This week Senator Arlen Specter switched parties putting Democrats extremely close to being at the filibuster-proof number of 60. Republicans are justified in their anger, as Specter previously stated he would not switch parties; this move could shift the balance of power; and many party members spent time and resources helping him over the years. Yet self-preservation is not necessarily a bad thing. It is unfortunate that some states have such tough regulations for candidates who may want to run as an Independent. If he had a fair shot at winning as an Independent, he could have made a move like Joe Lieberman.
In Lieberman’s case he was essentially pushed out of the party for his position on foreign policy, yet he didn’t have become a Republican. The move cost him politically, but still he has a place in the Senate, he still represents the citizens of Connecticut, and he brings some of us purple people hope. Senator Specter certainly benefits from the support of the President, but he’s also in a very strange position that may or may not work out for him.
This has fueled the debate about whether the Republican party has moved too far to the right. Yet it was Specter’s vote on the stimulus bill that angered Republicans most recently. Republicans have to win back the mantle of fiscal conservative in order to move their party forward, and fiscal conservative is not typically the label people give to the ‘far right.’
Both parties could benefit by making Independent runs easier. At first blush the parties may not like the idea of easing these state restriction, but Specter and Lieberman point out why there are positives for the parties to support this. If members feel pressured to leave their party they wouldn’t be forced into the arms of their former adversary. For the members who push for ideological purity, this gives an out to those moderates. The reality is that there are only a handful of people in a handful of locations that could pull off an independent run for office. Parties don’t need to feel threatened as the deck is stacked against candidates making independent runs. Independent candidates would have to have both a source of money as well as public recognition in order to be successful as parties provide that in large measure for most candidates. Forcing people into one camp or another when they may not fit either may not work well for the individual or the party, and providing another option would be a strong statement for fairness.
