Frugal Café Blog Zone

Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on December 22, 2009

Democrat Rep. Parker Griffith will announce he will be joining the Republican party today

Alabama’s state motto is We Dare Defend Our Rights.

Looks like Alabama’s congressman Parker Griffith has taken his state’s motto to heart, and is fed up with the Democrats dismantling the Constitution and ripping away Americans’ inherent rights and freedoms, especially with government-run health care. Today, Rep. Griffith will announce that he is leaving the “Party of Neo-Socialism” and joining ranks with Republicans.

Makes me think of that classic childhood game… Red Rover, Red Rover, send Parker right over!

I can only imagine how many dead fish Rahm Emanuel is stabbing right now… and the incoherent flood of curse words cascading from his mouth that are filling the rooms of the White House. Nancy Pelosi’s face is likely angrily stretching and snapping like Silly Putty. Obama is probably too busy packing for his Hawaiian vacation, but he has Chicago cronies who are, no doubt, “keeping count, brother.”

Be sure to note that soon, very soon, the fringe liberal media will start viciously attacking Griffith, concocting all sorts of lies and smears about him and his family, because well, THAT’S WHAT THEY DO. Left-wing nutjob Keith Olbermann will probably spew and slobber and loudly wish Griffith dead tonight… and the few leftists who actually watch MSNBC will giggle in approval. Because if you disagree with leftists, they want you injured or dead. Or attack and humiliate your children on national TV… right, David Letterman?

Brave man, Mr. Griffith. Indicative of more defections to come, methinks.

From FOX News, Freshman Alabama Congressman to Switch Parties to Join GOP:

Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, is switching parties to become a Republican, Fox News learned Tuesday.

Griffith is expected to make a formal announcement in an afternoon press conference.

Griffith, a retired oncologist and businessman, succeeded former Democratic Rep. Bud Cramer, who retired earlier this year, in a hard-fought contest for the northern Alabama seat.

Republicans thought that district would be hard for Democrats to hold without Cramer on the ballot, but Griffith defeated Republican Wayne Parker by 4 points — 52-48 percent — even though Republican presidential nominee John McCain won every county in the district.

Former President George W. Bush won the district by double digits in both of his races.

In Congress, Griffith joined the Blue Dogs, the coalition of moderate and conservative Democrats in the House. He voted against the health care reform bill in November.

Earlier this year, Sen. Arlen Specter moved from the Republican Party to the majority Democratic Party but Griffith’s party switch from the majority to the minority party is rare.

Florida Rep. Andy Ireland was elected to the House in 1980 as a Democrat when that party held control. But in 1984, Ireland switched to join the GOP and thus serve in the minority. He continued to serve until 1993, when he did not seek re-election to the House. In 1994, Rep. Michael Forbes of New York was elected as a Republican but switched to the minority Democrats in 1999. He did not receive the Democratic nomination in 2000 and lost the seat.

Griffith’s thinking may not be a total surprise, however. In August, he told voters at a town hall meeting at the University of North Alabama that if given the chance he would not vote again for Nancy Pelosi as House speaker.

“I would not vote for her. Someone that divisive and that polarizing cannot bring us together,” he said.

From Real Clear Politics, On the Parker Griffith Switch:

Bottom line: while we shouldn’t expect any MSM pundit discussions about how Griffith’s departure is a sign of the “narrowing” of the Democratic Party, this is still a noteworthy development. Just as the Republican Party’s rightward and Southern shift has placed a burden on moderate Northeastern Republicans, so the Democratic Party’s leftward and Northern shift has put pressure on moderate Southern Democrats. Now that the liberal Democrats are in charge – pushing their agenda and taking responsibility for the state of the Union – this pressure has become more salient. Griffith may or may not be the only Democrat to make an actual jump to the GOP, but his departure from the Democratic Party underscores the tension between the liberal leadership and many Southern moderates as the House prepares for a big health care vote.

We saw a similar dynamic in 1993-95, as moderate Democrats in the House (e.g. Billy Tauzin of Louisiana) and the Senate (e.g. Richard Shelby of Alabama) jumped to the GOP. That sets up the following expectation: if the GOP picks up 35 to 39 seats next year, John Boehner and Eric Cantor will work like the dickens to convince some disgruntled moderate Democrats to make the jump to the GOP.

As a final point, I’d note with interest that the difference between Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Pelosi actually depends on Democrats who, like Griffith, hail from McCain districts. Forty-nine districts voted for John McCain but sent Democrats to the House of Representatives. Liberal votes on cap-and-trade, health care, the jobs bill, and so on puts a strain on many of them. Griffith might not be the last party-switcher when it’s all said and done.

From Gateway Pundit, It Has Begun… (Democ)Rats Abandon Sinking Ship:

Democrat Parker Griffith switched parties today to become a Republican. He plans on blasting the Democratic health care bill as a prime reason for his decision to switch parties—and is expected to cite his medical background as his authority on the subject. The freshman representative will become the first Republican to hold the historically Democratic, Huntsville-based district.

From VotingFemale Speaks!, Rep Griffith flips Obama and Pelosi ‘the bird’; will announce his switch from DEM to Republican today:

According to a FOX News breaking news alert, Rep Parker Griffith (D-Alabama) is going to announce live on national television that he is switching parties from Democrat to Republican.

Those close to him cite many reasons for his decision, not the least of which is his opposition to the Federalization (Public Option) of American Health Care and the buy offs of Congressmen and other back door stunts being pulled to get ObamaCare passed inspite of a Majority of Americans opposing it.

