AL-5
Conservatives Not Ready To Embrace Party-Switcher
22/12/09 18:55
I am quoted in this article about conservative’s hesitance to embrace Griffith :
Conservatives Not Ready to Embrace Party-Switcher
Conservatives Not Ready to Embrace Party-Switcher
0 Comments
More on the Griffith Switch
22/12/09 12:44
Here’s what ALRLC’s Steve Gordon had to say:
“From my perspective, this clearly shows there is blowback from the Democrat’s legislative overreach in DC. Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama are now having to pay a political price for shoving their agenda down our throats.
“However, what seems to be a GOP victory at first may well become another liberal victory in the long term. Unless Parker Griffith starts voting like a true fiscal conservative, Alabama could be stuck with another entrenched big-government Republican congressman.
“Welcome to the party, Parker. Here’s an electronic copy of the Constitution. Read it well, as you will have to continue to dodge us if you continue to disregard it.”
Here’s what the Club For Growth said:
Alabama is a run-off state, so Griffith will have to go head-to-head against a seasoned Republican if he wants to stay in office (assuming he doesn't get 50% of the vote right off the bat).
Griffith's voting record is far from conservative, too. Granted, he voted against the Big 4 - Obama's first budget, the Stimulus, Cap and Trade, and ObamaCare. However, his vote on the budget is slightly deceptive since he originally voted for 9 of the 12 spending bills that make up the budget. And he voted against all the Stimulus amendments that would reduce its size.
But just a quick perusal of 2009 shows that he voted YES on the 2009 pork-filled Omnibus; YES on Cash for Clunkers, NO on waiving the harmful Davis-Bacon provision, and had a pathetic 0% score on the 2009 RePORK Card.
This party switch signals Griffith's nervousness, but it doesn't signal that his incumbency is safe.
“From my perspective, this clearly shows there is blowback from the Democrat’s legislative overreach in DC. Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama are now having to pay a political price for shoving their agenda down our throats.
“However, what seems to be a GOP victory at first may well become another liberal victory in the long term. Unless Parker Griffith starts voting like a true fiscal conservative, Alabama could be stuck with another entrenched big-government Republican congressman.
“Welcome to the party, Parker. Here’s an electronic copy of the Constitution. Read it well, as you will have to continue to dodge us if you continue to disregard it.”
Here’s what the Club For Growth said:
Alabama is a run-off state, so Griffith will have to go head-to-head against a seasoned Republican if he wants to stay in office (assuming he doesn't get 50% of the vote right off the bat).
Griffith's voting record is far from conservative, too. Granted, he voted against the Big 4 - Obama's first budget, the Stimulus, Cap and Trade, and ObamaCare. However, his vote on the budget is slightly deceptive since he originally voted for 9 of the 12 spending bills that make up the budget. And he voted against all the Stimulus amendments that would reduce its size.
But just a quick perusal of 2009 shows that he voted YES on the 2009 pork-filled Omnibus; YES on Cash for Clunkers, NO on waiving the harmful Davis-Bacon provision, and had a pathetic 0% score on the 2009 RePORK Card.
This party switch signals Griffith's nervousness, but it doesn't signal that his incumbency is safe.
Re: The Parker Griffith Switch
22/12/09 12:36
The big news today is Rep. Parker Griffith’s (AL-5) switch from Democrat to Republican. Like many others, I think this is indicative of the backlash against Obama and the Democrats and a good harbinger for Republicans in 2010.
As far as Griffith goes, switching parties doesn’t make him conservative. His voting record stands on its own. Yes, he voted against the so-called “Big Bills” (i.e. Stimulus, Omnibus Budget, Cap and Trade, and Health Care), but he also voted FOR 9 of the 12 appropriations bills in the budget. He voted FOR Nancy Pelosi as Speaker, and FOR cash for clunkers. If Griffith wants to become a Republican his voting record shows he’s going to have a lot of work to do.
My biggest concern with the switch is that we will wind up with another big government Republican who likes to bring pork back to his district and is impossible to get out of office. Both of the Republican candidates in AL-5 are solid conservatives. Unfortunately, Mo Brooks and Les Phillip will both have to raise a lot of money to compete with Griffith’s war chest.
As far as Griffith goes, switching parties doesn’t make him conservative. His voting record stands on its own. Yes, he voted against the so-called “Big Bills” (i.e. Stimulus, Omnibus Budget, Cap and Trade, and Health Care), but he also voted FOR 9 of the 12 appropriations bills in the budget. He voted FOR Nancy Pelosi as Speaker, and FOR cash for clunkers. If Griffith wants to become a Republican his voting record shows he’s going to have a lot of work to do.
My biggest concern with the switch is that we will wind up with another big government Republican who likes to bring pork back to his district and is impossible to get out of office. Both of the Republican candidates in AL-5 are solid conservatives. Unfortunately, Mo Brooks and Les Phillip will both have to raise a lot of money to compete with Griffith’s war chest.