The American Spectator

UPDATE TO BELOW: Less than an hour ago, Fox’ Neil Cavuto had Rep. Davis on his show to ask about his change in heart. Davis was really good. He explained that Obama has not “brought us together,” has not concentrated on economic growth, and has not governed at all like the centrist Obama portrayed himself as in 2008. Lots of good quotes there that conservatives can use. 

Meanwhile, reporter Dave Weigel suggests tongue in cheeck that Davis should consider running for Attorney General of Virginia (since the excellent Ken Cuccinelli is running for governor) in 2013. It’s not funny; it’s a good idea. 

Now, see below for the original post:

I have been touting Artur Davis for quite a while, praising him even when he was a Democratic office-holder. Now the former congressman from Alabama, who has been writing at places like National Review for the past year, makes clear what my private conversations with him dating back a number of years had always indicated was a real likelihood: Davis’ values align more closely with Republicans than with the radical, identity-politics-based national Democratic Party. From his announcement, words well chosen:

On the specifics, I have regularly criticized an agenda that would punish businesses and job creators with more taxes just as they are trying to thrive again. I have taken issue with an administration that has lapsed into a bloc by bloc appeal to group grievances when the country is already too fractured: frankly, the symbolism of Barack Obama winning has not given us the substance of a united country. You have also seen me write that faith institutions should not be compelled to violate their teachings because faith is a freedom, too. You’ve read that in my view, the law can’t continue to favor one race over another in offering hard-earned slots in colleges: America has changed, and we are now diverse enough that we don’t need to accommodate a racial spoils system. And you know from these pages that I still think the way we have gone about mending the flaws in our healthcare system is the wrong way—it goes further than we need and costs more than we can bear.

Davis is no hard-core conservative, but he is definitely more right-leaning than not, and he has tremendous political talent. Conservatives ought to welcome him with open arms.