Blue Dog goes Red

When you consider that in the House, the minority party has very little power - and a minority freshman Congressman almost none - this can be nothing but an act of conscience.

POLITICO has learned that Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, will announce today that he’s switching parties to become a Republican.

According to two senior GOP aides familiar with the decision, the announcement will take place this afternoon in Griffith's district in northern Alabama.
...
Griffith, who captured the seat in a close 2008 open seat contest, will become the first Republican to hold the historically Democratic, Huntsville-based district. A radiation oncologist who founded a cancer treatment center, Griffith plans to blast the Democratic health care bill as a prime reason for his decision to switch parties—and is expected to cite his medical background as his authority on the subject.

Those who have played North American football could also say that he heard footsteps - but give him the benefit of the doubt and find him a well defended spot in the trenches with good covering fire.

2010 will be an interesting year.