‘A party of one’

From an April 30 audio column at www.prisonradio.org. Go to www.millions4mumia to read updates on Mumia’s case.

That great observer of American democracy, Alexis de Tocqueville, noted that U.S. political parties were like nations at war with one another.

While that’s certainly true when it comes to the average rank-and-file party members, who work, sweat, bite and fight against political opponents for ascendancy, the same cannot be said of those at the highest levels.

That is but one lesson to emerge from the abrupt party-shift of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, who, up until quite recently was the senior Republican senator from Pennsylvania and among the institution’s longest-serving.

Facing an increasingly difficult primary election in the fall, Specter ditched the party on which he has run and won for almost 30 years, and cast his lot with the opposing majority Democratic Party.

Political pundits and talking heads went almost apoplectic in their overheated responses and predictions. “Earth-shattering!” said one. “An earthquake!” said another. In moments, they counted his votes on Democratic bills and proposals that had yet to be written.

The truth was quite simple: he wanted to win re-election, and he couldn’t do it in the GOP.

It’s often been said that the Senate is a millionaire’s club; but it’s more. It’s one of the most exclusive clubs on earth. It’s only 100 men and women, who are essentially princes and princesses of power.

In each U.S. state only two people can sit in the Senate, and once in, it’s quite difficult to lose an election. Because Specter had an irritating independence streak, his upcoming Republican primary would have been among those seen as unsure.

Richard J. Needham, columnist for the Canadian Globe and Mail, said, “Power is a drug on which the politicians are hooked.”

Power—that’s it. Specter, who has spent his adult life as a prince, didn’t feel like giving up that incredible power. And his switch virtually insures that he won’t have to.

By switching parties he gives the Democrats one vote closer to a bulletproof majority—the 60 votes with which they can virtually run the table (assuming former comedian Al Franken can hold his lead over the GOP’s Norman Coleman).

By so doing, Specter virtually insures that his former party-mates will be powerless, as without 41 votes, they can’t stage a filibuster—or effectively block any legislation.

He therefore becomes the most powerful member of that body, for his vote becomes crucial.

The great wit, Alexander Pope, said, “Party-spirit ... which at best is but the madness of many for the gain of the few.”

Arlen Specter is a Party unto himself.

Mumia’s book, “Jailhouse Lawyers,” and the movie, “In Prison My Whole Life,” available at www.Leftbooks.com.