U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter on leaving the Republican party:
"I have been a Republican since 1966. I have been working extremely hard for the party, for its candidates and for the ideals of a Republican Party whose tent is big enough to welcome diverse points of view. While I have been comfortable being a Republican, my party has not defined who I am. I have taken each issue one at a time and have exercised independent judgment to do what I thought was best for Pennsylvania and the nation.
"Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right. Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."
Arlen hasn't left the Republican party; the Republican party left him.
This photo, from last year's campaign might have offered a hint:
Look at the expression on Arlen's face. Says all that needs to be said.
Arlen was going to face a tough challenge from wingnut Pat Toomey. He probably would have lost a GOP primary, seeing as GOP primary's are dominated by right-wingers. Toomey can't win a general election. Voters in Pennsylvania, working people, have had enough of the conservative economic policies that leave them behind.
Arlen didn't want to be left behind.
All he did was jump a sinking ship.
