THE HYPOCRYSY OF THE RULING CLASS

Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania announced today that he is “switching” political parties. He is not the first to do so, but the reason he gives is stunning for its hypocrisy. Now children, “Why did Senator Specter switch?”

A. Because as he walked on the road to Emmaus (Pennsylvania) he had a political epiphany and realized that the he was called to a new party.

B. Because he believes that the 2008 election is a message that requires him to give the American people the prospect of a filibuster-proof Senate.

C. Because those Jefferson-Jackson Day dinners are so tasty.

D. Because his own polling revealed that the Republican voters of the Commonwealth will not nominate him in next year’s primary, and he really likes the perks that come with being a member of the ruling class, the voters be damned!

And of course, the answer is D. His concept of duty is to look out for Number 1. Has been for years, and in 2004, Congressman Pat Toomey, a real Republican came within a frog’s hair of beating Specter in the primary. Since then, Specter has sided with the Dems in too many important instances.

Compounding the hypocrisy, Harry Reed has fallen all over himself to arrange this move. Never mind that many Dems, especially women, still remember the searching cross examination of Anita Hill when she suddenly remembered that she had been “harassed” by Clarence Thomas. Of course the Dems call it a “hatchet job.” But Harry and the gang can forget that to get that 60th vote. What about those senators elected in 1982? They have 27 years seniority, but Arlen automatically jumps them because Harry is letting him keep his seniority. (The fact that there are senators and congressmen who have been serving that long is another sickening story.)

Arlen had better be ready—this will energize his former party like nothing you can imagine.