I respect any person or elected officials that has the courage to stand up for their convictions and face the public. This philosophy is why I respect so many elected officials (even when I don't support them).
Before and after elections, candidates and incumbents have to face political and constituent pressures to "do the right thing".
This is why I supported Kirk England and Arlen Specter when they switched parties before the election season. They stood by their beliefs, faced their constituents and declared, you have the decision to keep me or fire me. Simply, they announced before an election and not afterwards.
Alan Ritter did the exact opposite. He filed as a Democrat. Won re-election as a Democrat. When the going got tough, he betrayed the people who less than a month ago voted for him. Even though House District 21 voted for Democratic PAC Chair and Democratic candidate Alan Ritter, they elected a turncoat who open lied.
House District 21 should have the right to either approve Ritter's cowardly choice or reject him. Instead, as it stands now, the people who voted for Ritter, gave him 2 years to serve a false constituency. Sadly, unless Ritter does the right thing, they can't hold accountable one way or the other.
Yesterday, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie issued a statement that I wholly agree with.
Dear fellow Democrat,
This past weekend, I was extremely disappointed to learn that a Democratic Texas House Member, Allan Ritter of Nederland, has told colleagues that he plans to switch parties to become a Republican. His announcement comes just weeks after he was elected to serve another term as a Democrat, and his immediate party switch shows contempt for the voters and is certainly not a principled decision.
I've issued a statement to the press, expressing my view that if Rep. Ritter does intend to switch parties, he should show the voters enough respect to immediately resign and seek election as a Republican. I will make the same call to any other Democratic lawmaker who considers switching parties now, because switching parties immediately after being elected is a disingenuous slap in the face of the voters who put that legislator in office.
As I said in my statement, Texans will soon see the impact of failed Republican policy on our state and local economy, our schools and our communities. Those who switch parties to join Republicans now will be held accountable for every action that harms our public schools and universities, our children's health, and our economic future, not to mention the attacks we expect on our right to vote freely in fair and legal districts. In the case of Rep. Ritter, we pointed out how Republican policy is harmful to his constituents, and we will do the same with anyone else who abandons his own voters by switching parties.
In the Democratic Party, there is room for principled officeholders without regard to labels. We are united by our willingness to stand up to special interests and do what is right for our community. Those who switch parties now are not acting on principle, and we will hold them accountable. Thank you for your commitment to the common sense principles that define our party. Together, we can and will hold the Republicans, both old and new, accountable and restore responsible government in Texas.
Ritter, along with any other person who switches parties immediately after an election, should offer to return campaign contributions and resign to run in a special election.
Voters should have a voice and hold someone accountable. Instead, Ritter has 2 years in office and has already shown his political ambition is more valuable than being open and honest to his constituents.
To be clear, I could care less if people switch. Democrats are going to pick up nearly a dozen seats in 2 years because of the gross over correction in 2010. If Ritter, or any other Democrat, wants to paint a giant bulls-eye on their back, I can't stop someone from committing political suicide. At the end of the day though, voters should have rights. It appears Ritter simply doesn't believe that.
40 days from today - on May 18 - we will see two HUGE primaries for U.S. Senate. Even though these races aren't in Texas, they impact Democrats across the country and, well, the entire country as a whole.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak will try to upset Republican-for-decades Arlen Specter.
In Arkansas, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter will try to upset corporate lackey Blanche Lincoln.
These two races are tremendously important to defining who and what the Democratic Party is and what we will be fighting for.
If you can volunteer for these candidates (or encourage friends and family in Pennsylvania and Arkansas to do so), that would be amazing.
Of course, if you can help with a contribution to either or both via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page as soon as possible, it will make a big impact.
Polling shows that both Specter and Lincoln are at risk of - if not likely to - hand these Senate seats over to far-right-wing Republicans. (And, even if these two retain the seats, that's not much better on many key issues.)
Congressman Sestak and Lieutenant Governor Halter winning these primaries are critical to keeping these seats in truly Democratic hands. Your support can help make that happen! Please hop over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page right away to make a contribution - an investment in the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party to pull out an old expression - and show your support.
Thanks SO much for any support you can provide. 40 Days.
As many of you know, over the last five days, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, in partnership with a number of progressive organizations and blogs including Senate Guru, asked those in the netroots, "Should a Draft Sestak movement be created to take on Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary?"
The results are in and they are overwhelming. 85% of Pennsylvanian respondents and 86% of respondents nationally want Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak to challenge Arlen Specter in the 2010 Democratic Senate primary. The poll has even gotten the attention of Congressman Sestak, as the PCCC points out:
"I am honored that so many of you took the time to vote in the recent grassroots Straw Poll. Let me tell you, I and many others were paying attention. If I decide to run it will be in large measure because of the grassroots energy of so many people like you. Until I and my family make that decision, please accept my thanks and my best wishes as you continue be active participants in our people-powered democracy. Thank you so very much!"
Due to such an overwhelming response, a Draft Sestak Fund has been created on ActBlue. To contribute and further encourage Congressman Sestak to enter the race, click on the image below:
If you need any additional motivation to contribute to this effort to draft a real Democrat to oppose Specter in the primary, consider Specter's actions since announcing his Party switch:
1) Specter opposed the Obama budget.
2) Specter opposed the "cramdown" mortgage/bankruptcy reform, siding with banks over families.
3) Specter reiterated his opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act.
4) Specter reiterated his opposition to President Obama's nomination of Dawn Johnsen to the Office of Legal Counsel.
5) Specter announced his support for Republican Norm Coleman over Democratic Senator-elect Al Franken in Minnesota's Senate race.
6) Specter promoted a website that appeared to raise money for cancer research but, in actuality, simply raised money for his campaign.
