Democrats have lost yet another icon as Harvard law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz breaks with the Democratic Party and joined with Republicans, stating that the party he once supported for over six decades has taken a turn he can’t get behind. The longtime liberal announced that he is registering with the GOP, noting that his decision is in part inspired by the growing “hostility” of the left toward Israel.
Dershowitz said that he’s not simply switching the letter next to his name, but is planning to back Republican efforts to stop Democrats from taking power back in Washington. “I intend to work hard to prevent the Democrats from gaining control of the House… and Senate, and I urge those who share my concerns about the increasing influence of radicalisms in the Democratic Party to vote, campaign and contribute for continued Republican control of Congress,” he went on to say.
The constitutional attorney has spent recent years warning that Democrats were moving too far to the ideological left, especially on the issues of foreign policy and civil liberties. Providing further details about his split from the Democratic Party, Dershowitz made the case that Democrats no longer hold to the values he once supported, especially with regard to free expression and support for Israel.
According to Trending Politics News, Dershowitz has been vocal with his criticism of the growing “radical” elements gaining influence inside the party. The Harvard law professor has long considered himself more of a civil libertarian that challenges ideas on both sides of the political spectrum, however, he’s recently been focused on Democrats who he accused of abandoning their core principles.
Dershowitz also pointed out the serious risks involved with politicizing the legal system, stating in past commentary that targeting political opponents “really endangers democracy.” After spending decades as a Democrat, the constitutional lawyer is putting his efforts behind those of the Republican Party, stating clearly that if Democrats return to power, it would push the country down a path that is “bad for America.”
However, while he’s joining the GOP, there are still a number of issues where he disagrees with Republicans. “I still disagree strongly with the GOP on abortion, the separation of church and state, immigration, healthcare and taxes, among other things. Yet I’ve decided to bite the bullet and register as a Republican,” Dershowitz wrote in a piece for The Wall Street Journal.
Later in the post, Dershowitz wrote that he wishes he could identify himself as a “foreign-policy Republican,” but laments that no such option exists, saying that he must “go whole hog.” He also said he hopes that he can have an influence in helping move some of the GOP’s policies more toward the center instead of hard right.
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“I have given up on trying to change the Democratic Party. My main goal is to send a message that many traditional Democratic voters can’t accept what it is becoming—a replica of left-wing European parties that are hurting their countries,” the constitutional attorney continued. “Americans generally tend toward political moderation, but both parties have become more extreme, in part due to low-turnout primaries that attract passionate ideologues.”
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