What Is Surprising about the Van Drew Switcheroo?

What is most surprising about Jeff Van Drew’s switching of political parties is that more haven’t done it.
George Washington, in his Farewell Address to our nation, warned us in very solemn terms to beware of the dangers of political parties and their power to undermine our liberty.  He further stated that it is a duty of wise citizens to prevent political parties from enfeebling our government.
In writing this, it is as if Washington had a crystal ball and was foreseeing the mockery of government currently at play in our nation’s capital.
With Washington’s clear warning, how is it that we could not see where our actions were taking us and thus not allow our political parties to handcuff our elected representatives, forcing them to think and act in lockstep.  By design, we elect our representatives from around the country to go to the capitol, carrying our needs, wants and desires, and, from there, to establish a course of action which would best serve our district, our state, and our nation. 
Political parties undermine our Constitutional order when the party leadership tells our representatives what to do and how to vote.
This is where Jeff Van Drew comes into the picture. He had the audacity to put the party leaders in their proper place, which, if anything, should have been to build consensus, not to attempt to dictate.
I have known Jeff Van Drew for decades, and have worked with him, both as a community newspaperman and as a representative of the New Jersey Press Association. In discussions with him, I always received a thoughtful hearing. Sometimes he agreed with me, and sometimes not.  I never offered any inducement nor was such ever sought.  My arguments were based upon what I believed to be best for the community as a whole, and his conclusions were based upon the same principle.
He recently stated to the Press of Atlantic City, “I always pushed for what I believe was right, and what I believe was best.” From my personal experience, his statement is true. I have interacted with sleazy elected officials over the years, but such was not Jeff Van Drew; he has always been principled.
He has been accused of leaving his former party for selfish or political reasons. The fact is, as a New Jersey Democrat, he was well situated. However, the leadership of the national Democratic Party has been taking their party far to the Left. That direction is out of step with the district which Jeff Van Drew represents, and his own beliefs. “I’m a capitalist. Socialism has no place in the U.S. I believe in bipartisanship,” Van Drew said. Further, he supports what President Trump is doing with the economy, and he doesn’t support impeachment. Van Drew sponsored a measure in New Jersey which would allow “In God We Trust” in public buildings.
“I was always a conservative Democrat,” he said. The Republican Party is “…just a better fit for me.”
Given that Jeff  Van Drew’s beliefs are so  repugnant to the national Democratic Party’s leadership,  the  surprise to me is that more elected  officials at the national level, whose  values more  closely align with the G.O.P., haven’t done what he has  done, and left the national Democratic Party. It is a testimony to the stranglehold the leadership has on their members. His departure represents a crack in the wall, and I’m sure it will not be tolerated without a battle royal ensuing.