Freshman Alabama Congressman to Switch Parties to Join GOP

[Revmitchell]

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 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.

Griffith's party switch is the first one in recent memory where any member of either party in the House or Senate has moved from the majority to the minority party. Earlier this year, Sen. Arlen Specter moved from the Republican Party to the majority Democratic Party.

More Here

 

[Johnv]

I suspect there will be one or two more blue dog democrats who switch to either Republican or independent before 2012. This would be consistent with my past prediction that Republicans will gain seats in Congress in 2012, 2014, and 2016, after which the pendulum will start to swing the other way.

 

[carpro]

I suspect there will be one or two more blue dog democrats who switch to either Republican or independent before 2012. This would be consistent with my past prediction that Republicans will gain seats in Congress in 2012, 2014, and 2016, after which the pendulum will start to swing the other way.

Only if they govern as stupidly as the last Republican majority and the current democrat majority.

 

[Johnv]

Only if they govern as stupidly as the last Republican majority and the current democrat majority.

Well, then, I'd say it's practically guaranteed.

 

[carpro]

Well, then, I'd say it's practically guaranteed.

:laugh: Probably.

But one can always hope.

 

[saturneptune]

I suspect there will be one or two more blue dog democrats who switch to either Republican or independent before 2012. This would be consistent with my past prediction that Republicans will gain seats in Congress in 2012, 2014, and 2016, after which the pendulum will start to swing the other way.

And so the cycle will repeat, again and again, doomed to failure. I wish this Congressman had declared he is an Independent, and others from the parties would do the same. That is what we need at this point.

 

[rbell]

I'm fairly familiar with this guy and his seat. He's pretty much an opportunist, and he sees the writing on the wall.

He only won the seat because his opponent ran as pitiful a campaign as I've ever seen.

 

[Winman]

Will this affect the vote on the Health Care plan? Will it rob the Democrats of the 60 votes they need to pass this bill?

 

[just-want-peace]

He only won the seat because his opponent ran as pitiful a campaign as I've ever seen.

'Pears to be the perfect parallel to the Nov, '08 election & why the "0" won.

 

[Salty]

Will this affect the vote on the Health Care plan? Will it rob the Democrats of the 60 votes they need to pass this bill?

Negative - the individual is a House Member - so it will not effect the Senate - unless a Senator decides to go by the Constitution

Salty

 

[KenH]

If this Congressman was switching to the Libertarian Party I would see that as a piece of good news.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

If this Congressman was switching to the Libertarian Party I would see that as a piece of good news.

As would I. I'd love to see the LP get some seats. I voted for a Libertarian for the Duval County Soil & Water Management Board last year, Jeff Hunt, and he won.

 

[rbell]

As would I. I'd love to see the LP get some seats. I voted for a Libertarian for the Duval County Soil & Water Management Board last year, Jeff Hunt, and he won.

If any third-party candidates are to make it to the level of Congress, that's how it will happen: Local wins, and work their way up.

 

[Aaron]

If this Congressman was switching to the Libertarian Party I would see that as a piece of good news.

Really? This guy is bad news for any party. The Republicans need to spank him and send him back to the Democrats.

 

[saturneptune]

Really? This guy is bad news for any party. The Republicans need to spank him and send him back to the Democrats.

No, the Republicans need to cease to exist along with the Democrats.

 

[rbell]

No, the Republicans need to cease to exist along with the Democrats.

I don't know about that.

There are a lot of spineless people in our country, and they need representation. There you have Republicans.

There are a lot of freeloaders and theives. Who's gonna represent them, if the Democrats don't?

 

[rbell]

Really? This guy is bad news for any party. The Republicans need to spank him and send him back to the Democrats.

Bad idea.

Barney Frank would hear about this, and want to participate.

 

[saturneptune]

I don't know about that.

There are a lot of spineless people in our country, and they need representation. There you have Republicans.

There are a lot of freeloaders and theives. Who's gonna represent them, if the Democrats don't?

Until we can do better, the Libertarian Party and the Constitution Party could be our two major parties. There are opposing views between the two which is fine. What would be missing from what we have now would be a great reduction is a focus on greed, money, and power. We the people would have time to ensure they were serving us instead of stealing from us, and, they were using the Constitition as their framework.

My question to you is, if we replace Democrats with Republicans for the medical reform issue or any other, what have you accomplished?

Who is going to represent the freeloaders and thieves? How about a public defender. I still advocate taking one billion dollars of the stimulus package and building a prison just for the present politicians, Everyone of them should be indicted for theft, bribery, and treason. Upon conviction, put them in this new facility breaking rocks and working on chain gangs. You can stick the ones you mentioned with them.

 

[rbell]

Until we can do better, the Libertarian Party and the Constitution Party could be our two major parties. There are opposing views between the two which is fine. What would be missing from what we have now would be a great reduction is a focus on greed, money, and power. We the people would have time to ensure they were serving us instead of stealing from us, and, they were using the Constitition as their framework.

My question to you is, if we replace Democrats with Republicans for the medical reform issue or any other, what have you accomplished?

Who is going to represent the freeloaders and thieves? How about a public defender. I still advocate taking one billion dollars of the stimulus package and building a prison just for the present politicians, Everyone of them should be indicted for theft, bribery, and treason. Upon conviction, put them in this new facility breaking rocks and working on chain gangs. You can stick the ones you mentioned with them.

Psssst....I was being sarcastic. :thumbsup::laugh:

 

[fbcodr]

Will this affect the vote on the Health Care plan? Will it rob the Democrats of the 60 votes they need to pass this bill?

No, I believe this man is a congressman not a senator.:wavey: