Koster Going Blue? Day Two [Updated]
Filed Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at 12:00 PM
After quickly spreading like wildfire, first on independent blogs, then newspaper blogs, then to TV, all that remains for the rumor of Republican State Senator Chris Koster’s crossover to the Democratic Party to become fact is… well, a press conference.
How about three press conferences in three parts of the state?
At 9:00 this morning, Koster will make a “major political announcement” at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Then at 11:30, Koster will make either the same “major political announcement” or an even bigger one (like he’s converting to Islam or joining the NAACP) outside the Cass County Justice Center in Harrisonville.
And last but (hopefully) not least, at 3:30 this afternoon, the Chris Koster Show comes to St. Louis as the by-then-Democratic State Senator makes his “major political announcement” in front of his high school alma mater, Saint Louis University High School, 4970 Oakland Ave.
In the meantime, Democrats around the state are already taking shots at their soon-to-be newest member.
This flier was emailed to us this morning. It outlines some of the controversial legislation that Koster supported as a Republican. The disclaimer at the bottom says it was paid for by the Boone County Democratic Central Committee.
UPDATE @ 9:55 AM: The following is a statement from Jared Craighead, executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, on Koster’s decision to “abandon” the Republican Party:
“Republicans are surprised that Senator Koster who has championed so many Republican causes, participated in leadership of the Senate Republican Caucus and served as a member of the Republican State Committee would decide suddenly that he is a Democrat. Chris is a personal friend of mine but I fear he has blinded himself with his desire for higher office and the hollow promises of Jay Nixon’s political machine rather than keeping his commitment to the constituents who elected him to represent them.
I expect that Chris will resign from the Senate immediately and stand for election as a Democrat in a special election so that the people of the 31st Senatorial District have an opportunity to decide whether they want him representing them now that he has totally reversed his positions on important issues like gay marriage, Second Amendment rights and Medicaid reform.
If I had to guess, Chris will likely quote Winston Churchill to describe his decision saying, ’some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others change their principles for the sake of the party.’ But I would remind Chris that Churchill also remarked on the occasion of a party switch that it was the only instance he could recall of a rat swimming towards a sinking ship – that sentiment seems particularly applicable in this case.
Simply stated, Chris has done the political calculus and does not believe he can win a Republican primary and does not believe that Jeff Harris is a formidable opponent.”
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