Specter, Crist, What’s The Difference?

While an official announcement appears imminent that Florida Governor Charlie Crist will abandon his run for U.S. Senate as a Republican and charge ahead as an independent, the only real question that comes to mind is: what’s the difference between Crist and Senator Arlen Specter? I’m sure there are some policy differences and what not, but really, what’s the difference?

Specter, a Democrat-turned-Republican to challenge a Democrat in 1965 turned-Democrat again in 2009 when it appeared he would lose a Primary Election battle against former Representative Pat Toomey, is the very definition of a man with little principle other than to win at all cost. Some may even say Specter exemplifies the very definition of a turncoat.

Now Crist, he’s losing his bid to win the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. He’s not only losing, he’s losing badly. Rather than fight on, drop out of the race and run for another term for Governor or any number of other scenarios, Crist is going to leave the Republican Party. Like Specter, Crist’s move seems to be the very definition of a man with little principle other than to win at all cost.

Crist will argue that he didn’t leave the Party, the Party left him. Hogwash. He was fine with the Party when he was elected Attorney General of Florida in 2002. He was fine with the Party when he was elected Governor in 2006 (a very difficult election cycle for Republicans). And most importantly, Crist was fine with the Party right up until it looked like he wouldn’t win the Party’s nomination.

To illustrate how it is Crist who is leaving the Party, Crist reportedly even reached out to Rahm Emanuel, President Barack Obama’s Chief of Staff. There can be no other reason to call Rahm other than to gauge support or trade favors in a Senate bid. You know, like support me and I will caucus with the Democrats, or don't work against me and I will be your vote on something big down the line.

The Republican Party didn’t leave Crist. Crist’s narcissism convinced him to leave the Party. Republicans don’t need someone who is so full of himself. We have enough of those already.