I’m not saying that Artur Davis is lying about his reasons for switching parties, but I am saying I’m skeptical for 2 reasons. He votes ‘Yea’ on both the Stimulus bill and the Financial Regulation bill. Sure, he didn’t vote for ObamaCare and he’s got that in his corner to tout and with good reason. But still, he voted for the biggest spending bill this country has ever seen and he voted for a regulation package that is stifling business.
So maybe he has had a true change of heart and maybe there are people who would give him a chance. The former Alabama Congressman has moved to Virginia now and is considering a possible run in his new state. That’s kinda interesting. So yeah, maybe there are some Virginian Republicans that would believe him enough to give him a chance to redeem himself. I don’t think I am one of them.
Bryan Preston, who has actually met Davis and talked with him at length, feels differently:
Davis was one of Barack Obama’s earliest endorsers for president, but the president has pulled the Democrats so far to the left that Davis no longer wants to be associated with the president or the Democratic Party.
I was privileged to meet and have dinner with Rep. Davis at the True the Vote summit in Houston earlier this year. The soundbite above scratches the surface of the deep differences Davis has with his former party. He is among the millions of Democrats who have seen their party go down a radical path that he is choosing not to follow. He delivered a searing speech at the summit, blasting the Democrats for many things including dishonestly comparing voter ID laws to Jim Crow and poll taxes, both of which were Democrat initiatives. He accused the Democrats of using race and class to divide the country. Davis struck me as honest and honorable, and he’s a welcome addition to the right side of the aisle.
UPDATE: He also voted for the DREAM Act under Pelosi’s Congress. Yeah, I’m really not feeling this dude. Click here to see his voting record.