SWITCHING SIDES

Arlen Specter, senior senator from Pennsylvania, switched parties this past week. He had increasingly earned the dislike of Republican voters in the Commonwealth for positions that were not in keeping with the values of many in that party. Desiring to hold onto his position of power in the Senate, Specter decided to take his fate out of the hands of his party's voters and take his chances with the general population of the state. Pennsylvania is definitely a "blue state" thanks to the voters of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Democrats were elated at this defection. It will give them an evening stronger position from which to govern. I have little doubt that Mr. Specter will keep his parking space at the Capital.

Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge asked how Specter could make such a move after accepting the support of Republican voters and campaign contributors for more than 20 years. The answer seems less than noble. Specter appears more concerned about Specter than anyone else. His positions, although close to the Democrats, are not identical. There might have been more integrity in declaring himself an Independent, as did former Democrat Joseph Lieberman. He may not be the Benedict Arnold that Republicans view him to be--but any sense of being a great statesman has dimmed quite a bit.

Many years ago in the denomination in which I serve, one of our church's university professors began to espouse theological positions that were clearly at variance with the church. Academic freedom allowed him that right. The irony is that he gained that faculty seat in part by being ordained by the parent denomination. Many thought he should be fired. Many thought he should have been defrocked. He seemed to have no problem claiming the privileges of being one of our pastors without the responsibility to keep his ordination vows to teach the doctrine of the church. He had intellectually "switched sides" but did not take the step of relinquishing the privilege of being called one of our pastors. Given the climate of the school at that time, he would have retained his seat on the faculty. He was a good and respected teacher.

We have the responsibility as people of integrity to be truthful and faithful to the values we hold, especially when we have made a promise to do so. That means that sometimes we must "switch sides." We just need to have the integrity to relinquish the position and privileges that we obtained because of the "original position" we took. Trying to have it both ways smacks of the insincerity that causes people to view all leaders with a jaundiced eye.