Representative Jeff Van Drew, Anti-Impeachment Democrat, Considering Switching Parties

[Polybius]

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, a moderate Democrat who is among his party’s staunchest opponents of impeaching President Trump, is considering switching parties and could make an announcement as soon as next week, just as the House is casting its historic votes on articles of impeachment.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/14/us/politics/jeff-van-drew-democrat-republican.html

---

Can't link anymore, source is a paywall...

[oldsoftie]

1. WTF? This never happens when the president is so unpopular.

This guy suddenly come into some money?

[OnDoutside]

2. Do it Jeff, do it !!!!

[jgmiller]

3. This guy's a genius

So he has a poll that shows huge majority of the constituency that elected him would probably vote against him in the primary if he voted against impeachment in and instead of listening to his constituents he's going to switch parties? I'm fine if he's against impeachment, either have the guts to vote what you think is right or don't vote but to basically show you're a coward is the worst idea ever.

[Tiggeroshii]

10. But could he win as a republican?

[cstanleytech]

23. Well it was a Republican district since 95 until he flipped it in 2018 so its certainly possible

for him to win as a Republican but he will be burning alot of bridges if he does this and there is no way in hell that he can rebuild them.

[C Moon]

40. The bridges are already burning. From what I read he's talking about meeting with Trump.

There will be no stepping back from this.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

11. He's elected as a representative, doesn't want to represent, so he changes parties?

Only in America 2020.

[C Moon]

41. "I'm fine if he's against impeachment" :/

There are no "guts" behind voting to keep a criminal in our White House. The real heroes here are the ones who are standing up to these god damned traitor bastards—not someone who doesn't have the GUTS to stand up for our constitution.

[evertonfc]

4. wouldn't this

almost guarantee a loss against another Democrat in Nov?

[rurallib]

14. my guess is that he will lose in the Republican primary

[Lexblues]

16. Unless Trump promised him the RNC would back him

Which is probably what happened.

[Linda Ed]

49. or unless

drumpf promised him putin is helping along with some data base that his campaign manager just hired.
Brad Parscale's company CloudCommerce has acquired exclusive marketing rights to a database with records on 80 million faith-based individuals that will help drive their digital advertising solution called SWARM (not clear who sold database) https://twitter.com/WendySiegelman

[jpak]

5. Go ahead - your Dem rival next November will take your seat

yup

[patricia92243]

6. Persons should not be allowed to change parties until it is time for them to

either run or retire. People elected whichever party won.

[jgmiller]

7. I disagree

In theory you are voting for the person not the party. This is what's wrong these days, we've focused on the party and not the person. If he wants to switch go for it and if his constituents like what he's doing then they should vote for him no matter what party.

Having said this, he sounds like a moron who thinks death by a firing squad is better than death by the guillotine.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

33. I must respectfully disagree.

When someone gets elected from one party, that is part of the equation. People voted for a democrat. If he wants to be a republican, then let him resign and run as one.

I have never voted for "a person." That smacks of "cult of personality" to me. I have voted for the party he/she represents. I have voted for the values and ideals and goals of that party.

[JonLP24]

36. There are cases such as Justin Amash

who was understandably upset with the corruption of the Trump administration he quit and went Independent and came out in favor of impeachment based on the Mueller report alone. I wouldn't want to keep someone like him trapped in the Republican party.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

37. My point is that the voters voted for a person of a particular party.

By switching alliances, that elected official has denied the people their choice and negated their vote. If that person wishes to change parties, they should resign and run again for their new affiliation and that way the people get what they VOTED for.

Otherwise, you're just sneaking in the back door.

[Igel]

38. The only thing at stake here is who he caucuses with and committee assignments.

He votes as he wants: It's not like some countries in Europe and Asia where you vote for a party and there's a list made by the party chiefs somewhere as to who gets appointed if 10 candidates win, if 15 win, if 20 win.

It would be like all the Vermonters being upset that Sanders chucked (I)--what they voted for--and became (D). In his case, the only thing that matters is whether or not he can run in a primary. (Trump's flipped; he used to be (D). Not that either label is anything but a convenience for him.)

[Polybius]

9. That wouldn't solve anything

What if they can't switch, but then vote 100% with the opposition Party? Same thing pretty much.

[AncientGeezer]

12. Just curious...would you say that if a Thuglican wanted to switch to our side

and it made a Legislative difference?

[patricia92243]

17. No Changing. Period.

[AncientGeezer]

18. How do you do that Constitutionally?

[Wabbajack_]

50. You don't

It would require an amendment

[AncientGeezer]

52. I know....I wanted to see if I'd get an answer...I didn't

[truthisfreedom]

8. Wtf Jeff? Explain in detail.

Just sit right there and explain your fucking self.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Somebody's got something on him

or offering something. We may never know. I don't think a mole slipped through.

[Grokenstein]

15. Run along, doggy.

Your master's calling you to heel.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. Here's some more (they finally sent out a breaking on it - I guess updated)

Representative Jeff Van Drew, Anti-Impeachment Democrat, Plans to Switch Parties




By Jonathan Martin and Nick Corasaniti

Dec. 14, 2019
Updated 4:43 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON — Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, a moderate Democrat who is among his party’s staunchest opponents of impeaching President Trump, told aides on Saturday that he is planning to switch parties and declare himself a Republican as soon as next week, just as the House is casting its historic votes on articles of impeachment.

At a White House meeting on Friday, Mr. Van Drew sought Mr. Trump’s blessing for the move, which could be critical to his ability to avoid a primary challenge next year, and the president urged him to make the jump, according to two Democrats and one Republican who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the talks.

