Democrat Representative, Peter Griffith, defects to the Republican party
Representative Parker Griffith from Alabama announced today that he was leaving the Democrat party and joining the Republicans. Here is what Griffith had to say about his switch:
I believe our nation is at a crossroads and I can no longer align myself with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy, and drives us further and further into debt
Unfortunately there are those in the Democratic Leadership that continue to push an agenda focused on massive new spending, tax increases, bailouts and a health care bill that is bad for our healthcare system,” Griffith said in a statement. “I have always considered myself to be an independent voice and I have tried to be that voice in Congress – but after watching this agenda firsthand I now believe that the differences in the two parties could not be more clear and that for me to be true to my core beliefs and values I must align myself with the Republican party and speak out clearly on these issues
Those are strong words, and they are what many of us believe is wrong with the Democrats. Griffith denied that his switch was an attempt to help his re-election bid, and judging by his conservative voting record I would say that he has more strongly aligned himself with his beliefs.
This is mostly a symbolic victory for Republicans, it will not change anything in the House as Griffith was already siding with the Republicans on all of the major bills that were debated this year; the cap and trade bill, the stimulus bill, and the healthcare reform bill, but this does highlight the growing rift in the Democrat party.
As one who does not put much stock in “moral victories”– you either win or you lose– this one could be a sign of things to come. Republicans are united against this president’s radical agenda, while it is the Democrats who are splintering over his policies. If it were not for the payouts that several Democrats received for their states, the healthcare reform bill would have been defeated.
Griffith’s defection represents the growing divide in the Democrat party and while this one defection may not change the balance of power in the House, it does show us the fragile state of the Democrat party heading into the 2010 election year.
America's Watchtower 
Throughout the entire debate over health care reform, there has been two main camps. There are those who say the American people both need and want these “reforms” to be enacted and those of us who believe no such thing. With Representative Griffith switching parties over the issue, this may indeed be a precursor to things to come. If the Democratic Party is rejected in 2010, I wonder if they will continue to say the American people want these reforms or will they just say we do not know what is best for us?
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I hope that this is a sign of things to come, I think that the Democrats are moving too far to the left too fast and the American people do not like it.
If they lose in 2010 they will say that we just don’t know what is good for us, that is why they are trying to do it all so quickly. I think that many of them really believe they know what is best for us more than we do for ourselves.
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