I am very happy about the decision of Senator Arlen Specter to switch to the Democratic Party. The Republican party has sold out to the right wing nuts, delusional religious fanatics and scientific illiterates. Although, I am still not entirely sure about the main reasons why he left his party but it does help Democrats as they become more closer to the filibuster majority in the senate (meaning 60 votes to pass legislation). They will reach 60 votes once Senator Al Franken is sworn into his new office in the senate.
Lets explore two main reasons why he left the party… lets do this!!
1. The Pennsylvania senator’s move is intended to boost his chances of winning re-election next year: I agree. According to a report from Fox News , Democratic Party enrollment surged past the 4 million mark Monday, setting a state record on the last day Pennsylvanians had to register to vote in next month’s presidential primary. This means that Sen. Specter switching to the Democratic Party would win easily since he is liked more by independents, conservative democrats and still some members of his former party - it looks easy right? Well not exactly, he faced a tough primary back in 2004 and I am positive that Democrats in his home state will not easily buy that he is a “true” democrat but judging from his voting record he has been voting with Democrats in the past years. He tried to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. He was the “Gang of 14″ in the Senate with John McCain and other strong minded Democrats tried to get passed without giving the other 36 Senator a chance to read the Bill or add amendments.
2. “As the Republican Party has moved farther and farther to the right, I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Party,” - Sen. Specter - I agree. I believe that the Republican Party has not only sold out to the right wing conservative base but also has been blindsided by Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and Pat Robertson and has left the moderates of the party without a voice. There is also something else that is also working against the Republican Party and that is that voters are more open minded and are more young and diverse people. Also, Specter openly admitted that his prospects for winning the GOP primary were “bleak” and he was right. He was running against a very conservative candidate, and getting crushed in the polls. In fact, the polls also showed him to be popular among Democrats and that his race was eminently more winnable as a Democrat.
Let me know what you think?