Mr. Van Drew has spoken with senior advisers to Mr. Trump about announcing his switch at an event at the White House either immediately before or just after the House votes on two articles of impeachment, which is expected to happen on Wednesday, according to Republicans and Democrats.

Beyond the potential boost to Mr. Van Drew’s own political fortunes, the move would also provide a silver lining for Mr. Trump as he becomes the third president ever to be impeached. The president has characterized the drive to remove him as an entirely partisan exercise that will cost Democrats their majority in the House, and a high-profile Democratic defection could help bolster his case while allowing him to divert attention from the vote.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/14/us/politics/jeff-van-drew-democrat-republican.html

I think if he really does that, he'll be toast. The GOP might not want him since he was "tainted" and Democrats in that district are surely not going to vote for him (and may try to find someone else to primary him although that district is deeply "old school", with many former Philly or Philly 'burbs-raised GOPers and their grown kids who have now been born and raised there).

He probably would have had a chance if he switched to Independent like Amash did, but I'm not sure how the Indie rules work in Jersey.

[cstanleytech]

22. Makes zero sense for him to switch now and the only reason I can see him doing it is either

due to blackmail or he intends to run as a Republican for higher office such a Senator.

[BumRushDaShow]

24. I expect some are always gunning for Menendez's seat but then he just got re-elected in 2018

and he was by far the weakest of the 2 Senators. And I doubt Cory Booker is going anywhere although he is going to be up in 2020, so that might be a thought for him - to run against Booker (but Booker is a pretty strong candidate in Jersey and has gotten some national attention with his Presidential run).

[C Moon]

42. Yeah, I smell a rat.

[Traildogbob]

20. Fuck him

Introduce him to a good ole Jersey style bag-a-glass or a bag-a vipers.

[marble falls]

21. "Moderate" Democrat, or Democrat running scared? Lets hope he has a come to Jesus moment ...

and gets hip to himself.

[paleotn]

25. Dems on the payroll now?

How else does one explain such stupidity?

[Gore1FL]

26. Certainly, New Jersey has better to offer

I am all for stupid people committing political suicide.

[dajoki]

27. A total coward...

he is worried about his seat, afraid of a progressive primary. Good riddance, don't let the door hit you in the ass.

[Hulk]

28. Good riddance...

Coward and stooge...not to mention a phony democrat. Great representation for his district, regardless of party affiliation.

[Maxheader]

29. Buh bye bye dino..

Don't let the door hit you in your worthless ass...

[Lady_Chat]

30. This guy will become Trump's poster boy

about how "unfair" the Democrats are to Trump, so much so, he had to leave the party. We really don't need this right now. Drew could have just voted against impeachment and let it go at that. But it is what is, it's been a republican district and he wants to keep his seat. I honestly wish the Democrats had added more to the articles of impeachment, Trump has done so many things worthy of being impeached, it might have changed more minds, at least in the public. I doubt any Senate republicans will vote to remove Trump anyway, they stick together like glue, it's always party before country. Sorry to see it was a "Democrat" who wouldn't do the right thing for the country.

[Faux pas]

31. Buh bye,

so long, farewell closeted rethug, we won't miss ya!

[choie]

32. Bye bye Fucker...

impeachment's still gonna happen!

[hadEnuf]

34. Another planted stealth Republican.

He supports an obvious criminal and is changing parties to help him? This asshole was no Democrat.

Get him out and good fucking riddance.

[BlueIdaho]

35. Here's the bill...

Now pay back the money the party spent to get you into that cushy office.

[C Moon]

39. He's owned by Putin. I was wondering when ilk like this would begin to appear.

[RandiFan1290]

43. Typical of the cowardly 'moderate'

Just like Lieberman they always threaten to take their ball and go home when they don't get their way.

and people here have the nerve to whine about Bernie Sanders.

[lark]

44. Do it so the district can vote in a real Democrat and not a traitor to the country.

He's shown he doesn't give a shit about the constitution and just wants $$ and power so let him go to his natural home and get kicked out of Congress by the people of his district.

[DinahMoeHum]

45. Fuck him. His loss, not ours, not the Democrats.

They'll just get a real Democrat to run against him in the primary, and if he really switches parties, the general election.

[Brainfodder]

46. Don't let....

[link:

|

What a fool!

[Gothmog]

47. New Jersey Republicans not interested in party-jumping Jeff Van Drew as their candidate in 2020

It appears that Van Drew will not be the GOP nominee automatically if he switches parties. Even with trump's support, there is a very good chance that this idiot will lose in the GOP primary where there are already a number of long time republicans running.

Link to tweet

Democratic lawmaker Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ) is not being welcomed with open arms by Republicans in his district after word got out that he is planning on switching parties following lobbying from President Donald Trump.

With polling in his district showing he was facing an uphill climb for re-election the Democrat, who is considered fairly conservative and has opposed the impeachment of Trump, is expected to announce the switch soon with reports stating he has already informed his staffers of the imminent move.....

“Van Drew’s political conversion doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be the GOP nominee. Three Republicans had already declared their candidacies for his seat. And while Trump’s backing would be politically potent, it would have to overcome hard GOP feelings from decades of tough election battles against Van Drew.”

One Republican vying for Van Drew’s seat wasted no time attacking the party-switcher, saying the lawmaker is “trying to use South Jersey Republicans to cling onto his power.”

[exboyfil]

51. Go down in history as craven coward he is

Apparently the DCCC is releasing the oppo research on him.

[orangecrush]

48. We are going to see

More of who Putin has his claws into as this goes forward.