The Daily Caller on a remarkable act of political courage:
The defection of a prominent Pennsylvania Democrat to the Republican Party is raising some eyebrows.
Jo Ann Nardelli, a state committeewoman and founding president of the Blair County Federation of Democratic Women, has switched her political affiliation to the GOP, citing her Catholic faith and President Obama’s embrace of gay marriage as reasons.
During a press conference last week, Nardelli cited President Obama’s recent announcement in support of gay marriage as a central reason for her defection, endorsed Mitt Romney for president and changed her party registration to Republican, The Altoona Mirror reported.
“As the Democratic Party has taken the stand for same-sex marriage, then I must make a stand on my faith that marriage is between a man and a woman. God’s principles for life never change. His guidelines, given in Scripture, produce fruitful lives when you follow them,” Nardelli, a pro-life Democrat for more than 40 years, said at the Blair County Courthouse.
According to Politics PA, Nardelli continued to point to her Catholic faith as a major motivator in her letter of resignation to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.
Nardelli also conducted an interview on Monday with the National Catholic Register.
18 Comments
Interesting.
Wow, and in my state too. Good for her; hopefully we'll hear more stories like this one, of course don't expect much from the (gay) media on reporting this story, lol.
For some reason, I am getting flashbacks to the 1960s, when all the southern states switched to voting Republican.
@MrRoivas
That's what trampling on State's Rights does.
Good news.
Look for a lot politicians to be lining up on one side or the other. Better to know where they stand now, then to take a chance on an 'evolving' politician.
If you're willing to leave behind your party and its platform because of its support for marriage equality, which you claim to oppose based on perceived commands from some cosmic overlord, then the Democrats are better off without you. Take your popery and go.
Zack
Here is an excellent article that exposes the lie that democrats were ahead on civil rights issues:
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/300432/party-civil-rights-kevin-d-williamson
Great point, Scronger.
To Michael (comment #7):
I am in the same position as this brave Catholic woman in PA: lifelong pro-life Democrat who will be switching out of the party due to its embrace of mind-boggling logic-defying gender-neutral "marriage" which sets back the propagation of humanity--the original purpose of marriage!
The hostility to religion that you evince makes me more comfortable leaving the Democratic Party, seeing that it is the home of fanatic anti-religion bigots like you. America is not Revolutionary France for G-d's sake!
Orthodox Jew - As a Catholic who supports marriage equality I too find Michael's comments to be somewhat hostile. Ms Nardelli is free to do as she chooses although I disagree with her actions based on her (former) party's view of civil marriage as an equality matter . As Catholics, we render to Caesar what is his. We embrace our gay brothers and sisters as children of the Lord just as our heterosexual brothers and sisters are children of the Lord. I have been fortunate to have encountered several Catholic clergy members who wholeheartedly embrace the concept o civil marriage equality.
Absurd.
This is a woman who doesn't understand the Constitution and her role as a legislator, which is NOT to implement her religious views on the nation.
And as Shepard Smith on Fox News stated, she is standing quite clearly on the wrong side of history.
I strongly favor abortion rights and am not about to leave the Democratic party despite its leaders' blunder in condoning same-sex sexual relationships.
JR,
you hurt the "gay" by failing to insist that they abandon the lies underlying their identification as "gay",which Catholicism explicitly opposes.To the extent that you believe "love" for the "gay" does not require demanding they cease same-sex sexual activity and attempts to defend it,you are not loving OR Catholic.(I am not religious myself,but sincerity is valued in any faith).
"His guidelines...produce fruitful lives if you follow them". Fine. Then follow them and leave me and my relationships the hell alone, bigot.
"Zack, the Southern Dems defected to the GOP in response to LBJ signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964."
That doesn't make any sense since it was the Republicans that supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and had passed because of Republican votes.
It's great to see folks choosing their beliefs over politics.
"This is a woman who doesn't understand the Constitution and her role as a legislator, which is NOT to implement her religious views on the nation."
Apparently you don't understand how representative government works. If the people want to elect a person whose religious views reflect their own, they are able to do so. One isn't obligated to leave one's religious beliefs at the door, in order to govern. That's what elections are for. If the majority don't feel this woman represents them, they won't elect her. If the minority doesn't agree with her religious views, they're not obligated to join her Church or practice her religious beliefs. They still have freedom of association.
This same type of thing is happening in MA. When the Dems went bonkers over homosexuality some had to leave the party.
Just read a letter to the editor today about a previous Catholic democrat voter now changing their votes.