he typically votes for the opposition.  He typifies the RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) of the party, a group that has undermined the party for years.  Does his “flip” hurt the party?   Michael Steel believes “Arlen Specter handed Barack Obama and his band of radical leftists nearly absolute power in the United States Senate. In leaving the Republican Party–and joining the Democrats–he absolutely undercut Republicans’ efforts to slow down Obama’s radical agenda through the threat of filibuster.“   Oh come on Michael,  did you really believe Specter could be counted on to stop a Democrat power play during a filibuster?  He was always a threat to any filibuster effort anyway.  Historically he could never be counted on for any critical issue.  Look at his voting record.  The man is without principles and for years has used the Republican name because in his home state it ups his election potential.   His current flip just shows that in a clear and succinct manner.

Does his flip indicate a long time threat to the Republicans?   Once again, not really.  It  does perhaps raise his possibility of reelection next year, but only in a marginal way.  It also raises the possibility of losses of a few things in Obama’s agenda that might have been stopped by the threat of filibuster, but how many of these things could Specter have actually been counted on anyway?  He will not now face a sure defeat in the Spring primary as Steele probably hoped, but he still must face that Republican challenger in November against a candidate that will, after this little episode, probably lead him by much more than 10% of Republican voters.  He will likely now out poll Specter by 50 or more percentage points among Republicans.  The only question is will Specter pick up enough Democrat support to make up the difference?  It’s possible, but I think, at least at this point it is unlikely.

Some might point to Lieberman’s victory by changing from the Democratic party and successfully running as an independent in ’06.   However, I see a big difference here.   Lieberman ran in his party’s primary and was defeated by a party machine, not really by the rank and file.  He still had the grassroots support of the people of his home state from both parties.  Lieberman was a true centrist and is personally an honorable individual, not a purely self serving demagogue like Specter.  I don’t like Lieberman’s  politics and many of his positions, but you have to respect the man for his values.  Specter does not earn that kind of respect from his opposing party and I suspect the voters of Pennsylvania will come to a similar conclusion.

Steele also stated, “Clearly, this was an act based on political expediency by a craven politician desperate to keep his Washington power base–not the act of a statesman.” Well, Duhhh!  Come on Mike, in this modern day the true statesmen in Washington are indeed few.  Among the Democrats they are almost totally nil and even among Republicans they are limited.  (I only said “almost totally nil” among the Democrats in hopes one could actually jump up to prove me wrong)

A statesman is one who will support truth and the welfare of the people as well as the good of the country over his own personal interests.  How many of today’s Washington politicians fit that description?  We need a good housecleaning in Washington and the only way to do that is paint these low life self-serving demagogs in their true colors so the voters can see the difference.  The voters aren’t smart enough to see slight shades of gray.  They have to see bright colorful displays to show the difference.  Spector just showed his true colors in a bright and colorful way so the people of Pennsylvania can finally see him for what he is.  That is a good thing and it eliminates another of the wolves-in-sheeps-clothing from the Republican party.  Can that be so bad?