August 10, 2004

Democrats howl at party hopping /

Rep. Rodney Alexander's switch late Friday to the Republican Party brought swift and vitriolic responses among Democrats from the Bayou to the Beltway, including from his entire Washington staff that resigned in protest yesterday morning.
    "He's a traitor," fumed Andrew Koneschusky of the Louisiana Democratic Party. "He betrayed the people who elected him to the U.S. Congress and the people who supported his re-election."
[...]
Mr. Alexander initially was registered to run for re-election as a Democrat in Louisiana's 5th Congressional District, where George W. Bush received 59 percent of the vote in the 2000 election.
[Guess Al Gore wasn't going to sue for a "recount" here!--Jen]
He had rebuffed entreaties to join the Republican Party earlier this year.
[...]
 "I just decided it would be best for me to switch parties, that I would be more effective in the 5th District in the state of Louisiana as a Republican," he said Friday.
[...]
The last-minute switch was particularly curious because Mr. Alexander faced little opposition in his district, even as a Democrat.
[Maybe, as with Sen. Zell Miller, it's a matter of party principles...Jen]
[...]
A survey of 600 Louisiana voters found Mr. Bush a full 16 percentage points ahead of Mr. Kerry, who has been campaigning in the state.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Do recall that there was no similar outrage and vitriol--but especially not from the Dimocrats--on either side of the aisle when Jumpin' Jim Jeffords jumped ship from the GOP right after he was elected to the Senate!
At least Congressman Alexander had the integrity and honesty to switch before the election.
Welcome aboard, Congressman Alexander!
You're going to like the GOP and find it's a nice, comfy Big Tent!