Democratic Lawmaker switching to GOP

[raysr]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/03/national/03TEXA.html Wonder if there's been a significant change in his bank account?

[liberalhistorian]

1. The link doesn't work,

is it the right one? Which backstabbing, cowardly lawmaker is it?

[raysr]

2. Ralph M. Hall from Texas

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/03/national/03TEXA.html Same link, guess you have to sign up for NYT.

[liberalhistorian]

3. Ahhhh, from Texas,

THAT explains it, then!

[murielm99]

4. He is 80 years old.

How much longer can he expect to serve?

Look at the bright side. LOL

[bluestateguy]

5. good

His district would never elect a real Democrat, or even a DLC Democrat. Ralph Hall is quite simply the MOST Right Wing Democrat in the US Congress. More than Zell Miller, and more than perhaps 40 or 50 Republicans. He hasn't even voted for a Democratic Speaker since 1994. He's worthless as a "Democrat" and never, ever votes for Democratic positions on issues. Ever. He is only doing this now because he needs to suck up to the Goopers in the wake of the whole redistricting thing. Democrats simply cannot be the party of conservative white men. The other party represents that constituency quite well.

[ButterflyBlood]

8. right on

time to take out the trash. Good riddance Hall.

[maggrwaggr]

6. sounds like he was blackmailed. Check this out:

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=4067485

Veteran Texas Democrat Switches to Republicans
Sat January 3, 2004 12:58 AM ET

By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Veteran Democratic Rep. Ralph Hall of Texas said on Friday he had switched parties to become a Republican after being denied funds for his district for the first time.
(snip)

They told him his district would get 0 dollars unless he switched.

Granted, he shoulda called the media (what media?) and all of that, but still .....

GOP dirty tricks once again. Blackmail, bribes, smears, ruining careers ..........

[ButterflyBlood]

7. nah

Hall is totally worthless. He doesn't even vote for a Democratic speaker. He can go to hell.

[Moderator]

9. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=979845