We’re willing to bet if any African-American Democrat in New York even thought about making such a move as switching to the Republican Party in the abrupt fashion Sens. Pedro Espada Jr. and Hiram Monserrate accomplished recently – they would be shown the door come re-election.

Yes, Blacks have supported the Democratic Party for years. And for that, the group has seen some progress on the political front when it comes to legislators attempting to meet the leading concerns of the community i.e. health care, gun legislation and education.

And, what many Blacks seemed to appreciate in the Democratic Party is a willingness by them to exhibit a sincere interest in the community – whether it’s real or not.

But, what the Black community does not like are party sellouts.

The group has propelled many careers, and, out of disgust, has finished the futures for some.

To fill you in, last week during a coup in Albany, Republican state Sen. John DeFrancisco, swore in Democrat Sen. Pedro Espada Jr., as temporary Senate president putting him first in succession if something should happen to Gov. David Paterson.

Over the years, Espada has been investigated for failing to disclose political contributions. At the moment, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating Soundview Health Care Network, a nonprofit organization Espada ran until recently.

What has many on edge in the Bronx is Espada’s willingness to throw his vote to Republicans in return for the post – and an apparent promise of help in next year's election from billionaire Tom Golisano.

Espada was joined in his defection by fellow Democrat Hiram Monseratte of Queens, who has been indicted on felony charges of slashing his girlfriend's face with a broken glass. The two gave Republicans a 32-30 control of the state senate.

Republican Dean Skelos of Long Island, DeFrancisco and other Republicans insisted to the media they recruited Espada and Monseratte to help them reform the Senate.

Monseratte has since joined the Democratic side leaving this big cluster sham to a 31-31 tie.

Though reasons have been given that the needs of the Latino community needed to be addressed, most Latino constituents in the Bronx were not happy about Espada’s move. In fact some have even suggested for Espada to begin packing his bags.

“They both will feel our anger at the next election,” one resident, who requested that his name not be used, told the Amsterdam News in a recent report. “What they did was not what we sent them to Albany to do.”