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The Spectacle Blog

Democrat Congressman Switches Parties Over Health Care

By Philip Klein on 12.22.09 @ 12:42PM

The Politico reports:

POLITICO has learned that Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, will announce today that he’s switching parties to become a Republican.

According to two senior GOP aides familiar with the decision, the announcement will take place this afternoon in Griffith's district in northern Alabama.

Griffith’s party switch comes on the eve of a pivotal congressional health care vote and will send a jolt through a Democratic House Caucus that has already been unnerved by the recent retirements of a handful of members who, like Griffith, hail from districts that offer prime pickup opportunities for the GOP in 2010.

I await the barrage of stories in the media about how Democrats are losing moderates because the party has been hijacked by the radical leftist fringe.

View all comments (11) | Leave a comment

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.22.09 @ 1:01PM

Mr. Klein...heh... please don't hold your breath concerning the "media".

Tim| 12.22.09 @ 1:06PM

Barrage indeed.

Magic Eight Ball| 12.22.09 @ 1:10PM

Media Meme Prediction:

Closeted White Racist Southerner comes Out of Closet, Announces a Member of Party of Hate All Along

Kenneth E. MacAlister Jr.| 12.22.09 @ 1:39PM

This is great if the guy truly espouses conservative principles. If he doesn't this is no different than electing another RINO who will vote like a Democrat anyway. In other terms, another Benedict Arlen Spectacle. I'll hold my enthusiasm until he proves he truly believes in & espouses conservatism.

Ammo Guy| 12.22.09 @ 4:02PM

Tough call – IMHO, I’d prefer to save our ammo for more difficult House races. If we could gain a Richard Shelby Alabaman, I’d be willing to forego a bloody GOP primary. In August — one month after Republicans picked up his former state legislative seat in a special election — Griffith told a local newspaper that he wouldn't vote for Nancy Pelosi to remain as House Speaker because she's too divisive. He joked that if she didn’t like it, he’d provide her with a gift certificate to a mental health center. Having been born in LA (Lower Alabama for you Yankees), he sounds like my kinda guy…but what do I know?

Margie| 12.22.09 @ 4:20PM

Good for Rep. Parker. He has a conscience and joined the right Party. May many more do the same.
Now that's what I call a good Christmas present!

Reformer| 12.22.09 @ 4:54PM

So Democrats will call him a traitor, while Republicans will hail him as a man with the courage of his convictions. The truth is that every elected official who switches parties doublecrosses voters in his old party and shows guts in doing something that's less socially acceptable than changing religions or spouses.

Richard Baker| 12.22.09 @ 6:31PM

Reformer:
He switched because, as an MD, he understands the destructive nature of what this Congress and Administration are trying to do. Obviously, you didn't hear him speak on TV. As he'll run for re-election next year, it appears that he's willing to stand up and be accounted and suffer the consequences, if they occur. Principle can strike at any moment, don't you know?

Richard Baker| 12.22.09 @ 6:32PM

Reformer:
By the way, if you think he did this without speaking to many people in his District, then you must also think that the spirit just "came" upon him.