Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, self-proclaimed ‘moderate' Republican, Florida Governor Charlie Crist
The Specter of Charlie!
By Javier Manjarres Wednesday, April 29, 2009Yesterday’s announcement by Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter that he would be permanently ‘reaching across the aisle’ should be considered another wake-up call for the Republican Party. As we all have witnessed, Senator Spectacle has proven to be nothing but a ‘Lib’ in sheep’s clothing throughout most of his Senatorial career. Just recently, Spectacle was one of three ‘moderate’ Republicans that supported President Obama’s ‘Porkulus Package.’
Speaking of pork, we also had another self-proclaimed ‘moderate’ Republican, Florida Governor Charlie Crist, endorse that same spending bill. Governor Crist has also expressed interest in running for the US Senate next year, but Crist has said that he will wait until the end of the Florida Legislative session to make a formal announcement as to what his political aspirations may be. This announcement could come as early as next week—as the session is scheduled to end the first week of May.
Florida Republicans need to take the Specter defection to the Democratic Party very seriously. Republicans across the state need to read the writing on the wall and start supporting candidates that are both principled and have a high level of integrity. Remember, moderation by Republicans equates to a compromising with a failed ideology and the corrupt political aims of the Democrat Party. As shown by the last two election cycles, the GOP’s moderate approach to winning elections has proven to be a losing strategy.
If Governor Crist were to announce a Senate bid, what could we expect of him? Will Charlie one day jump ship to save his own hide, as Specter just did? Aside from what we know of the Governor, what other surprises could he possibly have stuffed away in his political ‘closet?’
It’s clear from their respective records that Crist and Specter are cut from the same cloth. These are two very liberal politicians who seem to care most about their personal political careers rather than ideology. Senator Specter today said that his decision to join the Democrats was based on the fact that the Republican Party has “veered to the right”—if only that were true! Fortunately, the Obamas and Specters of the political world have galvanized the base of the Party.
Over that past several elections, most, if not all of the so called ‘moderate’ Republican candidates have been defeated by the left. The driving force behind the Republican Party has always been the Conservative base—but, where are its leaders? Who will step up and bear the torch for the Conservative movement and the Republican Party?
The time has come for the GOP to once again embrace the up and coming conservative stars within the Party.
There are many Conservative candidates and potential candidates across the country that the party needs to get behind. The two that stand out above the whole pack of candidates are Allen West, who is running for Congress in Florida’s District 22 and Former Speaker of the Florida House Marco Rubio who, like Governor Crist, has not officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
If both Governor Crist and Speaker Rubio declare their candidacies for the open Senate seat, we will bear witness to the mother of all ideological battles! This fight between the Liberal and the Conservative wings of the GOP will be nothing less than a Heavyweight title fight. Personally, I am hoping it will be more like UFC Championship match, where the conservative wing of the GOP will showcase their spinning ‘right-hand’ back fist to its moderates—those same moderates whose compromises have produced disastrous political consequences, as well as a disillusioned conservative base of the Republican Party.
“Conservatism wins—when it’s on the ballot” -Rush Limbaugh
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