Specter to Switch Parties!

That's the word from CNN. Specter, of course, has had to bend further and further right to protect his right flank from primary challenger Pat Toomey. Apparently he realized that was a dead end. The GOP base, which makes up primary voters, is getting more and more right-wing. So he's decided to switch parties and become a Democrat, hoping to preserve his political future. He stresses in his statement that:

My change in party affiliation does not mean that I will be a party-line voter any more for the Democrats that I have been for the Republicans. Unlike Senator Jeffords' switch which changed party control, I will not be an automatic 60th vote for cloture. For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change.

It's possible, indeed likely, that this is merely a semantic shift. Specter will retain his own politics, vote the way he was before and have a D in front of his name instead of an R. He's hoping he'll have a clear path to re-election as a Democrat in a blue state.

But, it's also hard not to think that Democrats are in a much better position than they were 24 hours ago. It also occurs to me that the increasingly right-wing, out of step GOP base really is on its way to further destroying what's left of its party.

Comments (49)

1. Good Riddance! Hopefully we will see him replaced in 2010 by Toomey

   Posted by antisocialist at 04/28/2009 @ 11:21am

2. I have no problem w/this.......same as if Coleman loses (or lost?) to Franken.

   The Dems are to own the whole enchilada.......your show through and through.

   IF you guys bring the economy roaring back.....my portfolio will thank you.........if not, guess the country will have learned its lessons....good for another couple of decades, I hope.

   Posted by Happy at 04/28/2009 @ 11:25am

3. the rats are leaving the sinking ship, er sinking Whigs

   Posted by emile duBois at 04/28/2009 @ 11:29am

4. phil specter??? do we really want this???

   (LOL)

   well its about time. the republican party is in ashes in the northeast and aint coming back very soon.

   them yankees is smart!!!! statistically significantly higher IQ's than red states...they figgered this crap out.

   and gee, look at how well sen. specter was treated by his party! who can blame him.

   no moderation! never back down! NO MATTER HOW OBVIOUS IT IS YOU ARE WRONG!!!!

   WELCOME, ARLEN!!! YER MY KIND OF REPUBLICAN, SIR - A DEMOCRAT!!!!

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 04/28/2009 @ 11:31am

5. every once in a while something suprises me.

   just happened...

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 04/28/2009 @ 11:33am

6. Posted by antisocialist at 04/28/2009 @ 11:21am

   someday you may wake up and realize how extreme your views are. Maybe.

   Just look at what you and your friends brought us the last 8 years. Have you noticed the economy lately? It's yours.

   as in..." , guess the country will have learned its lessons..."

   Why do you think the US moved back to the left? 8 years of far right control was just too much. Had it not been for the fine job scaring people about gays and "islamic fascists" you would have had nothing.

   Posted by crabwalk at 04/28/2009 @ 11:33am

7. If Specter is going to become a dem, how in the world does he justify sticking with his stance on EFC?

   All of the hooey about it taking freedoms away is just that, hooey bullshit lies.

   Posted by crabwalk at 04/28/2009 @ 11:36am

8. Who will he likely face in the dem primary?

   (Posted by crabwalk at 04/28/2009 @ 11:36am

   ooh, right, sorry, my bad. Dems helped bring us NAFTA and Chinese MFN status. It is nice that they take so much money from AIG and the rest of the parasites)

   Posted by crabwalk at 04/28/2009 @ 11:38am

9. Crabwalk: I believe that Sen. Specter's choice of committee chairmanships will depend on his opinion of EFCA.

   Posted by jhoffman at 04/28/2009 @ 11:43am

10. 3 things I'd never thought I'd see in my lifetime:

    1. An African-American President 2. Gay marriage in Iowa 3. Arlen Specter as a Democrat.

    The apocalypse is truly upon us. Too bad he had to have a life threatening disease to see the light, but hey...welcome to the good side, Arlen.

    Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 04/28/2009 @ 11:50am

11. WOW!!

    Posted by eniobob at 04/28/2009 @ 11:53am

12. 2. Gay marriage in Iowa

    oh those poor, poor hetero couples whose marriage means nothing now!!!

    What ever will we do?

    Posted by crabwalk at 04/28/2009 @ 11:59am

13. this is very bad news for Lieberman.

