Wednesday, April 29, 2009

The Real Reason

Arlen Spector's defection to the Democratic Party doesn't surprise me at all. Setting aside how liberal, moderate or conservative everyone is, there's an implicit message in Senator Spector's statement. (Curious. There's no mention of it on his web site.)

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.

When I supported the stimulus package, I knew that it would not be popular with the Republican Party. But, I saw the stimulus as necessary to lessen the risk of a far more serious recession than we are now experiencing.

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. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania.

I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary.


As many of Senator Spector's constituents probably know, now is not a good time to lose your job.

1 comment:

Spokane Al said...

Spector’s speech and so-called reasoning were a load of B.S. After 30 years as a republican he is switching purely to keep his job. Many will do anything to retain power and he is a prime example. How quickly he forgets that President Bush supported him during the last election when Mr. Toomey, the very guy that was beating him now stood a solid chance of beating him then.

I found the entire issue dishonest.