No Endorsement, Give Us Back Our Money: The Parties Respond to the Griffith Switch

Waiting until Rep. Parker Griffith (R-Ala.) made his switch official, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have weighed in. First, here’s the very happy chairman of the NRCC, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas):

I am pleased to welcome Parker Griffith to the Republican Party. Congressman Griffith’s party affiliation may have changed, but his conservative principles, values and commitment to Alabama families has never wavered.

I am also thankful to the Alabama Republican congressional delegation – Spencer Bachus, Robert Aderholt, Jo Bonner, and Mike Rogers – for welcoming their friend and colleague with open arms.  Whether standing up for a strong Missile Defense Program or opposing a wasteful stimulus bill, a job-killing National Energy Tax, and a government takeover of healthcare – Parker Griffith put the interests of his constituents ahead of Nancy Pelosi’s reckless ideological agenda that Washington Democrats have pursued at the expense of job creation.

This decision is emblematic of the message that millions of concerned citizens have been trying to send to a Democrat Party that has become increasingly unwilling to listen. Whether Democrat leaders choose to pay attention now or wait for the electorate to send them a resounding message next November, Parker Griffith’s willingness to put the interests of his district first sends a positive signal to others who have grown just as disappointed with their party as the American people have.

My takeaway: That’s still not an official endorsement. And here’s Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), chairman of the DCCC:

House Democratic Members and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee took Parker Griffith at his word and, as a result, invested a great deal in working with Alabamans to bring Mr. Griffith to Congress.  We were committed to helping Mr. Griffith deliver for his constituents and successfully helped Mr. Griffith fend off the personal attacks against him from the far right.

Mr. Griffith, failing to honor our commitment to him, has a duty and responsibility to return to Democratic Members and the DCCC the financial resources that were invested in him.  His constituents will hold him accountable for failing to keep his commitments.