Meghan McCain blogs about her disappointment upon Sen. Arlen Specter decision to jump ship to the Democrat Party. According to her:
Of course, this speaks to much larger problem in the GOP. We need to attract more centrist and progressive conservative voters at the primary level, so that level-headed candidates stand a chance. We need courageous Republicans more than ever. And this week, Sen. Specter turned his back. But he wasn’t the only one.
She then turns the attention to RNC Chair Michael Steele’s statement on Specter’s departure:
Some in the Republican Party are happy about this. I am not. Let’s be honest—Senator Specter didn’t leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record. Republicans look forward to beating Sen. Specter in 2010, assuming the Democrats don’t do it first.
Sorry, Ms. McCain, but Steele is right on. There’s no need to over-analyze the senator’s decision to join the Democratic majority in Washington. Sen. Specter did it to save his career — and there’s nothing wrong with that, especially in this economy and political environment. What rubs conservatives and most Republicans the wrong way, however, is his insulting reasoning:
Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.
Since then, I have traveled the State, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.
I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.
His statement sounds principled, but don’t be fooled: this man knew he doesn’t stand a chance in his re-election bid in 2010 as a Republican. Not to mention the fact that he’s been actively recruited by V.P. Joe Biden and the Democrats are showering favors on him for completing the 60-seat filibuster-proof Senate majority (after Al Franken is seated). President Obama promptly called him to welcome him and promised to help his re-election campaign. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has agreed to allow Specter to keep his seniority and therefore eligible to chair some important committees.
All this clearly shows Sen. Specter representing the constituency of himself.