    Posted by emile duBois at 04/28/2009 @ 12:09pm

14. If Spector is going to refuse to change his position on EFCA and doesn't expect to be a general vote for cloture, I'm not sure what this gains. I'd think the progressives of PA had better come up with a real Democrat to challenge him next year. I appreciate his occasional independence, but I also remember his viciousness toward Anita Hill and I wonder if he'll be as dependable as, say, Russ Feingold. No comparison to Russ!! I am exasperated at Coleman's insistence on continued court battles and simply hope that Franken prevails...we need his vote.

    Posted by mimsky at 04/28/2009 @ 12:11pm

15. so?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/28/2009 @ 12:13pm

16. Obama has little or no excuse now, not with 60 senate votes.

    Get bold. Or get beaten in '12, because grim realities will have beaten Obama down.

    Posted by sloper at 04/28/2009 @ 12:38pm

17. So he doesn't have to face Toomey in the primary anymore, but he's still against EFCA? Wonder if Democratic primary voters might not be so welcoming.

    Posted by scottbp at 04/28/2009 @ 12:53pm

18. I find it ironic that Specter quoted Kennedy in his announcement today. Lest we forget, Specter is the guy who is credited with the "magic bullet" theory for the Warren Commission.

    Now THAT'S old-school, baby.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_bullet_theory

    Specter's switch puts a lot of pressure on Olympia Snowe... Then again, I am sure there are many Republicans who would like to see her gone, too.

    Posted by Stephen_Carver1 at 04/28/2009 @ 1:18pm

19. Senator Arlen Specter has never been a conservative, nor a liberal, nor a moderate, nor an independent. He is a trimmer -- a sailor who trims his sails to meet any incoming political breeze.

    Perhaps the most unprincipled of these "trims" came after a dozen rabbis met with him in December 2004 to implore him not to vote for the pro-torture nominee for Attorney-General, Alberto Gonzales. We provided evidence of Gonzales' obeisance to extreme notions of presidential power, including the power to torture. Senator Specter not only voted to confirm Gonzales; he went out of his way to praise him, trashing his obligation to the Constitution in order to kowtow to right-wing Senate leadership.

    Within four years, as the political currents in the country changed, he denounced Gonzales for being exactly who Specter knew he was before.

    He did not and does not deserve the support of serious Republicans, Democrats, independents, or any Pennsylvanian.

    Shalom,

    Rabbi Arthur Waskow 6711 Lincoln Drive Philadelphia PA 19119 215/844-8494

    Posted by awaskow at 04/28/2009 @ 1:19pm

20. I am not so easily swayed or moved. He will continue to vote in the conservative bloc, as is evidenced by his pledge on the EFCA. He changed parties in order to get re-elected, stay on the payroll and keep his benefits. Despite what he says, he does not represent the people of PA but rather represents himself. This is on-going Washington theatre. Any Democrats who are "thrilled" are just bit players on the stage. Calm down, everyone: nothing has changed.

    Posted by hivanh at 04/28/2009 @ 1:19pm

21. Specter always has had an understanding of metaphysics, thanks to Aristotle.

    Posted by robsch at 04/28/2009 @ 1:24pm

22. Arlen Specter? The man is pure poison! Swallow his jive at your own risk. From torture (he's against, he's for it) to illegal wiretapping (he's for it; he's against it)-- from there move on to his work in getting Roberts and Alioto on the Court. ...to his saying no to Unions and you have a thoroughly contemptible Senator--

    Perhaps no worse than many other senators, but no big plus for the so-called big tent democrats who list rightward more with each day. Is there is left-wing in the big-tent Democratic Party? Someone to say no to Wall Street, no to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, yes to unions, no to the trillions of dollars in our budget for military world hegemony--let this person stand up!

    Posted by hkaplan at 04/28/2009 @ 1:26pm

23. I cannot help but think that Specter is seeing the handwriting on the wall: that the R's are imploding. Will other "moderates" follow? Collins, for instance? It seems, more and more, that those not hard right are becoming alienated within. After the 2008 election, what are the Republicans thinking? Also: can't wait to hear Rush bend this one (that is if I listened to him--I think Keith and Rachel will provide me all the sound bites I need).

