Changing Parties

Discussion today around Florida Gov. Crist changing parties from Republican to Independent, possibly even, i.e. Sen. Spector, to Democrat.

Winston Churchill had a wonderful speech to the British Commons in October of 1943, in a discussion on rebuilding the destroyed Parliament building. His point was to rebuild the chamber as it was, a rectangle, and not opt with the semi-circle that is in use by most other legislative bodies.

He reasoning was quite good, dealing with the nature of the ‘parties’ facing each other to enable debate, and keeping the chamber small with not enough seating for all members. He also reasoned that desks were a bad thing as they encouraged pounding and separation from the debate.

The most interesting part of the speech was about changing parties. In the UK, when you change parties, custom has it that you take your normal seat on the side with your old party, then "cross the floor" to the other side, something that Churchill did twice in his career. Churchill’s point, from experience, is that this very public act of changing parties, with the instant condemnation it would bring, required long thought and a serious conviction. It also carried with it a permanent taint of a person who may not be trustworthy. Churchill suffered long years in the ‘wilderness’ because of his second switch in parties, to the point of almost denying him the premiership in 1940 (a terrible tragedy).

So today we see Gov. Crist likely mulling a change in change in party affiliation. If it happens, it will be announced, but will not carry consequences in his life, other than possibly at the ballot box. Sen. Spector changed parties and not only did not suffer political consequences, has profited from the switch, not having to ‘suffer’ as a member of the minority party.

Changing parties in the US does not require either conviction or character, simply an announcement. It is an act of convenience.

“We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.” – Winston Spencer Churchill