It's My Party So I'll Lie if I Want To...

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Spector is switching parties to run as a Democrat in the 2010 election. He had previously said in a March 17th interview:

"I am staying a Republican because I think I have an important role, a more important role, to play there. The United States very desperately needs a two-party system. That’s the basis of politics in America. I’m afraid we are becoming a one-party system, with Republicans becoming just a regional party with so little representation of the northeast or in the middle atlantic. I think as a governmental matter, it is very important to have a check and balance. That’s a very important principle in the operation of our government. In the constitution on Separation of powers."

Actually, the separation of powers defined in the Constitution doesn't refer to political parties but the Senator really didn't care about that anyway, did he? When it became evident that he would likely lose his Senate seat in the next primary elections he announced yesterday that:

"I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate. I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania."

So he doesn't want to answer to the Republican electorate that supported him for 29 years and now desires "change". He wants to answer to the people of Pennsylvania. So what's his solution?

"I have decided to run for re-election in 2010 in the Democratic primary. I am ready, willing and anxious to take on all comers and have my candidacy for re-election determined in a general election."

So you represent the "people" of Pennsylvania and not just the Republicans? But now you say you want your 29 year Senate record judged by the Democrat primary electorate. Excuse me Senator, but if you really wanted to let the "people" of Pennsylvania judge your 29 year Senate record you would run as an independent in the general election and skip the primaries. The problem is that you probably have less possibility of winning as an independent candidate than you do as a Republican.

What is clear to anyone is Senator Specter's real purpose is to retain his position of power. The Democrats have promised him a primary win and a place on the ballot in the 2010 general election in exchange for his switch. The Democrat Party welcomes the switch and will be happy to bankroll his reelection bid because it bolsters it's own power. The people of Pensylvania suffer from a Senator who has shown clearly that it's not for them but for his own self-interest that he wishes to "serve." Senator Spector has shown that he will represent those he thinks can keep him in power rather than "the people."

To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress. (Proverbs 28:21)