From Michelle Malkin, Early Christmas gift: Alabama Democrat announces switch to GOP Updated; Sen. Sessions reacts:

Every vote counts. And this is a good one (or is he? see updates below).

Politico reports that Alabama Democrat Rep. Parker Griffith will switch parties today. He’s a defender of grass-roots activists who protested at town halls over the summer and a cancer doctor who passionately opposes a government health care takeover. Bring it on…

From Hot Air, Breaking: Blue Dog flips to GOP:

Usually one does not see Congressmen or Senators flipping parties to join the minority. However, Politico’s Josh Kraushaar has a scoop that Blue Dog Democrat Parker Griffith of Alabama, a freshman in Congress, has seen enough of Nancy Pelosi’s leadership. He will join Republicans in a move that has far more symbolic than substantive impact — for now…

Griffith’s district has been conservative for years. His predecessor, Democrat Bud Cramer, almost found that out the hard way in the 1994 Republican landslide, barely hanging onto his seat. After that scare, Cramer became a solid Blue Dog, and Griffith campaigned as someone who would follow in Cramer’s footsteps.

He must have understood that the Tea Party protests would mean disaster if he supported Pelosi’s agenda. The move actually means a tougher ride for Griffith in the next year; he may have to shuffle his committee assignments, although the GOP is likely to accommodate him if possible…

Additional reading:
Ace of Spades HQ: Breaking: Blue Dog Flips to Red and CBO Director: ObamaCare™ might reduce access and quality of care and Reidcare Taxes Tanning Salons Too
Sister Toldjah: Alabama Blue Dog switches to the GOP and Another Dem Senator paid for pro-healthcare “reform” vote
Dancing Czars: BREAKING NEWS: Senate to vote on health care bill unconstitutionality!
Brian Darling, Big Government: Earmarks Buy ObamaCare
Gateway Pundit: Lindsey Graham: Seedy Chicago Politics Passed Health Care Bill and Harry Reid Says $1.2 Billion in Sweetheart Deals Were Not Sweetheart Deals …Update: Reid Slams Senators Who Missed Payoff and Sen. Whitehouse: Obamacare Opponents Are Birthers, Right-Wing Militias & Aryan Groups (Video) and Nebraska Republicans Set Up “Give Ben the Boot” Website and Obama Warns That Unless His Nationalized Health Care Bill Is Passed the US Will Go Bankrupt and Change!… 20 States Cut Mammograms After Government Report Released and 61% of Americans Against Democrat’s Nationalized Health Care Bill and 81% Disagree With New Government Rationed Mammogram Rules
Diary of a Mad Conservative: Pray for the freethinkers this Christmas and Red State & Erick Erickson: Insightful stuff
Riehl World View: Despite Vote, Last Night Left Me Very Optimistic
Cold Fury: Reid Backdoors America
Thanks for the Laughs: Lullaby
Urbin Report: A Nebraska doctor’s message for Ben Nelson
Caffeinated Thoughts: What is a Right?
Frugal Café Blog Zone: Sen. Graham Finally Gets It Right: Thuggery of “Seedy Chicago Politics” Runs White House, Outrageous Bribes to Pass ObamaCare (video) and Wheeling and Dealing: Nebraskans Outraged at Sen. Ben Nelson’s Sell-out on Health Care Bill and Dragnet’s Sgt. Joe Friday vs. Barack Obama: ObamaCare (video) and Frankenstein’s Monster… ObamaCare’s Hideous, Clumsy Creation: Which Version of ObamaCare Will Be Up for Vote? and Dem Harry Reid’s Latest Lunacy: Opposing ObamaCare the Same As Supporting Slavery… Get That Race Card Out of My Face, Dirty Harry (video) and Howard Dean Blasts ObamaCare on Air America… Wants to Kill the Bill (audio/video) and Congress, Are You All Deaf? Polls Climbing Against ObamaCare
VotingFemale Speaks!: Socialists Claim They Can Conquer Death Itself and Senate ObamaCare funds Elective Abortions; details hidden in legalese
The Powers That Be: Howard ‘YEEARGH!’ Dean Denounces Obamacare Bill
Patterico’s Pontifications: ObamaCare and 2010: Whither the “bounce” and Holding Out for Health Care and Scheduling the Senate Vote on Health Care and Harry Reid Speaks (Updated) and Obama’s Associates: Dr. Quentin Young
Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion: Dems Break It, They Own It and Nebraskans Must Be Proud This Morning
Amused Cynic: More on Obama’s breast cancer death-panel…
Nice Deb: EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE RALLY, Omaha, NE, Sunday 12/20 and Nelson Waivering – Deal Likely (UPDATE: Done Deal) and ObamaCare On The Brink Precipice… and Video: Krauthammer On DemCare: “It Will Take A Decade To Undo The Damage”
The Sundries Shack: Coburn Saves America; Dems Cheat Their Faces Off
A Conservative Lesbian: Bitchslap for John Aravosis: Democrats are losing on healthcare reform because their proposals stink — it’s not a leadership thang, you fool
Hot Air: The $1.2 billion cloture vote in the dead of night and Merry Christmas: Senate ObamaCare vote may come on December 24th
Moonbat Patrol: Fourth And Long On ObamaCare, Time To Punt

Categories: Government, Health, Law & Constitution, Media & Communication, Social and Political Climate
Tags: Alabama, America, Congress, David Letterman, Democrat, GOP, health care, House of Representatives, left-wing extremist, left-wing hate, liberal, Nancy Pelosi, nationalized health care, ObamaCare, Parker Griffith, politics, Rahm Emanuel, Rep. Parker Griffith, Republican, socialized health care, universal health care, Washington DC, White House