A Traitor's Memo

Turncoat. Traitor. RINO.

The flip-flop of Senator Arlen Specter has caused quite a stir the past few days. Not only does this decision risk giving the Democrats a filibuster-proof majority, provided Franken ultimately takes Minnesota, it indicates a dangerous attitude forming in regards to the Republican party.

As recently as the 2000 Republican National Convention, Colin Powell called our party a “big tent,” capable and willing to encompass a wide range of conflicting ideas, united by just a few underlying principles. Powell, just 8 years ago, publically proclaimed that he was pro-choice, in favor of affirmative action policies, and supported socialized healthcare for youth, and that he was still a Republican. It was OK. It was welcomed. It was embraced.

Now, Specter has abandoned ship because he feels, in terms of ideological base, we’re sinking. He doesn’t think he’d be able to win in Pennsylvania in 2010 with an R behind his name. So he switched. My beef with Specter is that, instead of acknowledging this issue and aiming to change the tarnished image of our party, he just ditched, and left us almost entirely powerless in Washington.

But this is not a time to split up our party or begin to lose people. And when our leaders react to this bold act of betrayal with nothing but a bitter “good riddance,” it indicates that we are missing the point. The current state of our country is too precarious, too teetering to start yanking over the balance. If we Republicans are willing to squeeze out our moderates by narrowing our platform, we are then willing to sacrifice our position as a major political entity. It is our former “big tent” identity to which we must return if we are going to bulk our membership and defeat our opposition in the 2010 and 2012 election seasons.

I am by no stretch condoning Specter’s decision. I find it detestable. But as angry as we are, we must recognize this blow as a wakeup call: our party is not what it once was or what we want it to be, and now is not only the perfect opportunity but the pivotal moment, the possible last chance to change our unfavorable reputation. We need a movement so large and effective that Specter regrets his alternative affiliation. We have to target the minority sects within the Republican Party and remind them that we have a doctrine worth clinging to, that our principles are better for our country and its people. We have to seek out the one-issue voters who don’t understand that, despite their single point of variance, they may still hold generally conservative values. And while we cannot be so moderate that we become liberal, we cannot afford to alienate anyone. Every vote we lose is a step closer to socialism, tyranny, and oppression.

Call that an overstatement. I see it coming.

So do not stop being angry with Specter. He deserves it. But heed his betrayal as a warning of things to come if we do not unite and focus. The current administration has too many dangerous intentions to have this much power, but it’s as if we’re relinquishing it without much fight. If others on the border between party territories follow Specter’s lead, we’re done for.