Specter and Hacks

Arlen Specter today acknowledged that he is a Democrat. This has created quite a stir, especially among hacks and the media.

The media is trying to make this into an ideological battle between "moderates" and "conservatives" or "far right". Yet they have no clear definition of either, and accept only a dichotomy of labels (no room for libertarians, fiscal-conservative/social-liberals or vice versa, statists, fascists, or even a label for those who only care about political power). They declare folks like Bush and Santorum "far right conservatives" at the same time they declare Toomey a "far right conservative". Yet Toomey is "far right" for supporting limited government, and opposing the expansion of the federal government, bailouts, pork barrel spending and the like, while Bush and Santorum pushed for a massive expansion of the federal government, bailout, and pork barrel spending.

They blame "far right" free market policies for the demise of the Republican Party. Yet the Republican Party of late has been a party of big government, and voters correctly identify the Republican Party as the party of big government - that is why they lose. These are the same policies pushed by Obama. "Moderates" - and those who desire nothing but political power - is what destroyed the GOP, not free-market policies (which were never enacted).

At the same time, many pundits are already speculating about a "moderate" like Tom Ridge or Jim Gerlach will enter into the Republican primary and the "right wing conservative" Toomey. If the Republican party is too "right wing" for a "moderate" like Specter, why would a "moderate" like Ridge be able to crush a "conservative" like Toomey? These pundits will use any justification to support a Big Government candidate, even if it is completely illogical.

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What are the Republican party hacks to do? Do they stand behind Specter or call him out for being a bad guy? Yesterday, the party hacks were calling for Republicans to support Specter, because "we can't let that seat go to a Democrat." Today, supporting Specter would give that seat to a Democrat.

Yet if the hacks attack Specter for a party switch, it reveals they simply have no principles other than a party label. The NRSC, for instance, supported Specter last week, but today calls his party switch "the height of self-presevation" - yet Specter's voting record and philosophy of government are exactly the same.

And Democrat hacks are no better. If the loss of Specter is so bad for Republicans, why are Democrats willing to rally behind Specter? Is there really no difference between the two parties? Specter reportedly told Obama, "I am a loyal Democrat. I support your agenda." Is it unreasonable to think that such a viewpoint would not fit in the Republican Party? Are we to expect Republicans and Democrats to have the same policy agenda?

And why do folks keep saying "this gives Obama a filibuster proof majority"? Specter isn't changing how he votes; he was already largely voting with the Democrats and Obama.

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Let's be clear, Secter's "switch" had nothing to do with ideology. Even GOP chair Michael Steele acknowledges that, saying, "Senator Specter didn't leave the GOP based on principles of any kind. He left to further his personal political interests because he knew that he was going to lose a Republican primary due to his left-wing voting record."

Just over a month ago, Specter emphatically declared "I am a Republican." Less than two weeks ago, he demanded Republicans support him in order to prevent a Democratic takeover of the government. What changed between then and today? Not a change in the principles of the Republican party... but polling showing Specter was losing badly. It was quite clear that Specter switched only as a desperate attempt to remain in office.

Take this article from The Hill, as an other example. It only came out last night, and quotes a number of hacks praising Specter for "reaching out to conservatives" - yet today Specter blasts conservatives for ruining the party, and claims that is why he switched.

It is not simply the Big Government policies of the Republican party that have doomed their electoral chances, but also (perhaps primarily) the well-earned reputation that the party only cares about retaining political power. The Specter fiasco, the reaction of the party hacks, and the media's inability to comprehend this development indicate little is likely to change.