    Posted by wrf1984 at 04/28/2009 @ 1:26pm

24. This can't be viewed as a bad development. Now, all we have to do is get Sen. Franken seated as icing on the cake. Once that's accomplished, maybe, just MAYBE the bushies can be prosecuted for their manifold crimes, without any interference from rethug fatheads.

    Posted by Willymack at 04/28/2009 @ 1:43pm

25. He started as a moderate Dem in Philly, and switched when it was opportune to be a GOP in Philly. He defended Rizzo's goon police force as DA.He savaged Anita Hill in the senate hearing on the nomination of Clarence Thomas.He has a totally undeserved reputation as a solid lawyer and prosecutor.He will never be a liberal, nor will he be an extremist fundamentalist.

    Read my fellow Philadelphian Rabbi Waskow's comments closely.As Mr Hayes says, what is interesting, if not downright entertaining, is that the GOP, despite the fact that it needs Specter far more than the Dems, must have done very little to hold on to him.If these sorts of developments continue, we may actually end up with 2 different parties in America. Not because the Dems have become legitimately progressive, but because the GOP has become an authentic American Christian Fascist Party.

    To the GOP "leadership," take Joe Lieberman, please.

    Posted by bandinilo at 04/28/2009 @ 1:45pm

26. Awesome news! Of course, Spector was always a more moderate Republican anyway (liberal in some ways). I take it as a sign of the disarray the Republican Party is in. Also, this adds to our majority.

    Welcome aboard Arlen Spector. Welcome to the side of light.

    Posted by FDR43 at 04/28/2009 @ 1:55pm

27. A comment about tolerance versus intolerance in regards to "antisocialists" comments on this blog-

    A few days ago I posted a response not unlike the posting "antisocialist" wrote but from a progressives perspective, on the Conservative site "Atlas Shrugged" and was immediately blocked from making any further comments. BLOCKED because I expressed, and I might add, with irony and humor, the fact the Conservatives hold to a very rigid line of conformity and can't handle dissent...

    I applaud The Nation for its even handed response to right wing blog entries. Antisocialist spoke his mind and he did so with relative respect...unlike the thousands upon thousands of threatening, vulgar, and violent emails and blog entry's that right wing conservatives send to progressive organization like ACRON, and progressive media voices on the web, on radio and TV.

    I listened to a few of them on YouTube yesterday, and these people ARE CRAZY!

    Posted by dskaugrud at 04/28/2009 @ 1:58pm

28. Specter is a worthless piece of crap, if there ever was one. I truly hope that he is not the Democratic nominee for his own Senate seat.

    Posted by robgo2 at 04/28/2009 @ 2:14pm

29. I applaud The Nation for its even handed response to right wing blog entries. Antisocialist spoke his mind and he did so with relative respect...unlike the thousands upon thousands of threatening, vulgar, and violent emails and blog entry's that right wing conservatives send to progressive organization like ACRON, and progressive media voices on the web, on radio and TV.

    I listened to a few of them on YouTube yesterday, and these people ARE CRAZY!

    Posted by dskaugrud at 04/28/2009 @ 1:58pm

    And I have repeatedly praised the Nation for allowing real debate on this website.

    Posted by antisocialist at 04/28/2009 @ 2:23pm

30. Nate Silver has come up with an interesting analysis: "This strikes me as being bad news for the Republican Party more than it is good news for the Democrats. Back in January, I described a process which I labeled the Republican Death Spiral: Thus the Republicans [...] are in something of a death spiral. The more conservative [...] their message becomes, the more they alienate non-base Republicans. But the more they alienate non-base Republicans, the fewer of them are left to worry about appeasing. Thus, their message becomes continually more appealing to the base -- but more conservative, partisan, and strident to the rest of us. And the process loops back upon itself. This defection, coming at a time when historically low numbers of Americans are identifying themselves as Republican, would seem to be a manifestation of said Death Spiral. These problems, indeed, were particularly acute in Pennsylvania, where many of the state's more moderate Republicans had re-registered as Democrats to vote in the state's extremely contentious primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Thus, given an extremely conservative Republican electorate, Specter appeared to be an underdog against his extremely conservative primary challenger, Pat Toomey, and switched parties in order to increase his odds of survival."

