WASHINGTON – All but one of the Washington staffers for Rep. Parker Griffith resigned on Monday in protest of the Alabama congressman's decision to switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party.

In a sharply worded statement, Griffith's former chief of staff, Sharon Wheeler, called the freshman congressman's switch a "mistake" that goes against the interests of his district, which relies heavily on federal funding for defense and aerospace jobs.

"We cannot in good conscience continue working for him," Wheeler said. "We do not know what the future holds, but we are taking a leap of faith with the belief we will soon find ourselves in the employment of principled public officials."

Griffith's legislative aides, interns and other junior staffers also quit, joining his former spokesman, Sean Magers, who had already announced he was leaving. The resignations left Griffith with just one staffer in his Washington office, a scheduler. A handful of employees remained at his district offices in Alabama, said Gene Tackett, his district director.

In a statement, Griffith said the resignations were expected. He said all of his offices remain open and that he is confident he can fill the vacancies by Jan. 12, when Congress reconvenes after the holidays.

"It is an unfortunate fact that any time a change like this occurs partisanship becomes an issue as it has in this case," Griffith said. "The staff members who have resigned have served this district diligently and I wish them well in their future endeavors."

Griffith, a former state senator, narrowly won the seat last year and announced his party switch on Dec. 22, saying he could no longer support the Democratic agenda on health care and other issues.

Wheeler said Griffith made a "well-intentioned but misguided" decision. She said he abandoned the legacy of conservative Democratic leadership in the north Alabama district, which includes Huntsville.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100104/ap_on_go_co/us_congress_party_
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They say,
If you go you go without us!

LMAO

What do you think the GOP promised him to do it?

Nothing!

He's doing it for votes. The district he represents is traditionally conservative and he just barely won the last election.

Oh, well it does show he is not a dedicated congress person so maybe the Repubs fit him better, they are not dedicated to the people unless they are rich like them anyway.

No doubt. The country would be far better off without the Republican Party.

I wouldn't say that exactly but they do have some serious issues in the party.

Recently their ugly innards have been exposed. Their prejudice and selectivity has been in the forefront along with the disregard for American lives by unjustified war.

Not saying the Dems are perfect either by any means.

The Republican Party is the party of big business.
They take their orders and strike their platform according to a shadow third party entity. Just as GWB was only a puppet, so is the whole party.
Their corruption isn't rehabilitory.
They can only fool you to think different if you allow your self to become naive and complacent.
For the people to take back their gov the Republican party must die.

Fanta. I must once again ask you to make up your mind.

..you say that the Republicans are the party of " big business "...with complete disregard to the fact that " big businesses " were the companies that employed a whole lot of people....

...but yet...in another thread...you said that " small businesses " are what is destroying this country because of globalization.

So which is it that you are against??

Are you against " big business " which employs a lot of people...or are you against " small business " which would be the businesses that would EMPLOY the people that lose their jobs because of ' big business " being for to shut down???

Where, my friend, do you propose people get JOBS if you are against both big and small businesses?

I never said small business was destroying this country.

I said Globalization was and the growth of small business was an effect of such.

And I never said I was against either business, but we are a Gov of the people and by the people.
Politicians, the whole Republican Party, who put the wishes of business ahead of the good of the people are Anti-American.

I won't hold my breath waiting on a Republican to understand that.

Incorrect.

You said that small businesses are destroying this country because of the willingness to globalize.

I then pointed out to you that they aren't all that " willing " but are forced into it because of our imbalanced trade practices that make it much cheaper to buy foreign goods than those made here in this country.

As far as your " Good for America " thing....

The Dems are completely ignoring the voices of those who do not think that their version of Health Care is a good idea. They do nothing at all to address the issues that everyday Americans bring up about this bill. They are doing nothing more than thumbing their noses at the people of this country and saying that no mater what, they KNOW what's best for us. They don't even care enough to make sure the bill is as good as it can be. After all...something is better than nothing, right??

Flawed logic at it's best.

That, also, sounds pretty Anti American to me.

Not what I said!

I think we have a comprehension problem here.

I have no issues with comprehension.

I distinctly remember that phrase because it struck me as completely absurd.

I don't know if it'll be in my post history, but I am pretty sure I quoted you on that post.

I'll have to go look. If I am wrong, I will be man enough to apologize for it.

Ah hah. I found it.

Topic: Treasury removes cap for Fannie and Freddie aid





JAG :And this, right here, is exactly the flaw in your argument.

Increased tax burden and forcing them to provide health care results in increased costs to the business. Increased costs means they have LESS capital to work with.






JAG: This, hands DOWN, is THE most absurd thing I have ever seen you say.

Small businesses operate in THIS country. The LARGE corporations are the ones that continually send jobs overseas.

Also, small businesses complying with " globalization " is mainly because they are FORCED to.





JAG: Wow. The more I read of this, the more absurd it gets.

You do realize, do you not, that small business are what this entire country was BUILT ON????

Multi billion dollar corporations and CEOs making MILLIONS when their companies are failing is what increased the difference between the haves and have nots.





JAG: Ah, but here's the rub. The Dems that you are so fond of at this point are doing their damndest to make absolutely SURE that America can NEVER rebuild the manufacturing base.

All of the regulations they want to impose because of " Global Warming/Climate Change " whatever the word of the day is gonna be, will choke out ANY reasonable ability for a manufacturer to produce goods in this country at a price that people can afford to pay.

So...let's see here...

" Big Business " is bad. They just stuff their own pockets.

" Small Business " is bad. They look for lower priced labor.

Who, exactly, is going to be putting people to work now??

Or shall we just have the government give everyone a job???

If small businesses were to have their costs lowered, by lowering the taxes on THEM...they would be able to hire more people, or pay the people they employ more money.

Strange concept, eh??

Good thing I'm not a Republican, eh??

You keep trying to make me be a Republican.

Would that be because you just can't grasp the idea of someone who truly thinks for himself???

Look uo the meaning of comply!

com·ply (kəm-plī)
intr.v. com·plied, com·ply·ing, com·plies


1. To act in accordance with another's command, request, rule, or wish: The patient complied with the physician's orders.
2. Obsolete To be courteous or obedient.