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Conservative Dem Congressman Parker Griffith Switching Parties
Rep. Parker Griffith (D-AL)
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The House Republican caucus is getting a present in its Christmas stocking: A new member of the caucus, with freshman conservative Democratic Congressman Parker Griffith of Alabama switching parties.
Griffith's switch was first reported by Politico, and confirmed to TPM by a GOP source who requested anonymity so as not to pre-empt Griffith's official announcement later today. Griffith's change of party puts the current makeup of the House at 257 Democrats to 178 Republicans -- the GOP would need to pick up 40 seats, without any other party switches, to win control in 2010.
Griffith, a medical doctor and former Alabama state legislator, was first elected to Congress in 2008, to an open seat previously held by retiring Blue Dog Democratic Rep. Bud Cramer. John McCain carried his district by 61%-38%, while Griffith defeated Republican opponent Wayne Parker by the slender margin of 51%-48%. Over this past summer, he told a local newspaper that he wouldn't support Nancy Pelosi for Speaker again, saying she was too divisive.
Griffith's party switch will provide Republicans with some rhetorical muscle about people rushing to their banner against the Democratic agenda, but in practical terms in Congress it won't mean much for Democrats. Griffith was a consistent vote against the Democratic agenda this whole year -- as examples, he voted against the stimulus, against the cap-and-trade bill, and against the health care bill.
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precisioncontrol
December 22, 2009 11:23 AM
OK so...he was already basically a Republican. It's a wash because the Democrats will get Anh "Joseph" Cao's seat back in November.
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storm
December 22, 2009 12:07 PM in reply to precisioncontrol
Ahn is my favorite republican rep.
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Rich in NJ
December 22, 2009 11:24 AM
bfd
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geofu54
December 22, 2009 11:26 AM
Buh-bye!
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amber
December 22, 2009 11:27 AM
Maybe Stupak will follow. Awful Blue Dogs.
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plan69
December 22, 2009 11:27 AM
don't let the door hit your ass on the way out bitch.
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alkali
December 22, 2009 11:30 AM
(cough) douchebag (cough)
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TBender
December 22, 2009 11:33 AM
If he's an Alabama Democrat, what's an Alabama Repub...oh, yeah....Sessions and Shelby, right.
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Winnie
December 22, 2009 12:03 PM in reply to TBender
Parker Griffin lives in North Alabama and so do I. North Alabamians know "BS" when we hear or see it. Parker is simply steping over , or around, a "Cow Pie".
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ericf
December 22, 2009 11:36 AM
If it weren't for the fact a majority is needed to control committees and the agenda, I'd rather these guys who vote with the Republicans anyway would just be honest and switch.
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jeffgee
December 22, 2009 11:45 AM
Su-prize, su-prize, su-prize! Another southern Dem switches to the GOP.
Take yer teabags with ya, bozo.
Meanwhile, Fox & Friends will think it's HUGE.
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Rockridge
December 22, 2009 11:58 AM
Dang that Nancy. If she were nicer, this wouldn't have happened.
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nova voter
December 22, 2009 12:02 PM
so if you're keeping score at home:
this no-name switches parties, and now the GOP is only a minority in the house by about a gajillion seats.
specter switches parties to give dems their 60th and filibuster-killing vote in the senate.
yeah, i can see how this is a big win for the GOP. *** rolls eyes ***
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JEP07
December 22, 2009 12:03 PM
If it walks like an R and quacks like an R and votes like an R, it's probably an R...
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Just me again
December 22, 2009 12:14 PM
Wow. So much for the Big Tent Party. The comments on here are disgusting. It won't be so funny next january when we need a few Blue Dogs to keep control
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Andreams
December 22, 2009 12:45 PM in reply to Just me again
I agree - I hate it but if we're going to have a big tent, we have to suck up and swallow. We must not become a mirror reflection of the thuglic party.
That said, it should be aginst the law to switch parties after being elected as a dem or thug. The national and state party fund the campaign, the people vote for a dem and then, everyone gets a rethug.
I hope a tea bagger runs against him and wins. That would be sweet justice.
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ClosetLuddite
December 22, 2009 12:56 PM in reply to Andreams
What's wrong with sucking up and swallowing? You say it like that's a bad thing ;)
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Schmed
December 22, 2009 1:08 PM in reply to ClosetLuddite
Yeah. If you're a progressive and/or a liberal Democrat, expect to do a lot more sucking and swallowing for the next 3 years.
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stillidealistic
December 22, 2009 1:47 PM in reply to Schmed
you get used to it after awhile...
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Andreams
December 22, 2009 10:23 PM in reply to ClosetLuddite
In some circumstances, it's a fine and enjoyable activity :)
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Just me again
December 22, 2009 12:14 PM
Wow. So much for the Big Tent Party. The comments on here are disgusting. It won't be so funny next january when we need a few Blue Dogs to keep control
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FreeRider
December 22, 2009 12:19 PM in reply to Just me again
Blue dogs will be the first to lose their seats in 2010.
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Stroszek
December 22, 2009 12:45 PM in reply to Just me again
Control of what?
If a Representative won't even vote for basic Democratic initiatives, you might as well negotiate with a Republican.
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Stroszek
December 22, 2009 12:49 PM in reply to Stroszek
And it's not like he was kicked out or primaried.
He voluntarily left because he has better electoral prospects with an [R] next to the same.
You think other Democrats should just ignore their constituents because Parker Griffith can't support the majority agenda while representing some deep red district in Alabama?
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Andreams
December 22, 2009 10:27 PM in reply to Stroszek
Committee control and Speaker of the House because we have a majority.
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nova voter
December 22, 2009 1:50 PM in reply to Just me again
i'll tell you what. that comment didn't mean shit to me the first time i read it. the second time, though, it really stung. please don't post it again. i just couldn't take it.
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biff diggerence
December 22, 2009 12:29 PM
Loss of Slave State district.
BFD.
Another Confederate with two surnames.
Looks like a Saxbe Chambliss Love Child.
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The Watcher
December 22, 2009 12:42 PM
Parker won't keep his seat as a Republican, the uber-conservatives won't allow it. He's as good as toast. They only want total obedience to their agenda, any 'slippage' gets you targeted for immediate replacement, they'll find a 'proper' conservative to replace him.
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thomas1
December 22, 2009 12:42 PM
back bencher on one side to back bencher on the other side.
As said above - don't let the door...
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cjop
December 22, 2009 2:02 PM
Would someone ask Herseth-Sandlin to go to.
Please.
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Just me again
December 22, 2009 3:26 PM
I am beginning to wonder about this site. I realize we are supposed to be Democrats but sanity is a nice thing too. The same people who are mocking this guy's departure were the same ones who welcomed FREAKING ARLEN SPECTER for "his courageous stand" when he switched parties.
They are both iterested on one thing and one thing only, survival. That alone should exclude them from your support
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nova voter
December 22, 2009 3:42 PM in reply to Just me again
uh, most of the people on this site were pretty disgusted with the specter thing, and called it what it was: an act of desperate self-preservation. many of the people on this site, in fact, called for him to be primaried.
reading comp and reality > you
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