    Posted by hdthoreau at 04/28/2009 @ 2:41pm

31. Nate Silver has come up with an interesting analysis: "This strikes me as being bad news for the Republican Party more than it is good news for the Democrats. Back in January, I described a process which I labeled the Republican Death Spiral: Thus the Republicans [...] are in something of a death spiral. The more conservative [...] their message becomes, the more they alienate non-base Republicans. But the more they alienate non-base Republicans, the fewer of them are left to worry about appeasing. Thus, their message becomes continually more appealing to the base -- but more conservative, partisan, and strident to the rest of us. And the process loops back upon itself. This defection, coming at a time when historically low numbers of Americans are identifying themselves as Republican, would seem to be a manifestation of said Death Spiral. These problems, indeed, were particularly acute in Pennsylvania, where many of the state's more moderate Republicans had re-registered as Democrats to vote in the state's extremely contentious primary between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Thus, given an extremely conservative Republican electorate, Specter appeared to be an underdog against his extremely conservative primary challenger, Pat Toomey, and switched parties in order to increase his odds of survival."

    Posted by hdthoreau at 04/28/2009 @ 2:41pm

32. And I have repeatedly praised the Nation for allowing real debate on this website.

    Posted by antisocialist at 04/28/2009 @ 2:23pm

    too bad you weren't present ;•§

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/28/2009 @ 2:43pm

33. CHRIS!

    Check out Chaka Fattah. Great background and voting record.

    Outstanding potential Progressive Senator and I think we could easily beat the Lieberman/Spector ..person.

    Spector is a disaster to Progressive politics, which is precisely why Reid and Rendel support him.

    Posted by hazmaq at 04/28/2009 @ 2:44pm

34. too bad you weren't present ;•§

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/28/2009 @ 2:43pm

    I'm having a difficult time remembering when you had anything contributory to say here, good or bad. Mostly you've just become like a gnat or mosquito. Unpleasant, bothersome, and easily swatted down.

    Posted by antisocialist at 04/28/2009 @ 2:46pm

35. I think Specter's coming over is BIG news. The actually benefit we'll have to see. But it's true. The republicans are losing water fast. What's left is exactly what Specter is fleeing. Let's see if Obama does go to campaign for him.

    Posted by Present at 04/28/2009 @ 2:52pm

36. Unfathomable how the hard right still refuses to see the light. After 30 years of "get government off the back of business", the right now finds themselves with Reagans' trickle down policies hanging like a millstone around their collective necks.

    And still they refuse to back off and support the mandate that the voters gave Obama and dems. Arlen Specter knows that the GOP is mired down in the mess their party has got the country into. He will still be Specter just like McCain will still be McCain. But, both are part of the moderate right that is not stubbornly clinging to a out dated, far right 19th century ideology.

    Now, with Specter, McCain, the other moderates in congress, and soon to be seated, Al Frankin, America will be able go forward for a welcome change. Hopefully the mess left to Obama and the dems can be corrected in Obama's first ter, If not, perhaps his second term,

    Posted by JoBangles at 04/28/2009 @ 3:16pm

37. Just what we need--another Dem who in his very first statement makes it clear his back is turned to labor. "For example, my position on Employees Free Choice (Card Check) will not change." He'll fit right in with all the other spineless, callous, corporate-controlled "moderates."

    Posted by wminneman at 04/28/2009 @ 3:42pm

38. I remember back in '65 liberals were proclaiming the death of conservativism. But we fought back. The same in the mid 70's. But within a few years, we had Reagan.

    The modern left is always writing us off, but we keep coming back strong each time. And conservatives will again. Although as I see the desire for a constitutional republic wane along with all sense of morality, conservatives may only have 1 or 2 more great political victories before we become just another 3rd world socialist republik.

    Posted by antisocialist at 04/28/2009 @ 3:48pm

39. Specter shares the number one spot for "biggest political opportunist" with Earl Warren, another person who fooled most of the progressives in this country. Specter is a very smart guy...and despite his age, this present move is simply another of his calculated moves to keep his career afloat. As a young, ambitious Assistant District Attorney from Philadelphia in late 1963, he woodshedded with attorney David Belin and Dr. Jame Humes (Lieutenant Commander and Chief Pathologist at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD) to concoct the infamous "single-bullet theory". This was created to support the idea of a single assassin of President John Kennedy, a conclusion that several members of the Warren Commission were desperate to prove. Regardless of what Specter does or says, that act of callous disregard for truth and justice will follow him for the rest of his life.