7) Specter denied reports that he told President Obama that he would be a "loyal Democrat" despite multiple reporters sticking to their story.
The netroots have displayed overwhelming support for Congressman Sestak to take on recently-Republican Arlen Specter. Help the effort by contributing to the Draft Sestak Fund.
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, working with a number of progressive organizations and blogs including Senate Guru, has put out a poll to gauge netroots interest - in Texas and all across the country - in supporting an effort to draft Congressman Joe Sestak to challenge recently-Republican Arlen Specter in the PA-Sen Democratic primary next year. The poll will be open for the next four days, and provided are both pro and con arguments regarding a draft effort. To read the arguments and vote in the poll, click the below link:
Before Arlen Specter's Party switch announcement yesterday, the Senate's Democratic caucus stood at 58 members. Senator-elect Al Franken represented Democrats' 59th vote toward cloture, still short of reliably ending Republican filibusters. But now, with Specter joining the Democratic caucus, Senator-elect Franken represents the big 6-0, which is why Republicans will redouble their efforts to delay Senator-elect Franken's seating - and why we in the netroots must redouble our efforts to send obstructionist Republicans a message and also provide them with adequate disincentive from delaying Senator-elect Franken's seating any further.
Since the "One Dollar a Day to Make Norm Coleman Go Away" effort started just a couple weeks ago, about $40,000 has been raised to remind the Republicans funding Norm Coleman's endless appeals that, for every single day that they delay the implementation of the will of Minnesota voters, progressive voters will raise money to use against these Republicans on Election Day 2010.
Your support will strengthen that message!
Norm Coleman and his fellow Republicans recently scored a success in further delaying Senator-elect Franken's seating, as the trial schedule adopted by the state Supreme Court for Coleman's appeal is such that oral arguments before the Court won't begin until June 1st, over a month from now. Further, although Minnesota election policy dictates that Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty must prepare and sign Senator-elect Franken's election certificate once the state Supreme Court hands down its decision, Pawlenty has hemmed and hawed as to whether he would follow state election policy accordingly.
With a D next to Arlen Specter's name, Republicans will go full force to block Senator-elect Franken's seating. Please join us in eliminating Republicans' incentive to delay Senator-elect Franken's seating any further by taking part in the "One Dollar a Day to Make Norm Coleman Go Away" effort. At right is video of the segment on MSNBC's Hardball highlighting the effort.
As we know Senator Arlen Specter changed his Party affiliation yesterday from Republican to Democrat. In his remarks the Senator had said the Republican Party had been recently "purified" by the right. Needless to say Specter's switch delivered a devastating blow to an already wounded GOP.
As one would expect Karl Rove blatantly lied about Senator Arlen Specter's motivation for switching his Party affiliation from Republican to Democrat.
In a statement issued earlier today, Senator Specter said his former Party had moved too far right.
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.
Speaking from FOX Looney Tunes News, Rove said Specter had lurched left.
Remember, the Republican Party wants people to believe they are the big tent party.
When John Cornyn finally released his response to Arlen Specter feeling like the Republican party no longer represented his ideals or the beliefs of the state of Pennsylvania, Cornyn decided not to take the high road.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), issued the following statement today regarding U.S. Senator Arlen Specter's (R-PA) decision to switch political parties in the face of a seemingly insurmountable bid for re-election next year:
"Senator Specter's decision today represents the height of political self-preservation. While this presents a short-term disappointment, voters next year will have a clear choice to cast their ballots for a potentially unbridled Democrat super-majority versus the system of checks-and-balances that Americans deserve."
The basis of John Cornyn's entire statement is the Republican brand is so tainted that Specter had no choice but to switch parties. I can't disagree with the premise of the statement and find it telling this switch happened under John Cornyn's watch over the Republican's in the Senate.
The other striking part of Cornyn's very very short statement is the fact that it basically calls voters stupid.
Cornyn alludes to the fact that Specter moving to the Democratic party and the election of Al Franken means Democrats will have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate. Rather than arguing for the direct need for more Senate Republicans, Cornyn speaks directly to voters and tells them they have destroyed the system of checks and balances.
Senator, really?
The Republican brand has been destroyed because of the failed leadership of George Bush. In addition, the current Republican mouth pieces aren't helping. Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, Grover Norquist, and Tom DeLay haven't received a single vote. They are accountable to nobody but the people that line their pockets. Arlen Specter is accountable to an electorate, and he believes the Republican Party has let his constituents down.
Coryn's statement shows a fundamental lack of understanding about what is going on nationally. Until they fix this problem, the Republican brand will continue to be broken.
And P.S. Senator, Arlen Specter is a Democrat now. You can stop referring to him as (R-PA), that's simply untrue now and your party is the reason why.
After U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter announced he would seek reelection as a Democrat, there is talk that his decision could have an affect on the upcoming U.S. Senate race here in Texas.
In January, Kay Bailey Hutchison had this to say to Politico:
“Really, I’m not going to have the impact [of giving Democrats 60 seats],” Hutchison said, moments after she held a long talk on the Senate floor with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). “The impact is going to be the 2010 elections.”
With Sen. Specter's switch and Al Franken's (assumed) eventual seating, a Hutchison resignation would no longer result is giving Democrats 60 seats.
So, does that mean Hutchison could resign earlier? At this point, who knows.
But it does mean that the past rationale for her staying in the Senate is no longer so cut and dry. Rick Perry has been able to consolidate and inspire more support among the most conservative of Texas Republicans, the exact group he will need huge support from to win next March's Republican Primary.
Now that Specter has flipped, could Hutchison resign her Senate seat later this year to come home to Texas to focus on reclaiming the once solid lead she held in the polls?
