I can’t think of a sentiment more wrong than what you just suggested. Are you saying that someone’s party should come before their principles? That if they find that their principles have changed enough to cause them to no longer identify with their party, they shouldn’t switch?

In this case, of course, Specter’s principle is *staying in power*, which itself is deplorable and worthy of scorn. But if he decides that he’s no longer a Republican (something most Republicans criticized him of prior to his switch), do you suggest he should remain with his party rather than change?

The remainder of Specter’s career will be “vote with us and shut up”.