This is a surprise

Once in a while I come across some news story that leaves me speechless in surprise, and this is one such case.

Why a GOP Benefactor Switched Parties

Just as news breaks that political fundraising is down for both parties, Republicans have lost one of their more generous contributors.

In what one might call a biblical move, Christian philanthropist Howard Ahmanson -- one of three major funders of the campaign for California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriages -- has abandoned the GOP for the Democratic Party.

Ahmanson is so far from the Democratic party on just about every issue that I am literately unable to express the surprise this piece of news gave me.

His move should not be taken as a sign that he has changed his positions. He has explained his reasoning for his switch, and it can be summed up as dissatisfaction with the single issue (anti-tax) agenda of the Californian Republican party.

The party move has great symbolic value, but in reality, I don't think it will have any effect. Ahmanson will still support right-wing causes, pouring money into think tanks etc.