Republican Rep. Dumps GOP, Switches Party

[Nomad559]

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/politics/14321049/detail.html?rss=den&psp=news

Saying the Republican Party no longer represents her values, GOP state Rep. Debbie Stafford of Aurora announced Thursday she is switching parties, becoming the 40th Democrat in the House of Representatives.

Stafford, 55, is a counselor and a minister from Aurora who represents Arapahoe and Elbert counties.

"Ideally, I find myself a moderate and I think I would be best suited for a third party. However, the reality is that our political system is not designed for a third party voice to be strong," Stafford said.

"My answer was to join a party that better reflects my values and respects my contribution. I am not leaving the Republican Party as much as I believe the Republican Party left me," she said.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Good for her! Come into the light! ALL are welcome...

[zbdent]

6. Welcome, yes ...

trusted fully ... she has to earn that ...

[TwilightGardener]

7. That is true, she better start acting like a Dem.

[depakid]

11. Many Dems bassically are Republicans anyway

At least, that's what sort of policies they pursue.

[babylonsister]

2. Great! The more, the merrier! nt

[Botany]

3. Tidal Wave is a comin'

Count the votes this time.

[sellitman]

4. Better late then never.

I hope it becomes a tidal wave, a stampede.

[Vincardog]

5. s she going to start representing people now? I am tired of folks dumping the Republican party only

because they can not get elected as a repug.
IF she waned to represent the people why was she a republicant in the first place?

I am just asking

[Mend]

8. agree...does anyone know her voting record? It was be interesting to see

how she voted re the war, women's rights, gay rights, etc.

[L0oniX]

10. Does anyone in office represent the people? I don't think so.

Except for Henry Waxman?

[Froward69]

9. sometimes the repubes make it

too easy for us. O'l Dick Wad-hams did point out something crucial... she is term limited. I should think, we colo dems need to be vigilant twards her.

[Mnemosyne]

12. They have pulled this trick for years.

Why else do so many "Dems" vote republic?

They get elected as one party and soon after comes the party-switch or at least vote the R party-lin as a supposed dem..

I will not vote for a politico that switched. Many that vote make their choice at the ballot. We have cross-filing in PA and it causes repukes to get more votes as "Dems" at times due to straight ticket votes; unfair BS, imo.

[Oak2004]

13. Sometimes it's a trick, sometimes not

A lot of decent people have left the Republican Party in recent years. My last vote in a Republican primary was in 2000 (though it could be said I left in years earlier: in 2000 I wanted to cast a vote against Bush).

Then again, the GOP just adores dirty tricks, so it is a good idea to be alert.

[Mnemosyne]

14. They are the sneakiest, most dishonorable bunch. How sad we have

come to this in America; to have to question every single thing.