Specter’s Switch Renovates the Republican Brand

That's right -- Specter’s Switch Renovates the Republican Brand name and allows Republicans to be Republicans.

On Face the Nation today, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) said he didn’t agree with all of his votes, and he had some “advice” for the Republican Party.

Who in the Republican party wants Specter's advice? I don't see anyone standing in line to get it.

Now, when I heard that Specter had switched parties, my first reaction was “Wow! He became a Republican?”

OK, the guy decided to become a legitimate Democrat. It’s about time he become an honest man.

Let’s remember that 40 years ago, Specter left the Democratic Party to become a Republican. What is he? Is Specter a DemoRepCrat? An independent? Or does he have any conviction?

Some may say party labels don’t matter, but they do. People who are precinct chairmen, who toil in the party structures, should be able to count on those who are elected to uphold the party platform.

“What’s that?” many elected officials ask. Well, even then-Gov. George Bush, when asked why he didn’t support a Texas Republican Party platform item, said he hadn’t read the platform. Oops! Lots of Republicans didn’t forget that. And he often legislated as if he hadn’t read the platform.

Specter’s switch is just what the Republican Party needs to revive its image. After all, Republicans should expect Republican elected officials to legislate as Republicans.

Specter may have been elected as a Republican, but he had the advantage of incumbency, money, and name recognition. That could explain why politicians continue to get nominated, and elected, who have no intention of fulfilling the party platform. But that comes at a price.

Party workers and voters begin to look for another avenue to get candidates who share their views elected. Here comes the Libertarian Party, the Green Party and others who are frustrated that the party which should be enacting their policies aren’t.

But the parties have prevailed, as have incumbents.

Incumbents have a tremendous advantage in politics – they have money in the bank, and lobbyists give to their campaigns anticipating their re-election and buying their votes, or at best counting on an open door when the lobbyists call.

I’ve worked campaigns in Pennsylvania and I anticipate that the voters there are not unlike Texans – we want to elect our officials who go through the party process – whatever it may be.

Specter bashed Club For Growth after the Pat Toomey, leader of the conservative PAC, ran against Specter in 2004 for the Republican nomination against Specter. After all, how dare someone with principles in the Republican Party philosophy run against Arlen?

I anticipate the Republican Party is saying “good riddance, Arlen!” After all, Republicans have been losing ground because many conservatives don’t see the Republican party as the party who fights bigger government, and who supports the little man/taxpayer.

But the overriding issue should be this: Will Arlen Specter do the honorable thing? No one is counting on it, but he should do just what former Sen. Phil Gramm did. When Gramm changed from the Democratic to the Republican Party, he asked Republicans to take him in – to elect him as a Republican.

That’s what Arlen Specter should do. Chances are good the Democrats will embrace him, after all – he’s voted their way more often than not. Still, he should call an election and ask the voters of Pennsylvania to take him in as a Democrat. After all, he’s been out in the cold as a Republican. And even Specter deserves a home in some party - he’s been a nomad for far too long.

And every Party deserves to create their own invitation list. After all, you are defined by who you hang out with. -- Peggy Venable