By Mr. Curmudgeon
The Baltimore Sun’s resident curmudgeon and sage, H. L. Mencken, once defined what he called the first rule of American politics, “When the water reaches the upper deck, follow the rats.” Democratic Representative Parker Griffith announced that he was heading down the ratline and over to the Republican Party. With Obama’s unsavory health care death panels a step closer to becoming a reality, Rep. Griffith hopes to avoid the voter backlash heading the Democrat’s way in 2010.
At a press conference, Griffith said he could no longer remain a Democrat while that party perused “legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy and drives us further and further into debt.”
“I have always considered myself to be an independent voice and I have tried to be that voice in Congress,” Griffith told reporters, “but after watching this agenda firsthand I now believe that the differences in the two parties could not be more clear and that for me to be true to my core beliefs and values I must align myself with the Republican party and speak out clearly on these issues.”
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, got to - what for his party - is always at the heart any issue:
“Mr. Griffith, failing to honor our commitment to him, has a duty and responsibility to return to Democratic Members and the DCCC the financial resources that were invested in him.”
As fleeced taxpayers, we could say the same to Van Hollen and his party.
Before the Republican rank-and-file begins salivating at Griffith’s defection, their party’s leaders need to answer one simple question: “If Republicans regain control of congress, will they continue to administer ObamaCare in perpetuity – as they did Roosevelt’s New Deal monstrosities – or will they overturn it, and by doing so, return to us the tattered scraps of our liberties? Failing to do so undercuts what Griffith described as “the differences in the two parties.” By joining a squishy “me too” Republican Party, Griffith could merely be substituting one sinking ship for another. The Tea Party may need to break out the life rafts.
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