United Liberty

Unexpected news came today, at least on the national scene, as Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith switched parties from Democrat to Republican, saying that his former party’s leadership in Congress “continue[s] to push an agenda focused on massive new spending, tax increases, bailouts and a health care bill that is bad for our healthcare system.”

Reaction about the switch among conservatives has been less than enthusiastic with many hoping to pick off Griffith in a primary, citing a less than stellar voting record on fiscal issues.

After reading up on Griffith, it had been rumored for months that he was going to switch parties, from what I understand it had been made abundantly clear to him by the Alabama Republican leadership that he would be welcomed with open arms.

Griffith had always been considered a conservative Democrat and has voted better than most Democrats while in Congress. In fact, I doubt his record is all that different from a few of his fellow Republicans form his home state, such as Jo Bonner, Spencer Bachus or Mike Rogers.

The most glaring strike against him, in many minds, is his vote for Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker, though Andy Roth points out that Griffith voted for the omnibus budget bill, Cash for Clunkers and is a serial earmarker.

Going into 2010, Republicans will have to rely on some party switchers in order to gain more seats, much like they did in and around 1994 and 1995. After all, Griffith is no Dede Scozzafava, as he voted against ObamaCare, the “stimulus” and cap-and-trade.

Griffith absolutely needs to be challenged to come around toward free market ideals, but after getting some opinions from some conservatives in Alabama, he is no worse than his new Republican colleagues.