Specter, the Defector
Image by Getty Images
A Republican defector:
Party-switch by Arlen Specter.
He dons with pride a brand new hat
That marks him as a Democrat.
He’s now among those mavericks
One seldom finds in politics.
Presumably, on this new track,
He’ll pledge allegiance to Barack.
The right-wing pols, with vitriol
And anger, lose their self-control.
They see his switch as traitorous:
They rave, they rant, they fume, they cuss.
(This flow of animosity
Is called by some just “G.O.P.”)
The Senate leader, Harry Reid,
Hails Specter for his daring deed,
And with a warmly cordial smile
Gives thanks to him who crossed the aisle.
(Our Arlen, though, will still have spats
With leftist-leaning Democrats.)
Strong shifting in the voters’ mood
Suggests his move is rather shrewd.
A senator of Specter’s years
Thinks carefully when shifting gears.
(But gears may rust and gears may creak
And leave careers way up the creek!)
The Democrats, for now, rejoice.
Their party’s gained a new old-voice.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
