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

[jnratliff]

The GOP adopted the pillar of GREED about the time Newt gingrich, ralph reed, grover norquist, kkkkarl rove, dick chenny, came on and have been getting worse by the year.
The whole party has abandoned the country and the people for personal gain.
It is truely sickening to see any of the republicans try to speak out on anything, because they have proven time and time again that they will do or say anything to make an extra dollar or cheat you!
Really a sorry group of people!

[tomasedison]

GOP can't abandon their principles
they never really had principles
just a set of talking points issued daily
and litmus questions every member had to answer correctly

[Ohsherri]

I'm glad to see that Snowe puts her "heritage" over what's best for AMERICA.
Bush..Chenny...McCain...Palin....All of them grateful for your love of "heritage".

[Henk]

...don't forget our favorite wing-nut: Michelle Bachmann. Grandma always said, if you are going to do something do it right, so we here in Minnesota are very proud that Michelle is at the top of her game as the wing-nuttiest of the wing-nuts.

[Chip W]

For conservative values I think of minimal government, non-intrusive government, and fiscal responsibility. I go along with these, though they need further definition.
But looking to the right today, I don't know where to find these values. I don't even know what I see over there. What's the Republican party about these days?

[serena1313]

The culture of intolerance thinned the ranks of moderate Republicans down to two and voters have left in droves Arlen Specter's defection is understandable. After lurching to the far right during the past few weeks failed to sway the Republican base, the certainty of losing the GOP primary to Pat Toomey, a far-right conservative, leaving the Republican Party was the only way Specter could survive politically. Whether the GOP party can survive is up for debate.

While Specter strongly supports healthcare and education, but tends to side with the Blue Dog Democrats on undermining climate change legislation, opposes Dawn Johnsen's nomination to head the OLC and flip-flopped on the EFCA does not guarantee the Democrats a "60" vote, he is flexible. Despite his differences, the Democratic Party has welcomed Specter with open arms.

In contrast Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins the only two remaining "moderate" Republicans are unwelcome by the far right because they do not hew to ideological purity. Fox News called all 3 Benedict Arnolds, Limbaugh wants them out, Senator DeMint (R-SC) encourages conservatives to aggressively go after them, too for supporting the stimulus bill.

The GOP cannot expand without moderate and independent voters. Unless Republicans abandon the hard-line ideological rigidity of their base, find a compelling message and offer sane policy ideas the party's future becomes less than certain.

[bpress]

Senators Snowe and Collins are more independent that republican. They probably can stay in their party, unlike Specter, since other repub candidates would not stand a chance against them in Maine.

[sepiasiren]

Snow--leeeave the dark side--join the FORCE...

[Badger84]

Senators Snowe and Collins are in denial. They will be targeted next....by their own party.

[wayoutleft]

i know the republican party comes right to my mind when i think of "fiscal responsibility and individual freedom". mitch mcconnell i think of as the paragon of the free life for us all. what a free spirit! and who can be more of a good steward of the nation's treasure than george bush, whose religious beliefs forbid mathematics.

specter is much, much smarter than she. specter understands this is an historic, watershed moment and you're either in or out. snowe only dimly senses that this isn't the usual freak-for-the-lobbyists two bit republican democrat c***p.she's nickel-dime like any republican- but by all means- come on over.

[jenmesser]

Specter knows the only chance in he** he has of winning re-election is as a democrat...that's the only "smart" thing he understands...

[nana4g]

Particularly when his own party of 30+ years declared a jihad against him for voting for the Stimulus Bill and said they would thwart his senatorial re-election bid by witholding funds and by putting up an opponent in the primary election. He feels he has more to contribute in the Senate and was not ready to be defeated by his own party, whom he served well for 30 years. He switched. They trash him now, calling him all kinds of names. He is no saint; has not been a perfect Senator; but, he should command more respect than what they gave afforded him, even invoking his chemotherapy as having turned him "evil". What principles are these?? Blackmail, censure, hate, intolerance, and, at the bottom of all this Republican Party does and says, is a total lack of respect for the American people to subject us to the psychotic maneuverings in which they engage in on a daily basis. That is why I will not even consider any position they have on any issue until they stop the ugliness and discredit those who spread it.

[wayoutleft]

the concept of action from principle instead of self interest is unknown to republicans. for republicans self-interest IS principle.

