SkinsHokieFan Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 The first of the blue dogs? http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/house/alabama-democrat-to-switch-par.html?hpid=topnews Alabama Democrat to switch parties Alabama Democratic Rep. Parker Griffith will switch to the Republican party later today, according to a source familiar with the decision. A freshman Democrat, Griffith was elected to the 5th district in 2008 to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Bud Cramer. He won with 51 percent despite the fact that President Barack Obama took just 38 percent of the vote in the north Alabama district. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dropped more than $1 million in independent expenditures to keep the seat. "Democrats of every stripe and philosophy sweated and bled for this man," said Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham of Griffith. "He narrowly became a Congressman through the hard work, votes and financial contributions of thousands of Democrats. Today, they feel betrayed." DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md.) took it a step further, citing Griffith's "duty and responsibility" to return all contributions made to him by Democratic Members of Congress. Griffith had voiced his frustration with party leaders several times and had made clear he wouldn't back House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.). "I would not vote for her," Griffith told a constituent at a town hall meeting in August. "Someone that divisive and that polarizing cannot bring us together." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toe Jam Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Didn't see that one coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullnelson9999 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 i cant stand it when people switch parties. Not at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.A.C.O.L.B. Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 The first of the blue dogs? I seriously doubt it. There is a huge gap between Blue Dogs and the base of the GOP. To me this is just a guy who realized that he was a Democrat in Alabama and likes his job too much to stay that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckus Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 We had a member of the Texas House switches parties about a month ago. It was a huge deal as Democrats were only 2 seats away from a majority. This is not strange or surprising. Last election cycle we had a Texas House member switch from Republican to Democratic to get on the Obama wave. There will probably be 1 more on a national level. But nothing crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toe Jam Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Lieberman should just switch to Republican. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeysc23 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 i mean ... i don't follow politics as closely as I should but what is the big deal? You should vote for someone based on the policies they want and their stances not on whether they are a D or R or I. I am guessing he probably leaned Republican in his stances so his people should've known that when they voted for him so a name change isn't a big deal. I guess I wish people worried more about their stances then their political party affiliation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonniey Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Lieberman should just switch to Republican. Why? He votes with Dems more than many other Democratic Senators do (Most of the Blue dogs for that matter). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiebear Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 seems to be a crappy move.. Switch when you run... let the people decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubbs Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 We had a member of the Texas House switches parties about a month ago. It was a huge deal as Democrats were only 2 seats away from a majority.This is not strange or surprising. Last election cycle we had a Texas House member switch from Republican to Democratic to get on the Obama wave. There will probably be 1 more on a national level. But nothing crazy. Not surprised. Without an electoral shift, Texas will probably be a blue state in 2020. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 "Democrats of every stripe and philosophy sweated and bled for this man," said Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Joe Turnham of Griffith. "He narrowly became a Congressman through the hard work, votes and financial contributions of thousands of Democrats. Today, they feel betrayed." :cry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerPacker Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 i cant stand it when people switch parties. Not at all. Personally, I don't care what party someone is for. I can't stand when they vote against how they campaigned. If they continue to vote how they said they'd vote in campaigning, then political party is just a title. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullnelson9999 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Personally, I don't care what party someone is for. I can't stand when they vote against how they campaigned. If they continue to vote how they said they'd vote in campaigning, then political party is just a title. Unfortunately a lot of people dont think that way and just vote based on red or blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Without an electoral shift, Texas will probably be a blue state in 2020. Not if the Dems keep shooting themselves in the foot. There are some seriously pissed off people here. As far as candidates switching,I prefer they do it in advance of elections,but don't really care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAVEONAWARPATH Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Lieberman should just switch to Republican. A few days ago Lieberman said that he MAY run as a Republican in 2012. http://hotair.com/archives/2009/12/17/video-joe-lieberman-republican/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mardi gras skin Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Southern Democrats can be weird. There are still pockets of Roosevelt democrats that will never, ever vote republican. Except for president. They tie defense and abortion to the president for some reason, but their representatives are democrats. My grandfather, aunts and uncles pull the Dem. lever every time, but they're dying off. When big emotional decisions come up like the health care thing, you see a swell in political participation in people that aren't tied to the historical phenomenon. Politicians just take the temperature and adjust accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Southern Democrats can be weird. . Truer words were never spoken;) vive la différence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 As many people vote along party lines, politicians who switch after election are not reflecting their electorate. They should resign and contest the election under their new colors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Party line voters should resign their right to vote as well:evilg: I do believe he is up for election soon fwiw. Probably just sailing with the prevailing winds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveakl Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Daddy was a veteran, a southern democrat They oughta get a rich man to vote like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 The article says his district only voted 38% for Obama. Sounds like his district already is Republican. I do believe he is up for election soon fwiw. :secret:Members of the House are elected every 2 years. (Just yankin your chain.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forehead Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 I might be wrong, but didn't this same thing happen in reverse a few years ago in Vermont? Jeffers, or Jeffords, or something like that? Guy who went Republican - Democrat, or Republican - Independent? Were these same Democrats who are crying now crying then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 The article says his district only voted 38% for Obama. Sounds like his district already is Republican. :secret:Members of the House are elected every 2 years. (Just yankin your chain.) And he was elected in 08 I believe:pokeye: Simply positioning for reelection imo,a number of "Democrats" ran here on conservative platforms that Pelosi and co have made uncomfortable fits and will be hard to justify back home. As they say...Talk is cheap,and results matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubbs Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 And he was elected in 08 I believe:pokeye: Larry is saying that they all were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexey Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Yeah it does not sound like he has a chance of getting re-elected as a D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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