    Posted by Anti-fascist at 04/28/2009 @ 4:05pm

40. Remember Specter voted against his own party on the stimulus consequently he has lost a lot of support in his district and to avoid losing his seat switched parties. Pure and simple. They can have him.

    Posted by Katie10 at 04/28/2009 @ 5:25pm

41. We,The Philadelphia Democrats, welcome you back to the Party.

    See... you can come home again!

    Posted by droppinthoughts at 04/28/2009 @ 6:44pm

42. Welcome Senator Specter. You have made my day!!!

    Posted by ccmmtmom at 04/28/2009 @ 7:01pm

43. The modern left is always writing us off, but we keep coming back strong each time.

    Posted by antisocialist at 04/28/2009 @ 3:48pm

    Hey, some things are always with us, sorta like STD's.

    Posted by schnellerheinz at 04/28/2009 @ 7:01pm

44. If he is to get elected as a Democrat, Pennsylvania must demand that he supports the Employee Free Choice Act. There is no compromise-that must be the price he pays if he wants the blue-collar union vote!

    Posted by bbosu3 at 04/28/2009 @ 7:41pm

45. I'm having a difficult time remembering

    Posted by antisocialist at 04/28/2009 @ 2:46pm

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/28/2009 @ 10:13pm

46. Spector is a disaster to Progressive politics, which is precisely why Reid and Rendel support him.

    Posted by hazmaq at 04/28/2009 @ 2:44pm

    !!!

    Posted by crabwalk at 04/29/2009 @ 07:45am

47. This is only good for democrats in the short run. If Specter were to remain a republican and lose the primary to Toomey in 2010, the democrats could run a true liberal and win the election with a landslide. That would be better in the long run.

    Having Lieberman, Lincoln and Specter lined up with the democrats does not give us 60 votes on any issues that are actually liberal. So where is the benefit?

    Posted by brianh at 04/29/2009 @ 09:41am

48. Enough with the millenarian nonsense..."if I can't have it my way then I don't wanna play"...bo-ring.

    Shouldn't you be hosting Libertarian-oriented teaparties and drumming up support at the grass-roots level like all the kids you're so mad at for dragging us ever-so-slightly away from the Randian dystopia you'd have us living in?

    Posted by snowball666 at 04/29/2009 @ 09:10am

    For an intelligent person you are increasingly sounding more like the empty-headed lemmings who merely regurgitate what Daily Kos or Huffingtonpost dictate to them.

    1. I have stated repeatedly that I have never read Rand, not interested in her writings. I developed my political views by reading the constitution and the writings of the founders. They have remain intact for nearly 50 years.

    2. I do not get as involved politically as I used to because of my faith. While still believe that the US provides a unique moment in history for Christians to have a voice in govt, it is not the overriding concern that I have.

    As a Christian and as a pastor, I'm far more concerned with the moral direction of the nation. Yet they are linked. As the nation continues this path of moral degradation, it will pursue political answers that attempt to satisfy the fruit of this moral decline.

    The lack of any shame for immorality, the lack of personal accountability and responsibility all lead to the political answers we are witnessing. People want the govt to substitute for their lack of the aforementioned character traits.

    Finally, I'm old enough now where I'd rather look forward to dying. My biggest regret and care is the future that my children and grandchildren will suffer as a result of the direction our country is going.

    Posted by antisocialist at 04/29/2009 @ 10:07am

49. "As a Christian and as a pastor, I'm far more concerned with the moral direction.. it will pursue political answers that attempt to satisfy the fruit of this moral decline."

    In my view, much of the moral degradation you speak of comes from poverty and the things people do to escape it either financially or chemically and the bad decisions they make as a result.

    Posted by snowball666 at 04/29/2009 @ 5:07pm

    That view just doesn't line up with the reality. If that was the case, we wouldn't see such high levels of adultery, divorce, white collar theft, drug use, alcoholism, and even murder and rape among the middle and upper class.

    Sorry, but sin is part of our nature and when we begin to quit making attaching any stigma to poor morality, it always increases among all levels of society.

    Posted by antisocialist at 04/29/2009 @ 6:13pm