Snowe: GOP Has Abandoned Principles; Specter Switch "Devastating"

Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, one of the few remaining moderate Republicans in the Senate, said Tuesday that Arlen Specter's abandonment of the GOP is "devastating," both "personally and I think for the party."

"I've always been deeply concerned about the views of the Republican Party nationally in terms of their exclusionary policies and views towards moderate Republicans," said Snowe, who has been approached, she said, by Democrats in the past about switching parties.

Specter's switch to the Democratic Party "underscores the blunt reality" that the GOP is not a welcome place for moderates, she said.

So far, she said, she's staying put. "I believe in the traditional tenets of the Republican Party: strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, individual opportunity. I haven't abandoned those principles that have been the essence of the Republican Party. I think the Republican Party has abandoned those principles.

She added that being a Republican is simply part of who she is. "It's my ethnic heritage, Spartan side, that continues to fight," she said.

Ryan Grim is the author of the forthcoming book This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America

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Comments

[WireDolly]

03:26 PM on 05/03/2009

They are proponents of socialising women's uteruses, privatising everything else, and not a bloody bit more.

[JoeSausage]

01:55 PM on 05/02/2009

- strong on national defense. This suggests that the Republicans have a monopoly on national defense. Even after the largest, most successful terrorist attack in American history happened on their watch? There's some bizarre notion that Democrats aren't concerned with national defense? Why? Because Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter said so?

- fiscal responsibility. After 8 years of Republicans taking a surplus and turning it into the biggest deficit in history, they still crow about fiscal responsibility? Bush Jr. robbed the treasury, and gave all the money to his rich friends. Hundreds of billions in no-bid contracts to Cheney's friends at Halliburton and it's subsidiaries. Tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Cutting inheritance and capital gains tax didn't do much for the Bubbas of the country, or the working poor, or single parent families, or anyone really except the rich. Maybe Republicans were fiscally responsible once. But you can't bankrupt the country and cause an economic meltdown on your way out of power after 8 years, and pretend that fiscal responsibility is your party's tenet.

- individual opportunity. That's just double speak. That really means opportunity for a select few individuals at the top of the food chain. The rich. Poor people are still individuals, and the Republicans certainly don't give a damn about them and their opportunities! It also suggests that Democrats are against individual opportunity. It's amazing to hear Republicans talk about individual opportunity, while for 8 years the rich got richer and the poor got poorer.

[disgusted48]

12:54 PM on 05/02/2009

snowe says being a republican is "part of my ethnic heritage"

what does that even mean?

[JoeSausage]

01:57 PM on 05/02/2009

It's sort of like saying "My daddy voted Republican, and what's good enough for daddy..."

[LCLA]

06:34 AM on 05/02/2009

I am really pleased that Senator Specter's defection will give the Democrats and President Obama a theoretically filibuster proof majority (although I'm sure his independence will be just as frustrating to Democrats as it was to Republicans).
However, I have long felt that changing parties after election constitutes election fraud. This would not be so, if a change of party affiliation whould trigger a new election for that office.

[NeoLiberal]

07:02 AM on 05/02/2009

FYI--Specter was not on the ballot in 2008. His term is a Senate one, 6 years. His is up in 2010.

[LCLA]

12:08 AM on 05/05/2009

Even so, he ran as a Republican in 2004. He should have to run again for the final (nearly) two years of his term now that he has switched.

[dm10003]

02:21 PM on 05/01/2009

i'd enjoy this switch if it was more meaningful.

as it is, it's a move to avoid his being knocked off in the republican primary by a more conservative republican. spector has served, what, 25 or more years?, and wants to stay on his commitees and serving his constituents.

it this was a purely ideological shift, i'd be really enjoying it. but it isn't, so i'm not.

[WireDolly]

03:23 PM on 05/03/2009

Well, I'm not such a purist. I'm enjoying the hell out of this one. It's not often I can watch a Republican (or former one) and get that warm little sense of appreciation. Finally, one of them flip-flopped in the right direction.

