Democratic Defections: Rep. Parker Griffith

TexasGOPVote recently blogged about Jack McDonald, the top Democratic recruit, dropping out of the race to unseat Republican Rep. Mike McCaul (TX-8). With the Chicago-style politics Obama has brought to the White House, we were anticipating many more Democratic defections that we promised to keep you updated on.

Representative Parker Griffith has recently annouced that he is defecting from the Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party. Griffith explained that he can no longer align himself

“with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy and drives us further and further into debt.”

Griffith went on to say,

“Unfortunately there are those in the Democratic Leadership that continue to push an agenda focused on massive new spending, tax increases, bailouts and a health care bill that is bad for our healthcare system.”

“I have always considered myself to be an independent voice and I have tried to be that voice in Congress – but after watching this agenda firsthand I now believe that the differences in the two parties could not be more clear and that for me to be true to my core beliefs and values I must align myself with the Republican party and speak out clearly on these issues."

Griffith, a radiation oncologist and founder of a cancer treatment center, explained that the Democratic health care bill was the main driving force in his party switch.

“I want to make it perfectly clear that his bill is bad for our doctors, our patients and will have unintended consequences far beyond what we know today. As a doctor and as a Republican, I plan to once again oppose this measure and hope that we can defeat this bill that is a major threat to our nation.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will now have to rush in order to find a Democratic contender to run against Griffith before Alabama's April 2nd filing deadline. If Griffith wins the election, this will be the first time Alabama's 5th Congressional District elects a Republican as its Representative.

Stay tuned as TexasGOPVote continues to dig up and write about more Democrats defecting from the Democratic Party.