April 28, 2009

Arlen Specter Leaves Republican Party (Update: Admits He Would Lose Primary)

Good riddance to Arlen Specter. From Specter's press release:

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."

So, why is Specter changing parties? No, this isn't about the Republican party becoming more conservative. It isn't. We just went through 8 years of "compassionate conservatism" where the party abandoned it's core principles of fiscal responsibility -- the very uniting principle which forged the Reagan big tent.

Arlen Specter's one and only concern has always been Arlen Specter. He's a political opportunist with no core values.

Moderation is not a core value, it is simply taking someone else's values and saying um, okay, but why don't we do less of what you're talking about?

I'd say this was good news, but do you really think Toomey has a chance of beating him in Pennsylvania? This is a state which voted Obama over McCain 55 to 44%.

UPDATE: Just finished the entire press release and my gut instinct about the switch was right on. I'll give Specter some props for admitting the real reason he's jumping ship is that he's afraid he'll lose in the primary:

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.

As Michelle says, Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

UPDATE: AllahP on the same page and also calls Specter out on the "party left me" lie. Hot Air notes further that both The One and VP Slick were deeply involved in wooing Specter. Who could have seen that one coming?

And Drew breaks out the flaming skull.

So, again I ask, is this good news or bad news? What's the probability that Tooney could win in Penn?

UPDATE: Wow, I'm not half as insightful as I think I am. Michael Steele:

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.

UPDATE: Hold the phone. Dan over at Riehl World view notes that Specter is up against one of Obama's guys in the Democratic primary. So, maybe Spcecter won't even be on the general election ballot?

That would be classic cosmic justice: Specter leaves Republican party fearing loss in primary only to be defeated in Democratic primary.

UPDATE: Filibuster proof majority? That's why Specter's defection might be a bad thing.

UPDATE: Heh!