Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter today announced he was switching from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party.

While the shift could have major ramifications in terms of giving the Dems a filibuster-proof 60-seat Senate majority, it will make little difference on the life issue — Specter has long been solidly pro-abortion.

Since 1997-1998, Specter has earned a pro-life rating from the National Right to Life Committee for his voting record only once, and in the current Congress, he has a pro-life rating of 0%.

Given how out of step Specter has been for many years with his own party on abortion and many other social issues, National Review’s Jay Nordlinger is skeptical of Specter’s claim that he’s jumping parties because of an alleged shift “far to the right” by the GOP.

“There’s something I like about Arlen Specter’s party-switching statement,” Nordlinger writes. “He begins with the nonsense about how the Republican Party has moved too far to the right, blah, blah, blah. That’s not to be taken seriously. That’s just rationalization, and not very smart rationalization at that.

Continues Nordlinger, “Soon we get to the nitty-gritty: ‘I have traveled the state, talked to Republican leaders and office-holders and my supporters and I have carefully examined public opinion. It has become clear to me that the stimulus vote caused a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable. On this state of the record, I am unwilling to have my twenty-nine year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate.’”

Sums up Nordlinger, “There you have it: He thought he was going to lose.”