RNC and DNC have their political turncoats

Ah, the turncoats. Don't you love 'em? Oh, maybe it's just us media types who love 'em. They tend to spice up things with their disaffection. And they're becoming almost an expected part of a presidential season. Remember former Democrats Joe Lieberman, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2008 (click here for his speech) and Zell Miller, who spoke to the RNC in 2004 (click here for his speech)?

This season's incarnations are Artur Davis and Charlie Crist. Former Democrat Davis, once an up-and-coming African American U.S. Congressman from Alabama, is now siding with the Republicans. He's been scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday (with Hurricane Isaac wreaking in Tampa and causing some streamlining of convention activities that could change).

Charlie Crist, a former Florida governor who was a rising star in the GOP and seemed to have locked up a U.S. Senate nod until he got run over by the far right in the party who considered him too moderate. On Sunday, Crist wrote an oped that appeared in the Tampa Bay Times giving his public support to President Barack Obama. The Obama campaign now says he will speak during the Democratic National Convention next week.

In both cases, there's more than a little hurt pride involved in these switcheroos. Both felt pushed aside in their parties by views that neither their party leaders nor their constituents were drawn to.

In Davis' case, some observers said in making a run for Alabama governor in 2010 he sought to broaden his appeal to some Alabama whites by opposing policies the Democratic base stood with including Obama's health care law. Davis was soundly trounced in the Democratic primary, and some say he was very bitter about it.

Crist had his own Achilles Heel as a moderate in the Republican Party. He reportedly was so hounded and out of step with party activists that he became an independent during his run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by his friend Mel Martinez. But he lost to now Sen. Marco Rubio, who was supported by the tea party.

Predictably, both are feeling the sting of criticism from their former party associates. Of Davis, former Rep. Major Owens (D-N.Y.), who was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus during his time in Congress, had this to say in the Huffington Post recently: "Very few principles are involved in this opportunistic Judas conversion," Owens wrote. "To clinch his thirty pieces of silver Artur Davis has now openly placed himself on the auction block."

Ouch!

Of Crist, Florida Republican Party Chairman Lenny Curry called the Obama endorsement “a repugnant display from a self-centered, career politician.” In a press release, Curry also pointed out past instances in which Crist disagreed with Obama’s policies. He also said: ”For Crist to pull this Obama stunt while Florida faces a hurricane only proves Charlie Crist cares about just one thing: Charlie Crist.”

Ouch! Ouch!

In truth, most people will take these endorsements and speeches from candidates so clearly disaffected with their parties with a grain of salt. But it makes for good entertainment. And the convention speeches are guaranteed to get press coverage.

- Associate Editor Fannie Flono