[ObamacratDOTus]

01:54 PM on 05/01/2009

The GOP abandonment of principles culminated in the Cheney/Bush administration when a "culture of corruption" became THE STANDARD. Rove perfected the art of misinformation turning heroes into criminals and the good into evil. GOP leaders followed suit as they all became lying liars telling lies - false prophets every one. Misinforming their CONstituents has given them fabulous victories for 10 to 15 years till the 2006 elections. The GOP CONstituency has been fed lies for so long that that is what they want, expect and demand. Often, they can be seen on TV disseminating lies or kicking and screaming for more. But the GOP lie machine is finally being exposed. This has driven moderates away as they steadily lost their taste for the vulgarities of the GOP culture since Katrina opened their eyes and hearts. Repubes would do good to take their own advise: The truth will set you free!

[freakmind]

12:42 PM on 05/01/2009

That's funny she said Spartan, because the way they would settle arguments was by whoever could shout louder. That's what I was told anyways...

[Brandon Crisler]

01:40 PM on 05/01/2009

Republican principals are spartan, as in sparse.

[cybertoothcat]

06:02 PM on 05/01/2009

Hmmm....Spartans fought to the death many times over disagreements. The Repugnant party looks pretty dead to me.

[samonet az]

12:36 PM on 05/01/2009

Principles? What good to anyone are Republican principles anymore? Whether they are coming from the moderate camp or the conservative camp, the fact that they are all in 100 percent lock-step agreement on government non-interference in business belies the reality that government, for example, is now in the banking business. This makes it doubly galling that, even in the midst of handing over trillions to the banks, the mortgage cramdown legislation (100% voted against by Republican senators) is defeated at the behest of these same bankers who suffer from the same faulty logic that got us into this mess in the first place. The upshot of their business philosophy: short-term profitability trumps long-term viability. They're setting it up so they can abscond with more taxpayer money down the road. At this point, I don't think we can trust they will ever pay it back.

It seems that, even where it really matters, there is no difference between moderate and conservative Republicans. Their "principles," as applied today, can only lead us to destruction. Their appeal to the past implies they belong to a former time. Their continued presence on the political scene is a testament to the failed "you give us money, we do your business" Washington consensus. We're going to see another Republican rout in 2010 when all is said and done.

[ultima]

01:48 PM on 05/01/2009

It might surprise some that there is no lock-step agreement within the Republican party. It is clear to me as a Republican that more regulation is required. For example, I have long favored an expansion of Sarbanes Oxley to make sure that miscreant executives and boards are not rewarded for temporary or misrepresented characterizations of company performance. Proceeds from the exercise of stock options should be escrowed for at least five years and retained by the company if the increase in the value of the company adjusted for the business cycle is not sustained. Short term performance should never be rewarded whether it be with bonuses or stock options.

CEOs and CFOs and Boards of Directors should be held personally accountable for the veracity of financial reports. The reports should be written in plain English and those who sign off on these reports must guarantee there are no subterfuges, off-shore accounts, or other shady practices not fully and truthfully described in the reports.

Republican principles will not lead us to destruction. It is more likely that the profligate tax and spend policies of the neolibs will have that effect while moving us closer "socialism" and destroying everything about capitalism that is responsible for America's greatness. Good luck with that approach!

[Json]

06:14 PM on 05/01/2009

The repubs seemed to march in lockstep through the Bush years. It seems like now that they are out of power they are fracturing. I would guess that the moderate republicans now feel free to do and say what they want since there is no accountability within their party.

So you have the hardcore who think that republican ideas are great (despite the disaster of the last 8 years and there defeats in 2006 and 2008) and the moderates who think that there are problems within the republican ideology that need to be addressed. This second group of people is being marginalized. Even now calls for regulation are being fought by the repubs . Your views that you outlined above are well thought out and articulate and would probably be considered treason in the repub party.

