This is an interview from just a couple weeks ago:
Obviously, those high-minded ideals only lasted until he realized he couldn't win as a Republican. He admitted it himself:
'I'm not prepared to have my 29 year record decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate'?! He apparently thinks that he's above being judged by the voters who put him into office and have kept him there for almost three decades! It doesn't get more arrogant or transparent than that.
The reality is that his recent actions have so outraged the voters of Pennsylvania that his polling has shown there is no possible way he'll stay in office as a Republican. But, he's so greedy to hold onto his seat in the Senate that he's willing to chuck all of his self-professed principles (that he enumerated just weeks ago) in order to do it.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell explains why Specter's defection presents a 'threat to the country':
He's right, which is why a generic Congressional poll now shows that more Americans would vote for an unnamed Republican than an unnamed Democrat. It's the second time in over five years this has been the case.
So, what does all this mean? It depends on who you ask. Many on the Right are having some major heartburn about this. Specter is rightly being called a self-serving hack by almost everyone. But, I don't think this is cause for too much concern...in reality, not much changes, and those things that have changed are probably for the better.
For one thing, not all Dems are happy about this. Majority Leader Harry had to cut a deal with Specter, leaving him his seniority, which means Specter will jump over almost all Dems and right into key leadership positions. Specter has a long history of independence, which has given the Right fits over the years. We've all come to assume he'll vote with the Dems as often as not, and he has. That scenario could very well play out on the other side of the aisle now (wouldn't that irony be delicious?). In fact, not even Reid is counting on him as a consistent 60th vote.
Also, there's no guarantee that Specter will win re-election as a Democrat. For every vote where he's sided with the Dems, he's got a bunch where he's sided with the Right, like on the Alito and Roberts nominations, card check, and others. Those votes were not popular with Democrats, and will likely come back to bite him in the primary. I would guess that Reid is looking at this as a win-win, though - he steals a Republican, and if Specter doesn't toe the line for the next 18 months, he'll get beaten by a true-blue Democrat, and Reid will keep the seat anyway. The GOP loses all around, and the Dems win all around. It's a pretty good deal for Reid.
There is much gnashing of teeth on the Right about how this is a big loss. It really isn't. Like I said, Specter usually voted with the Left anyway, so that's not going to change. The only change is that he may occasionally break with the Left to vote with us, and that's a net benefit, especially as it gives the Left fits and angst. And, when you boil it all down, this is exactly the kind of house-cleaning the GOP needs to do right now - get rid of the turncoats who profess to be members in good standing, and get back to the real GOPers who are willing to stand for something. Like Sam Brownback, Arlen Specter represents only egregious self-interest, exactly what we don't need in Washington right now. To really illustrate what I believe is the correct perspective on this, listen to KCMO 710 talk show host Chris Stigall and Chris Kobach:
Good riddance, and take McCain with you! It's a good plan.
There's my two cents.
Related Reading
What we can learn from Specter the Defecter
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