Griffith Tick-Tock
By Reid Wilson and Tim Sahd
GOP Leaders worked with Rep. Parker Griffith (D-AL) "for quite some time" to get him on board, but talks began when Griffith approached Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL) about making the switch, according to a GOP source. Min. Leader John Boehner then became involved, and the discussions later culminated when Griffith met with Boehner and NRCC chair Pete Sessions last week.
Because of these meetings, the NRCC -- which had gone after Griffith vigorously this cycle in hopes of taking the seat in '10 -- stopped hitting him on 12/11. On 12/20, Griffith called Boehner to make the switch official.
The source said the "key point" came this fall when Griffith was among the first Dems to sign onto the "read the bill" discharge petition, an issue that Boehner and other GOPers had been driving hard. The measure, which only a handful of Dems signed on to, required that legislation be posted for 72 hours online before a vote.
It was the second time Griffith had openly gone against his party's leadership. Earlier this summer, he told a townhall that he wouldn't vote to re-elect Nancy Pelosi as Speaker.
The source added there were no "deals" struck between Griffith and the GOP leaders, only assurances that he'd be welcomed into the Conference as a GOPer "with full standing."
UPDATE: A Dem source noted that while all of his back-and-forth with GOPers was going on, Griffith actually took the time to attend the 12/9 DCCC holiday party, an event that featured Speaker Nancy Pelosi. That doesn't exactly paint the picture of a man wavering in his party commitments.
Hi, thanks for the fantastic post, a truly great opening to the new year, keep up the wonderful work, Brenda.
Hello there, thanks for the great article, a truly great opening to the new year, keep up the great work, Sue.