Specter Offended by Conservatives Who Put Him in Office

Senator Specter came to power on the electoral coat-tails of President Ronald Reagan in 1980, apparently not offended by conservatism, at that moment.

The most critical question which Republicans should be asking themselves right now is whether Specter deserted the party, or whether the party deserted Specter. The Senator has been quoted as saying, “…the Republican Party has moved far to the right…” Neglected by the Senator is the common observation that with the election of President Obama the Democrat Party has moved far to the left.

Perhaps the most important role of the party out of office is to act as a check, or a break, on the party which is in office. The political balancing between those with power and those seeking power tends to moderate legislation: it axiomatic that the party in office will eventually be the party out of office. In the British parliamentary system there is a “shadow cabinet” comprised of the out of office political parties which will offer their alternative solutions to those provided by the government, thus providing a constant flow of alternative views and ideas to the electors. Opposition improves legislation.

That the Republican Party has failed to articulate a coherent opposition to the policies of the Democrats is a failing to the republic and empowers less moderate legislative actions. Were there a coherent set of Republican alternatives to the actions of this President and this Congress there would not have been such a spree of unchecked, uncritical spending.

But what of Senator Specter? It may be that his desertion is indicative of the Republican Party finding its coherent message and the Senator objecting to that message. It may also be that the Senator is mindful of the changing winds of politics and seeing his ship becalmed trimmed his sails. I think it is some of each. There is, however, little solution in leaving extreme conservative politics only to join those in extreme liberalism.

Bottom Line: In the long run, I am convinced that the coming blood-letting in the Republican Party will be good for the party and good for the nation as they will eventually settle on a message which resonates with the voters. That the Democrats emboldened with a filibuster-proof majority will be unable to control their worst demons is without doubt. Their excesses will plant the seed of the eventual Republican resurgance. And when that time comes, the balance of power will shift again and we’ll wonder why that one moderate Democrat changed his party affiliation.