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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJean Schodorf, Outgoing Kansas State Senator, Becomes A Democrat
A moderate Republican state senator in Kansas plans to become a Democrat just hours after she officially leaves office Monday.
Former state Sen. Jean Schodorf of Wichita announced Sunday on Facebook that she would file paperwork Monday afternoon to officially become a Democrat, completing a party switch that she kicked off in September when she announced her intention to leave the GOP.
Schodorf, a leading moderate Republican, was defeated in the August Republican primary by a more conservative challenger, Michael O'Donnell. Schodorf was one of a number of moderate Republican Kansas state senators unseated in the bitter civil war between moderate and conservative Republicans in the state. She is scheduled to file the paperwork to switch parties just two hours after O'Donnell's swearing-in.
When Schodorf said in September that she would leave the Republican Party, she was undecided on whether to become a Democrat or an Independent. Speaking to The Huffington Post Monday, Schodorf said the December debate in Congress over the fiscal cliff informed her choice to become a Democrat. She felt the negotiations in Washington showed Republicans were not looking for solutions.
more ... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/jean-schodorf-democrat_n_2473138.html
MuseRider
(34,058 posts)Normally I get a little creeped out by R's just switching to D's even here where we need Democrats in the worst way but she is a good person. She has been very helpful to KEC. She was also key working with us on the school bullying bills we got passed.
I really don't know all that much about her except that she is nice, I liked her when I met her and she is not anything like most of the Republicans now running our state.
proud2BlibKansan
(96,793 posts)Morrison and Parkinson left a bad taste in my mouth.
MuseRider
(34,058 posts)I have gotten the impression that she is a fair thinking person but we will have to see.
It sucks that we have so little to look forward to, so little good to hang on to and nothing but dark skies and abhorrent policy to look forward to that something like this would cause me to suck in my breath and think little happy things.
I am usually not a fan of Republicans becoming Democrats. I would take a strong moderate with the guts to stick to it right now and have them over for dinner. I was thinking it would be good to see Tim Owen come over but he is anti choice I believe so no no no. He fought the good fight against the Teabaggers though. Gotta give him that.
proud2BlibKansan
(96,793 posts)I didn't realize he was anti-choice. He was sure on the correct side of education funding, voter ID and taxes. I really liked him.
My friend went to Topeka today. Here's what she and her husband wore:
MuseRider
(34,058 posts)I remember talking with him one day when I was at the State House with Tom doing something and being very impressed. He may not be anti choice although I thought he was. I KNOW he is nowhere near the creepy we have now in office even if he is.
proud2BlibKansan
(96,793 posts)I'm embarrassed to admit that. LOL
MuseRider
(34,058 posts)I am pretty sure he is anti choice but like I said, don't take my word for it. If I ever hear I will let you know if he is. Not that it matters much now.
sad-cafe
(1,277 posts)She is not afraid to speak to the crazy that is passing for R in today's climate.
MuseRider
(34,058 posts)and as far as I can see she is almost the only one.
samsingh
(17,571 posts)hfojvt
(37,573 posts)it sorta proves the rightwing's point that those moderate Republicans were really Democrats, and then if she runs for office as a Democrat it will just prove my point that the Kansas Democrats are really just moderate Republicans.
I guess it is better to have a moderate Republican than a conservative Republican, but it would be even better to have a Democrat.
Except that just means we lose elections. Better to win with Gilstrap than lose with Kultala? Better to win with Morrison than lose with Six? Better to win with Parkinson than lose with Holland?
I didn't like Parkinson at first, but in some ways he seemed better than Sebelius. At least he fought for a small tax increase whereas Sebelius said "a tax increase would hurt Kansas families".
But then he put his tail between his legs and ran away from Brownback, much like Thornburgh. And the sales tax seems to be a Trojan horse to justify or pay for Brownback's Reaganomics.