The Symbol of the Corruption, Arrogance, Out-Of-Control Greed and Ego of the 2-Party Political System: Senator Arlen Specter.
Specter Puts Big Government in Control of America.
Abandons Checks & Balances, Separation of Powers That He Quoted only 5 Weeks Ago as Crucial to American People.
By Wayne Allyn Root, 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee
It was only 5 weeks ago (on March 17th) that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter said he would not even consider switching parties from Republican to Democrat because that would not be in the interests of the American people. Specter said that a switch would threaten checks and balances and the separation of powers- both so crucial to our country. A switch, he said, would create one-party rule. A switch by Specter would give Democrats a 60-vote filibuster-proof Senate majority (assuming Al Franken is seated- as expected- as Democratic Senator from Minnesota). Anything Obama and the radical, big-government, tax and spend left wanted, they could get with a switch by Specter. “The answer is no” Specter said with conviction.
Suddenly today, only five weeks after saying a switch would threaten the Constitution and destroy checks and balances, Senator Specter announced a switch to the Democratic Party. Suddenly checks and balances have lost their importance to Specter. Suddenly the Constitution and the separation of powers have lost their importance. Suddenly the fact that the American people “desperately need the 2-party system…that's the basis of politics in America” (Specter's quote) has lost its importance. What could have possibly changed his mind in the face of such important principles? I'd call it a deadly combination (at least for citizens and taxpayers) of greed and ego.
Now Arlen Specter is a Democrat and the big-government, big-tax left has achieved their dream: the elimination of dissent. What the big government socialist left could not achieve through popular vote, they engineered in the dark of night through pure bribery. What did they give you Senator Specter? What did Obama promise to burnish your legacy? What was promised to your family?
Or was this just about your own ego? Specter was a sure loser in the Pennsylvania GOP primary because of his liberal big-government voting record. Overnight his Senate seat is safe in Democratic-dominated Pennsylvania. Perhaps that's all it took to make a man a traitor to the American people; a traitor to those that voted for a Republican Senator but now are represented by a Democratic Senator; a traitor to his party; a traitor to the Constitution; a traitor to the idea of checks and balances so crucial to the visions of our Founding Fathers. Remember those were his words only 5 weeks ago.
Specter joins a long list of politicians that prove the central point of my new book, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts!”
That point is that there is no longer any 2-party system. There is no significant difference between Republicans and Democrats. Politicians of both parties are merely big and bigger, dumb and dumber. They have no interest in the will of the people. They have no interest in what the Constitution demands of them. They believe only in absolute power for themselves. They support anything that expands their power and control over the people. They are symbols of arrogance, greed and ego. They prove the infamous saying, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Did Specter switch sides to retain his seat for life (the man is 79 years old and yet he desperately wants to hang on for another 6 years)? Did he take a “legal bribe” to gain more power in the Senate; to head a powerful committee; to gain more funding for his pet projects? Or was the deal part and parcel of a far dirtier and more corrupt payoff? No matter. Either way the American people have lost. Taxpayers have been fleeced. Specter is a traitor to the ideals of smaller government, lower spending, lower taxes, free markets, and more rights for the individual that America was founded on. He has handed the keys to the country (and the economy) to big-government socialists intent on expanding the size, scope, spending and power of government for generations to come.
Is America or capitalism lost? It's certainly in danger. But I'm an optimist. In the long run I believe we'll survive and thrive. There will be a rescue of our country and our financial system. I just no longer believe that rescue can come from either of the 2 major parties. Specter's defection proves that the rescue will only come from a third party challenge to the “good old boys” political system. From someone with a fresh perspective, who is not beholden to special interests or corporate America. From someone who is not corrupted by the current system. From someone who hasn't worked for government, done business with government, or accepted checks from government. From someone who is not a career politician, but instead a Citizen Politician. From someone outside the Beltway.
I believe it's time for a Citizen Revolution. The start of that revolution could be seen when thousands of citizens and taxpayers marched at Tax Day Tea Parties across the country only 2 weeks ago. The two major parties were purposely shut out of those protests. The people who believe in limited government and the Constitution understand that both Republicans and Democrats have betrayed the people and violated the Constitution. That political revolution can only be led by the party of principle- The Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party will provide the solution by restoring limited government; by stopping the bailouts, handouts and “tax cuts” to people who never paid taxes in the first place; by instituting transparency and accountability in government; by giving power back to the citizens and taxpayers; by letting the people who earn the money and pay the taxes keep more of the money they've earned; by respecting the greatest document ever created- The United States Constitution. It's time for dramatic change all right. But I'm afraid that Obama and the corrupt politicians of the 2-party system won't appreciate the kind of change headed their way.
Wayne Allyn Root was the 2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate. His new book will be released by John Wiley & Sons this Spring entitled, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts.” The book is available for pre-sale at Amazon.com. For more of Wayne’s views, commentaries, or to watch his many media interviews, please visit his web site at: www.ROOTforAmerica.com
