House Dem to switch to Republican Party
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/12/22/art.parker.gi.jpg caption="Griffith is switching to the Republican Party."]Washington (CNN) - Sources confirm to CNN that Democratic Rep. Parker Griffith will announce Tuesday that he's switching parties and will run for re-election next year as a Republican.
The freshman lawmaker represents Alabama's 5th Congressional District. Griffith won his seat last year by 3 points over Republican Wayne Parker. But the district went for Republican John McCain over Barack Obama by 23 points in the presidential election.
The Republican source was familiar with the decision but didn't want to preempt the announcement later Tuesday. The story was first reported by Politico. A Democratic aide also tells CNN Griffith is holding a staff meeting Tuesday morning to inform his staff of his decision, and will make a formal announcement at 2 p.m. ET.
Griffith was one of 39 Democrats who voted against the party's health care reform bill last month. His is only one of three Democrats to have voted against the health care bill, the stimulus measure, and the cap-and-trade bill.
Griffith pledged in August he would vote against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as Speaker next session.
With Griffith's switch of parties, the Democrats will hold a 257-178 advantage in the House of Representatives.
- CNN's Evan Glass and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this story
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No loss really, he was just giving the Democratic party a bad name. Good riddance.
Turncoat. Saw the wind blowing and decided to go for survival. I really don't blame him in a way. If you want to stay in Congress you have to look for the prevailing wind. Turncoat.
The USA should really be so embaressed to no have health care. As a American living outside of the USA I have the best health care I have ever had!!!! I have lived in Germany for the last 4 years and loved the idea that each person can see a doctor. Obama can not do it alone and if the USA will not support him now then whatever happens to them when they need help on heath care , and they will! I have no idea how the USA will ever keep thier number 1 place in the world.
Support your support behind your Leader.
Good luck. As far as the radical tea-baggers and neo-cons are concerned Griffith is impure and will be purged without a second thought.
From Alabama... Is anyone surprised? The Republican Party is indeed the "party of the southern white man." I got that from an article in which a republican senator was quoted as saying Steele was put in as chairman of the RNC because the RNC does not want to be thought of as the "party of the southern white man"...but that's exactly what they are. They just don't want people to think so, but their attempts to shroud that fact have failed.
The congress man Giffith just care about himself and keep his seat that is the all purpose of switching the pary.
Good riddance, to bad rubbish!
Hope he enjoys the pointless existence of the Republican Party!
I guess you have to give him some credit. Very few admit that they are Republicans. Most now days say they are independants.
I guess that is one way to keep the job in the coming debacle of Democrats. We really don't want a lot of these people, most of the current Congress along with their president should be in jail and hopefully many of them will be soon.
I hope he gets beat so bad he will never think Republican again.
Too bad that this man is such a coward! People who switch from one party to the other when things get tough are not honest!
You either stand for certain values or you don't.
Merry Christmas & peace to all!
And so it begins...
Let the flip flopping begin! The writing is on the wall for Dems... The only change we have seen is bribes going from the Repubs pockets to the Dems pockets!
You will be less missed Griffith. You were a democrat by name and not by deeds!
I hope you lose to a real Democrat you piece of garbage. Just so you can get back in Congress (to get nothing done) you'll change parties just like that. Take your pals Lieberman and Nelson with you. They're more fitting in your party of selfish-title caring-do nothings.
He must be able to pass the 10 communist principles of republican party purity. If so, he is no democrat.
Healthcare reform is not reform. It is a gift to the insurance industry who take premiums and invest them in other investments, derivitives, CDO's etc. If their profits are stressed by health care reform it will be like AIG and other investment companies being stressed and it will prevent the recovery from moving ahead. It is too big to fail. The people can organize but when it comes to something important the Democrats and Republicans are the same. It is a big dance, a game, smoke and mirrors, lobbyists and payoffs for votes. It is an oligarchy and except in very extreme circumstances the people can organize until they die and it does little real good. Obama offers little change and hope and is now part of the oligarchy. That is another reason why we are escalating the Afghan War. Harold Trainer
Good for him!
If he had any sense he would jump both parties and come out as a Libertarian or an Independent. I can only imagine the improvements that would be made in the joke that is called congress if a good third of them suddenly did not have to blindly obey either party line.
When did Alabama elect a democrat?
Jumping ship to the Republicans who ship is not much better.
Get out and stay out!
If you've voted against the three measures that matter for most people then why on Earth are you wanting to be in Congress? So you can just protect big business like the rest of the Republican filth.
He doesn't even sound like a Democrat with those "no" votes. Wonder when those two others will pull the switcheroo.
Against, against, against, against, sounds like this DINO is already a member of the Greedy Obstructionist Party.