It looks like the RNC has found a way to attempt to make Parker Griffith relevant. Thursday, February 4, Republican leaders recommended Parker Griffith, (ex-Democrat) now GOP for the 5th Congressional District of Alabama, for a seat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Established in 1795, this committee has operated for over 200 years. It has served as the principal guide for the House in matters relating to the promotion of commerce and to the public’s health and marketplace interests.
Griffith says now he’ll have a voice in health care and in energy debates. Excuse me, but didn’t he also ALREADY have a voice in health care and energy debates. Maybe that vote against ALL amendments that would have lowered the much-touted payola, er stimulus bill would’ve been a LOUDER voice if he had voted YES. It might not have changed the outcome but it clearly shows he is not a fiscal conservative. He certainly didn’t attempt to save any Alabamians money when he did that.
What is he going to do to help our district here in North Alabama. It looks like his ambitious career move is proving to be a huge mistake for our District, particularly because of the recent announcement by Obama to change policies and the budget that will directly affect jobs in NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center and all supporting industries. We really could have used Griffith’s help on that since he DID have a spot on three committees as a Democrat. One of those committees allocates money for highways and another oversees the NASA budget. Oops! Big Oops!
Griffith and the GOP are spinning this faster than a spider captures it’s next meal. It still just isn’t good enough.
Said Griffith, “This appointment to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is a great victory for the Tennessee Valley and our state,” Griffith said in a statement. “This assignment will give me a voice in the continuing debates over health care reform legislation as well as new energy regulations that affect every Alabama family.”
Griffith’s new committee holds a wide jurisdiction, overseeing energy policy, health care, foreign commerce, consumer protections, tourism, medical research and foreign communications.
Members of one of his former committees held a hearing this week on the proposed NASA budget, criticizing the administration’s plan to drop the Constellation manned-spaceflight program, which employs more than 2,000 people in Huntsville.
Doug Dermody, chair of the Madison County Democratic Party, said the new appointment seemed to offer little immediate benefit. “When North Alabama’s pressing need is job protection for NASA, Parker can spend his time dealing with the Toyota recall.”
Griffith said the new assignment will let him help develop legislation that influences broadband technologies and biotech research, two areas that also affect thousands of jobs in North Alabama. He sounds remarkably like Obama touting “green jobs” in a district where billions of dollars have already been spent on research and development and technology; and where we could lose thousands of jobs with cuts to NASA. Never fear,Aerospace Engineers, you now may be in a position working for Knology Cable or Comcast. Now THAT’S an upward move for a career if I ever heard of one….
Bamabelle
Kelly
- Feb 5th, 10
I’m wondering when the GOP will wake up and smell the coffee. They seem to be making the same mistake over and over. Conservatives do NOT want RINOs! And Parker Griffith seems to be a RINO….
Not only that, but where is Parker Griffith’s common sense? Huntsville is heavily dependent on the high/higher paying jobs available at the companies located there (NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center). And let’s not forget the service jobs that have been created to support those industries. To not have the aerospace industry’s ‘back’ so to speak seems to be not only financially crazy for the Huntsville area, but also politically fraught with peril.
Wait a second, if Parker Griffith is a Republican, why isn’t he helping the industries in Huntsville that are actually contributing to the tax base there? Oh yeah. RINO.
Kirk
- Feb 22nd, 10
I agree that he is a RINO at best, but in my opinion is nothing more than an opportunist who read the “tea” leaves and saw the electoral smackdown headed the dem’s way in November. I can’t believe the GOP welcomed this like he was only on loan to the democrats.
Is there a conservative candidate running against him in the primary? I think its extremely important to remove bad apples in the primaries rather than to just complain about the RINO in the general election which leads to a democrat win (either immediately in the election or later when the RINO compromises our values in the name of bipartisanship.)
I live in Birmingham, but I and many of my friends would gladly help a true conservative candidate to oppose Parker Griffith.
Alabama Tea Blogger
- Feb 22nd, 10
Kirk,
Les Philip and Mo Brooks are running in the primary against Griffith. Both of them have worked with the Tea Party groups in North Alabama. The Tea Party’s stance in Huntsville is, “anyone but Griffith”.
Cathy
- Feb 22nd, 10
Yes, there is one conservative candidate running against him who had been campaigning for eight months prior to Griffith’s defection.
This candidate (I won’t mention him here for fear that someone may think I’m touting “my” candidate) has been receiving national press coverage through R. Stacy McCain, Smart Girl Politics and has received the support of numerous Tea Party chapters across the state and many parts of the U.S.
I personally think that the GOP is playing games that are as dangerous as re-electing Griffith. They just don’t “get it” and obviously they need to be taken to the proverbial “woodshed” and given a good whipping.
Alabama Tea Blogger
- Feb 22nd, 10
Cathy makes a good point. Tea Party activist need to understand and pay attention to the games played by the GOP.
Kirk
- Feb 22nd, 10
Thanks ya’ll for the quick reply. I have been looking for articles talking about opponents for Griffeth, but hadn’t found much until I stumbled on this blog. I guess there is more chatter in his district than what I see outside of it. I’m glad to see there are some qualified opponents.
In fact, it was after I commented here that I read the post about Les Phillip. He reminds me of Allen West in Florida. That guy is fantastic. I only hope the folks in district 5 can rally behind one in time to not split the vote in favor of Griffeth.
Thanks again for the info. I will research them both and get behind one.