Benedict Arlen: Update

Hours after jumping ship to save his own skin, further details have been released on Senator Specter's switch.

In an interview with The Hill, Specter said the following:

"[Democrats] are trying very hard for the 60th vote. Got to give them credit for trying. But (my) answer is no."

This was March 17th.

Apparently the Democrat Party has been courting the soon to be ex-Senator from Pennsylvania for some time.

Since the inauguration, Vice President Biden has had 14 separate conversations with Specter regarding a switch in his party affiliation.

President Obama personally phoned Specter's office after today's announcement and exclaimed "We're thrilled to have you!"

Senators Lindsey Graham and Olympia Snowe, both moderate Republicans, have defended Specter's decision and have blamed conservatism for his departure. They advocate Republicans taking more "progressive" positions in order to welcome new members.

Their argument is essentially the same as Specter's: "The party left me and moved right".

This is political drivel as it is abundantly clear that the GOP was much more conservative during the days of Reagan and has exponentially moved towards the left of center. One needs to look no further than our most recent presidential nominee to recognize the amount of influence moderates now have within the party.

But Senators Graham and Snowe ought to heed this warning.

In a poll tonight on Sean Hannity's program, he posed this question to the viewers:

Is the GOP better off without Arlen Specter?

The Results:

1% Maybe
5% No
93% Yes

Enough said.

Conservatism is retaking this party and "progressives" can exit to their left.