I know Ashley Bell. This move is NOTHING but opportunism.
He was the National President of College Dems for two terms, from 2002 to 2004. He was a DNC delegate in 2000 and again in 2004. He spoke at the latter one. Those sorts of partisan positions don't just happen by chance; to get that far within the party you pretty much have to be a diehard partisan and ideologue.
Here's a photo from 2005 showing notes he wrote on the board during a "Progressive" meeting at North Georgia College's Democratic group. Note: "Not Republican-Lite", har har.
Here's an article he wrote shortly before the 2004 election; some highlights:
Bell complains that the Democratic party has "chosen" the path of liberalism, BUT HE WAS PART OF THAT PATH! He self-identified as a "progressive" with some pretty leftist beliefs; in switching parties he's selling out pretty much everything he's ever stood for. This is a blind move of ambition on his part; he wants a future but is afraid he won't even be reelected in two years. He's thrown his old views under the bus for political expediency, and there's not really anything else someone can get from this.
