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Arlen Specter’s sudden move to the Democratic party this past week came as quite a surprise to even the most seasoned political pundits. True, he has been a bit capricious over the years, originally leaving the Democrats behind and coming over to the dark side in 1965. Additionally, his voting record has consistently been inconsistent, defying liberal/conservative categorization. Conservative Compass has come into possession of documents that help to explain this odd turn of events, and we are releasing the information they contain here for the first time.
In a memo dated 04/01/09, the Republican National Commission sent a request to all 40 Republican Senators and 178 members of the House of Representatives to “take one for the party.” The chairman of the Commission outlines his vision for the party, his rationale for this vision and how he proposes to achieve that vision. In the document, which we have been told, was hand delivered to Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, it is suggested that ambivalent Republicans can do more for their party from the other side. “Those of you with indeterminate voting records may well benefit our party by taking those records to the other side of the aisle, forcing the Democrats to wonder what you are doing and why.” Others who are more traditional conservatives are encouraged to change party affiliation only for a period of time required to be re-elected to their seats and then “come back home” in the words of the Chairman. He further stated: “If Republicans can’t get elected in your districts or states, then damn it, we’ll become Democrats! Our research indicates that many Americans seem to favor a one party system in this country and we’re just the people to deliver it.” Oddly enough the change from R to D is not going to be a big leap for some in Congress. In fact, many such as McCain, Voinovich and Murkowski may well benefit, being less likely to pull a muscle “reaching across the aisle” for bipartisan appeasement. A few may in fact, not change back after riding a liberal tidal wave to victory, choosing instead to operate as conservative “sleeper cells” and disguising themselves as blue-dog Democrats. So apparently the Republican leadership has decided, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” is a viable political strategy. Unfortunately for the Conservatives among us, it also appears that there are plenty Republicans in Congress whose commitment to conservative values takes a back seat to their own political aspirations. Ironically, if they were more true to the Conservative core, they might find it possible to be elected without having to surrender and philosophically cross over.
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