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Freshman Congressman Parker Griffith (D – Huntsville) is switching parties. Serving as a Blue Dog Democrat until now, Griffith will announce at a 1 pm press conference today that he is joining the Republican Party, the Griffith campaign confirmed for the Political Parlor.
Update: Politico has the story here.
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Can we say thanks, but no thanks? I didn’t like him as a Democrat and I still wouldn’t as a Republican. Here’s hoping Mo Brooks and Les Phillip stay in the race.
This puts pressure on Bobby Bright but he will not switch. He, at his core, is a Democrat.
Jason, I’d be willing to bet he has made a deal with potential Republican challengers. Or maybe he’s dumb enough to believe his mere presence as a Republican will deter them. I hope the voters of his district hand him his hind parts in 2010.
This doesn’t really surprise me. The bigger question at hand here is: Now that Griffith has broken the ice, will other Blue Dogs follow suit and jump the Democrat ship as well? Most notably, Bobby Bright. The pressure is definitely on him now.
It does make one wonder, however, if this is a matter of Griffith being fed up with the antics of Pelosi and Co., or if it is an act of self-preservation, as was the case with Sen. Arlen Specter’s switch to the Democratic Party. At any rate, Griffith’s re-election chances are certainly better as a Republican than as a Democrat, given the presumed anti-incumbency wave that is brewing for next year.
Just goes show some folks will do anything to benefit their political career!
Hope he’s unemployed after the election!!!
Not a good sign for Alabama Democrats in 2010.
This is a Democrat plot. They know Griffith does more damage to the Republicans by switching, that he could do as a Democrat. Now the Dem’s can run a candidate that their own people will vote for.
[...] U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith Switching Parties [...]
JD- What does that even mean?
There’s no way this isn’t good for Republicans. Parker was the Dems ONLY chance to keep the seat and now, not only will they lose the Congressional seat, but if a Dem legislator jumps in to fill Parker’s place on the ballot for the Dems, the state GOP can try to take that seat too.
I kind of knew something was up when I saw Lowell at the post office this morning ripping Parker’s christmas card to shreads.
Booby Bright is a hard core Democrat who won’t vote for Pelosi as Speaker of the House.
And what happens to his DC chief of staff Sharon. She is as close to Barron as anybody in the state, and Parker’s DC office is a known warzone.
Any Democrat is going to recieve more votes that Griffith would have. Griffith had really upset the base with his votes.
Sharon probably asked for a pay raise and will now come back to run the Senate Majority Caucus and kick Sorry Sabra to the curb.
Rick Barber slams Democrat Congressman Parker Griffith for political opportunism, Griffith to announce switch from Democrat to Republican Party
MONTGOMERY – Reacting to the expected announcement of sitting Alabama’s 5th Congressional District Democrat Representative Parker Griffith’s switch to the GOP, Rick Barber issued a statement denouncing Griffith’s motives.
“This is a craven act of political opportunism. Parker Griffith has voted with Nancy Pelosi on 88% of his votes. If he switches, he will be a Republican In Name Only, like Dede Scozzafava in the NY-23 race. Being a Republican means being committed to limited government principles. This is not like switching from Coke to Pepsi. Republicans stand for more than our elephant insignia. Parker Griffith’s move is extraordinarily cynical and self-serving. He clearly stands for nothing other than his own political ambitions.”
“This is indicative of a rightward shift in the political winds in Alabama and nationally. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bobby Bright follows Parker Griffith’s lead, but that move would be equally insubstantial and illusory.”
Rick Barber is campaigning for the Congressional seat currently held by Democrat Bobby Bright in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District.
Parker Griffith won by 11,010 votes.
Bobby Bright won by 1,790 votes.
Two of the four Tennessee Blue Dogs have announced they are not running for reelection.
The Bobby Bright Watch begins.
Bright’s days are numbered. He tries to keep some folks calm and on board by saying he will switch after the next election. He tells business folks in the Wiregrass that all the time. It’s bullsh**. Bright is a democrat and will not be switching. It’s all a game to him. Bye Bye Bobby.
Don’t think Sharon Wheeler is still working for Griffith.
Bright has to switch parties now or he will lose.
The Democrats have banned moderate and conservatives from their party.
Blue Dog means – liberal when needed.
I’m an independant but the Democrat Party has openly declared war on all who are not liberals.
And they really have also declared war on principled liberals who don’t want bills that are written by major corporations.
This bill is more corporate socialism – the Insurance Companies are going to make huge amounts of money with the aid of the Government and in return they are supporting the reduction of liberty in this nation.
What we really need is a new party. But the Democrat Party has now declared itself to be a party of corruption and socialism. And no one is allowed to depart from that line.
So the Alabama Democrats are no better than the national Democrats.
Is his campaign slogan going to be “Save your Democratic Hides Switch Sides”