[mari2JJ]

10:33 PM on 05/01/2009

I doubt it is possible for anything that the Republicans have done or will do will get our country straight. I Was a Republican and like you, I was for fiscal responsibility, care for the less fortunate, war only when it could NOT be avoided no matter what. Alas, I have not changed but the party I once loved and worked so hard for has left its anchors in what is right. Then along came G. W. Bush and he turned the Republican world upside down. So now, on top of Republicans inefficiencies in managing our budgetary issues, they also drug us into this silly, unnecessary war, trumped up on the slimmest excuse for invading Iraq. It will be years and years before the Republican party recovers from the muck of the last administration and I doubt those moderates of us who fled the party will ever return after the nastiness towards us by so many Republican talking heads. It just seems they were so ungodly in their hate filled rhetoric and their mismanagement of our country when they controlled all three branches of the government.

[NeoLiberal]

07:04 AM on 05/02/2009

Senator Snowe's historical voting record should be examined. I would venture to say, moreso than not, that too was in statistical lock-step with W and his cons.

[ROinReno]

12:06 PM on 05/01/2009

I was not aware the Republican Party had principles to abandon, beyond tax cuts for the wealthy, anti abortion and the imposition of Religious dogma, hardly a platform that appeals to the greater number of Americans. This is of course why the GOP campaigns are based on slander and defamation rather than issues.
Specter and for that matter Snowe have shown some common sense and concern for the greater good which qualifies them for membership as Democrats.
Most Republicans would have to be rejected on the basis of mental, intellectual and given the support for torture, moral bankruptcy should they seek to switch.
In short the number of Republicans qualified to become democrats can be counted on the fingers of one hand.

[KYJurisDoctor]

12:03 PM on 05/01/2009

I'm a moderate Republican too, and I feel Olympia Snowe's sense of frustration!

[cminca]

11:53 PM on 05/01/2009

On behalf of all of us ex-republicans: come on in--the water's fine! You'll wonder why you didn't join us before

[jsgaetano]

11:43 AM on 05/01/2009

The GOP never abandoned it's principles. It simply never had any to begin with.

[JGC1010]

11:27 AM on 05/01/2009

You know, maybe it would have been better, long-term, if Specter had switched from Republican to Independent. There are already two senators who call themselves Independent rather than Republican or Democrat. Adding a third Independent senator might have given critical mass to a movement to encourage Snowe and a few others to leave the Republican party and declare themselves Independents. That course would engender much less bickering and sound and fury (signifiying nothing). It would be less confrontational, less prone to reducing the issue to the typical partisan sound bites. And it would open the way much more surely for the demise of the Republican party.

[hexham]

12:19 PM on 05/01/2009

independents dont have access to party money or organization for reelection. note the two independents are from tiny states where they can almost shake every hand in 6 years.

[philko]

01:48 PM on 05/01/2009

Might have been better for the country, but not for Specter personally. He was going to have to fight really hard to win the next Rep. primary (and a win would by no means be certain). OTOH, as a Dem, he'll have a great chance - especially if there's no serious primary challenge. But, as an Independent, he'd have the toughest contest of all.

Switching to Dem was the best strategy for him (personally) and that's what drove the decision.

[VinceTeeter]

10:03 AM on 05/01/2009

Republican principles?? Yeah, and giant shrimp and military intelligence. That's pretty ugly if you ask me. The only principles I see practiced by Republicans are fear, hate, ignorance, and greed.

[Wildofski]

06:44 AM on 05/01/2009

Sen. Olympia Snowe, its OK, come over to the light side.

[Flying Dutchman]

07:40 AM on 05/01/2009

She would make a fine Democrat!

[karinova]

11:50 PM on 05/01/2009

But isn't it better (at least for us) if she stays a Republican?

[Vasudeva]

07:51 AM on 05/01/2009

They have not abandon greed, ignorance or any other principles that is selfish.

[GettinItRight]

11:42 PM on 05/01/2009

Selfishness is forcing someone to fund the advancement of your morals when they strongly disagree with your morals.

For example, taking tax dollars from a Right-To-Life person, and using that money to fund abortions.

[Forest]

02:47 AM on 05/01/2009

I've admired Senator Snowe over the years for her directness and willingness to stand on principle.