Just before Christmas, Parker Griffith, Congressman from the 5th district in Alabama, jumped from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. He was a freshman democrat who rarely voted with his own party. He opposed healthcare “reform”, cap and trade, stimulus, over spending and Nancy Pelosi. He was generally a duck out of water.

Normally, I get a little frustrated by politicians who switch parties after the voters have put them in office. Arlen Specter, in particular, struck me like a car salesman pulling a bait and switch. He explained his switch ad nauseum and it always felt like the reason he switched was because he felt he couldn’t get reelected as a republican. It didn’t seem to have anything to do with his personal beliefs and convictions - it was just a ploy to protect his job.

I didn’t get any of that listening to Dr. Griffith. He was already a blue dog democrat so he felt he was lacking a voice in Pelosi’s party. He had consistently voted against the big ticket items foisted on the party, and the unsuspecting and undeserving citizens by the far left wing. It was significant that as a retired physician, Dr. Griffith could not support the most ambitious legislation of the 111th Congress - the so-called healthcare reform. Most importantly, Dr. Griffith had already announced that he would not be supporting the speaker in her attempt to extend her reign into the 112th Congress.

Despite his voting record, switching parties is a risk for Griffith. Alabama has 2 republican senators, voted heavily for McCain in ‘08 and the 5th district has never elected a republican to represent it in Congress.

Dr. Griffith went with his conscience. He voted his convictions as to what would be best for his district, for the state and for the nation. Ultimately, he sided with the republicans. Finally, after giving his party his allegiance for a year, he moved to the party that shares his vision.

For that, I am impressed by Dr. Griffith. He did the right thing. Not because it would get him reelected or because it would generate scads of publicity but because it was the right thing to do.

Well done, Dr. Griffith, well done.