Specter Haunts GOP

“A Republican bolts, and Republicans rejoice?” (FOX News)

“Long-time Republican Senator Arlen Specter jumped ship today and became, yeah, a Democrat."  (CNN)

“60-seat filibuster-proof majority in the Senate assuming that Al Franken is seated as senator from Minnesota.” (MSNBC)

Hello, I’m Charlotte Bellis, and you’re watching Newsy.com.

Here’s NECN.com with a comment from Senator Specter:

“As the Republican Party has moved farther and farther to the right, I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Party.” (NECN.com)

NBC reports Specter’s switch was politically motivated:

“Specter told us today he thought he could not win reelection in a primary in his home state. He would be facing a much more conservative challenger, who almost beat him last time around. Specter said he couldn’t risk that.” (NBC News)

FOX News says the deal isn’t as sweet as the Democrats think it is:

“Party labels have never meant very much to Specter. He is what he is and he does what he does. And, from a political standpoint, the decision to run for re-election as a Democrat… creates a lot of problems for the Democrats, in Pennsylvania and nationally.” (FOX News)

Specter’s defection highlights what many have called a decline in the strength of the Republican party.  A guest on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews sees the move as a sign for conservatives to leave America:

“Yeah, maybe they’d be happier, really.  They seem to be very unhappy with the idea that they’re being condescended to by eastern elites and the Hollywood degenerates and stuff like that. Wouldn’t they be happier on their own, and wouldn’t we be happier too?” (MSNBC)

In one final perspective; President Barack Obama at a press conference with Specter this morning.

“I don’t expect any member of Congress to be a rubber stamp.  In fact, I’d like to think that Arlen’s decision reflects recognition that this administration is open to many different ideas.”