Radical Right Drives Specter Out Of The Republican Party [Free Republic & MAF to blame]

thinkprogress.org ^ | 4/28/2009 | by Lee Fang

[Jim Robinson]

Today, Sen. Arlen Specter announced that he is switching parties to become a Democrat. In a statement released to the press, Specter explained that the GOP has left moderates behind and "has moved far to the right." (Indeed, today's Progress Report discusses how radical elements of the conservative movement are in the ascendancy within the Republican Party.)

Republican leaders have been swift in their condemnation of Specter's move, dismissing it as an act of "political survival." But Specter's departure from the Republican Party was motivated more by the actions of radical leaders from within the right-wing establishment than by party registration numbers in Pennsylvania. RNC Chairman Michael Steele had called for punishing Specter for straying from strict party discipline, and a chorus of hard-right conservatives have been viciously trashing the Senator for months:

~~snip~~

-- Radio show host Melanie Morgan, along with writers from the right-wing website FreeRepublic.com, "stormed" Specter's office and "yelled" at his staff in order to "embarrass" the Senator over his "pro-stimulus vote." [Washington Times, 2/11/09]

~~snip~~

Will conservatives continue to march down the path of radicalism, obstruction, and reflexive opposition to the President...

[Jim Robinson]

LOL!

[umgud]

Guilty as charged.

[Petronski]

That's not blame, that's credit!

[Crazieman]

If only he’d take McLame, Grahamnesty, Snowjob, and Colic with him.

[dirtboy]

Radical Right Drives Specter Out Of The Republican Party [Free Republic & MAF to blame]

Somehow, I think Toomey outpolling Specter by 20 points has a bit more to do with Arlen's switch.

[Tribune7]

What drove Arlen out was that the fiscal conservatives in the party finally had that epiphany that Arlen really wasn’t a fiscal conservative after all.

[Jim Robinson]

Our Porkulus protest at Specter’s office produces results! Congratulations!!

[KarlInOhio]

It had nothing to do with the fact that the Primary was looking bad for Specter. I wonder if his big money supporters started hanging up on him when he called them about funding his 2010 campaign.

[silverleaf]

In his new democrat party, may Arlen find the moderates he so earnestly desires to associate with.

Buh Bye!

[randomhero97]

I’m glad I could help. Who’s next on the list, if we have the power why not use it.

[OCCASparky]

Cry me a friggin river, Arlen. You wouldn't know conservatism if it bit you in the ass. And if you think this party has shifted to the right, consider how many people want another Reagan, and not another Specter. Also consider how many people stayed home last year when a "moderate" McCain ran against a socialist like Obama.

Isn't it funny it was a DEMOCRAT columnist who wrote, "The only things in the middle of the road are yellow stripes and roadkill?" Guess they do get some things right every now and then after all.

[boomop1]

I’ll take all the credit I can get Ditto and PING.

[lonestar67]

How will we ever make it without his principaled leadership? /sarc

[Servant of the Cross]

Specter explained that the GOP ... "has moved far to the right" ...

*sigh* ... if only

[Zakeet]

Congratulations! Keep up the good work!

[unixfox]

And we are fixing to run the rest of em out on a rail!!

[mkjessup]

Congratulations Jim! If FR helped to drive Senator Sphincter out of the GOP, that means we’re doing exactly what we’re SUPPOSED to be doing!

It was FR that started the fault line that ended up as a massive fissure that Rudy-Tooty-Fruity’s campaing fell into and never recovered from, and if Snarlin Arlene ends up the same way, then it’s kudos all around.

[cotton1706]

left moderates behind and “has moved far to the right.”

And whose coattails did you ride in on Arlen?? Ronald Reagan, the most right leaning President in the post war period. Didn’t have a problem with conservatives then. And you didn’t have a problem asking Bush and Santorum from rescuing your seat in 2004.

We’re not blind to your games any more. Good riddance!!

[jiggyboy]

At an anti-Obama "tea party" protest in Scanton, the "loudest boos" were "reserved for Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, while the event emcee discussed the Pennsylvania senator's support for the federal stimulus."

"Right wing extremists", every one of 'em.

[Nextrush]

The GOP Establishment is upset with conservatives right now and it just oozed out with Brit Hume’s segment on Glenn Beck.

Conservatives can’t win is their thesis.

GOP “moderates”-insiders are already floating candidates to run against Toomey in the primary next year.

The fight for what the Republican Party will be is on.