Arlen Specter: Will His Flip Make a Difference?

Arlen Specter has long been the senator for my district and though I am disappointed in his recent decision to switch from a republican to a democrat, I can't say that I'm surprised. Specter has voted against many party values including bans on abortion and immigration. Ironically he once supported former President George Bush and voted to in support of the patriot act. However, during the investigation of the same act, Specter proposed impeaching Bush, a fellow republican.

I do have to point out that not all republicans are anti abortion and environment. I am a registered republican and personally oppose any law that prohibits abortion. Furthermore, I believe like many democrats that stem cell research is legitimate as are laws that help protect the environment. Unlike Specter however, I believe that immigration should be closely monitored and that during times of crisis the government should be able to listen to my phone calls (it's not like I'm saying anything they'd care about).

So will I be voting for Specter as he seeks reelection in 2010? What about his other constituents? Will they vote for Specter who has represented Pennsylvania for the last five terms, or will they branch out to a new candidate? Due to this recent "crisis" I intend to make it a point to disregard political parties and look at the big issues. If Specter supports a majority of my viewpoints, he'll have my vote; if not I'll find a better suited candidate. Specter has always been in the middle on many issues, who's to say that that's going to change now that he has altered his political status. In fact this whole issue boils down to Specter's reelection which he believes he will lose if he remains a republican. He did not want to change his political party; he simply thought that by doing so he could save his job. In the end it makes no difference, Arlen Specter will continue ignoring party lines regardless of his political status. This is something that he has always done, except now he will be known as democrat with republican beliefs as opposed to a shaky republican who votes like a democrat.