Thursday, April 30, 2009
Editorial: Specter joins the party of choice
It isn't just a senator leaving their fold that Republicans need to worry about.
From the RoundTable blog
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Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter switched from Republican to Democrat in order to better assure his re-election next year. Yes, it's self-serving. And no, it doesn't automatically give Senate Democrats a 60-vote lock on foiling filibusters even when the interminable Minnesota recount is finally called for Democrat Al Franken. Specter is no certain patsy for any party -- just ask the Republicans.
But Specter's party swap sends a strong message to the Republican Party: The takeover by the fringe far-right element has left not only voters overall cold, it is driving away good Republicans.
Specter was facing a tough re-election battle next year against an old foe: former Rep. Pat Toomey, backed by the GOP conservative hardliners. They have always found Specter's independence and moderate stance objectionable, but his vote to support President Obama's stimulus package was intolerable.
In a primary, the battle would have been fierce and victory doubtful. In a general election, Specter is more likely to win handily against Toomey. There's a lesson there -- general election voters prefer centrists over radicals -- that might not be lost on the party. Already, there is speculation Republicans are rethinking whether to stick with Toomey.
It would be good for the party and good for the people if the GOP rummaged through its attic and found the big tent that Ronald Reagan used to encircle broader views.
Virginia's Republican Party finally seems to be catching on to the idea that it needs to at least appear to shift away from the far right. It only took turning over both U.S. Senate seats to Democrats, losing control of the state Senate and seeing the reliably red state turn blue in last year's presidential contest.
The party stuck with its ideological base last year, running former Gov. Jim Gilmore against the Democrats' centrist candidate, former Gov. Mark Warner. It wasn't even a contest.
Since then, the party has ousted its controversial chairman, who won little but scorn from Virginians of all stripes.
The state's Republicans remain a fractured bunch -- and the House is controlled by its obstructionist wing. But Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell is trying to give a nod to campaigning from the middle. Now, if Republicans could just grasp the benefits of governing from the middle, the people might be well served.