[fisharefreinds]

what are the traditional tenets of the republican party? blah blah blah and ho hum
certainly you left that long long ago when this party became more concerned about whatever it is you were mumbling on about and forgot the likes of Jacob Javits, and all liberal republicans that called your party home. there is zero tolerance for differing opinions, and the democrats biggest mistake has been ( and I'm afraid , still is) its rush to embrace this same one way thinking.

[charon]

Looks like the End Times are here for the Republicans. The Great Battle is joined between the sane Republicans and the insane Repubs. Having sold their soul to the insane ones to gain power in the 90s through 2006, it looks like the sane Repubs are now reaping the whirlwind. The faithful followers of the demagogues and the fundies outnumber the Snowes, the McCains, the Specters, and the party is becoming the home of all the nutcase paranoid reactionary racists.

Kind of sad in a way, but the sane Repubs had a lot to do with the self-destruction of their party. It may yet emerge from the ashes, though, led by people like Meghan McCain and other young moderates, but that day is a long way off, and probably won't happen until the party completely self-immolates.

[OatmealEater]

Love the "End Times" reference. Soon, the rest will all be "Left Behind". Ha!!

[ZKMC]

I don't consider McCain nor his daughter, even mildly moderate. Pro-war, anti-abortion, pro-deregulation + they showed their true colors with that "WTF" VP choice.... they are just like any other right winger.

[Smirk]

Hear, hear!

[headtrip honey]

Then how do you explain the fact that Meghan McCain is both pro-choice, anti-war, and pro-gay marriage?

She is much more liberal than her father. (Registered Democrat until this election)

And she does not seem to like Sarah Palin's policies much. Don't blame Meghan for her father's mistakes.

[nana4g]

With all due respect, Senator Snowe, two people within that snakepit of a Republican Party cannot "fight" for anything; there is nothing left. What is left now is nothing the Greeks, your heritage, would be proud of.

You are surrounded by wingnuts and people who do not value education, logic, any of what Greeks brought to civilization. You can bring your principles with you; we value all of that, perhaps more than Republicans today.

[dragonlady620]

In other words, "my party, right or wrong". If Snowe really believes in her party she should she should move to expel the neocon wingnuts who destroyed it. Old-school conservatives shake their heads when they talk about how this handful of seemingly insignificant nutcases took over the party. They don't seem to understand how it happened-nobody took them seriously and everyone thought they would just go away. It sounds exactly like stories of Hitler's rise to power.Nobody took this insignificant little man and the band of crazies that called themselves National Socialists seriously and didn't think anyone else would either. But they nearly succeed in destroying their country and the rest of the world along with it (sounds distressingly familiar, doesn't it?). What I don't understand is why they allow it to continue. Snowe should start a movement to oust the neocon lunatics or she should leave the party.

[take10]

Is she saying that racism and bigotry are part of her heritage? The old tenets of the republican party no longer exist! Get real, Sen. Snow! Logic, dictates that the GOP has been infiltrated by southerners who are hell bent on getting even for the civil war and the loss of free labor. It's too late to expect the republican party to reverse its path of self destruction. Sen. Snow and other moderates need to get off the GOP train to no where but down and out. The clock is ticking!

[headtrip honey]

Jesus....no, she's saying that her Spartan heritage won't let her give up fighting for what she believes are the true Republican principles (strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, individual opportunity). She wants to try to fight to return the party to its values.

Perhaps misguided, but an honorable sentiment.

[take10]

I guess you are one of those people that believe republicans are the "real Americans." Find me a democrat who doesn't believe in those same principles and I'll show you a republican who doesn't wish for the "south to rise again." Sen. Snow made herself very clear! She doesn't need to have anyone translate for her. She knows full well what her party presently represents, and that it won''t change with those who are currently serving.

The republican party has one leader, and he is Rush Limbaugh. Just ask any ditto head in their base. What Sen. Snow says or does is of no concern to them. If you really want their attention, throw in Malkin, Hannity, Savage, Drudge, Coulter, Beckkk, Bachmann and Joe the plumber, and they are all ears! With the exception of Bachmann, I just wonder why these idiots don't run for office.

[RegLib]

Come on, Senator Snowe. I've disagreed with some of our views but have disagreed with respect. You know what the right move is. You know what party supports the principles in which you believe. Take a breath, and make the move. We will all welcome you with open arms.