GOP Likes Chafee As Best Chance in R.I.

AP ^ | 11/15/5 | M.L. JOHNSON

[SmithL]

Warwick, R.I. -- Liberal Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee refused to support President Bush in the last election, opposed the GOP tax cuts and was the only Republican to vote against the use of military force in Iraq, a war he has likened to Vietnam.

So why, a year before the election, is the GOP embracing Chafee and spending close to $200,000 on television ads aimed at undercutting his conservative rival in the Republican primary, Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey?

Like him or not, Republicans consider Chafee their best chance to win in heavily Democratic Rhode Island.

[SmithL]

Huh?

[mewzilla]

Consider the source :)

[Semper Paratus]

Losing Chaffee would be addition by subtraction.

[Dog]

ATTENTION RNC LURKERS!!!

This is why I will never give another dime to you.

[ncountylee]

As much as I can't bear Chafee, the seat helps hold the majority and keep committee chairmanships.

[rhombus]

I don't know the data that the GOP is looking at but if this bugs folks they should donate to Laffey.

[Spiff]

So why, a year before the election, is the GOP embracing Chafee and spending close to $200,000 on television ads aimed at undercutting his conservative rival in the Republican primary, Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey?

Party before principle.

For what does it profit a party to win an election but lose its soul?

[drc43]

"Losing Chaffee would be addition by subtraction."

Chairmanships, committees and business of the Senate is determined by who is in Majority.

Is it worth turning the Senate back to the Dems to get rid of Chaffee and those like him?

[SmithL]

How will he vote on Cloture?

[doug from upland]

I loathe the RINOs, but here is the problem. The state is DemocRATic and liberal, insuring that a conservative will not win. We have to face that. We can hope and hope and hope, but it won't happen. Occasionally, he might vote correctly. But the one thing we do need is to remain in the majority. We cannot let the DemocRATS get control of the committe chairmanships again. It is easy to say --- screw the RINO, let the DemocRAT win. But that position is just plain foolish. Politics is the art of the possible.

[TXBSAFH]

In this case why bother, if we got the bastard step child of "Swimmer" Kennedy it would not be worse then this guy.

[thoughtomator]

And helps the Democrats win on all the big issues. Poor trade-off.

[sheana]

This is "party over substance". No wonder their approval ratings are so low. I know that I will NEVER again vote for party over substance come what may. I am sick of politics and politicians.

[PzLdr]

If he's their best shot, the GOP should write Rhode Island off, and put their money elsewhere. It's like saying Quisling was the Allies best chance in Norway during WW II.

[NapkinUser]

I'd rather lose the seat with a principled conservative candidate. The only thing Chafee does is give talking points to the liberal media who claim he represents all republicans. Same with McCain.

[G.Mason]

I wouldn't donate to Laffey, but I would vote for him over Chafee, and follow up with an letter (after he lost) advising both Chafee and the Republican National Committee exactly why.

[plain talk]

see post #5. Until R.I. and much of the N.E. decides it wants real conservatives you will have RINOs. That's life.

[boomop1]

GOP is chicken shi*.

[AmishDude]

Another loyal member of the sphinx caucus, I see.

[rushmom]

If I lived in Rhode Island, I would vote for a Chafee (shiver) in the general for the purpose you state, but one ought to have the right to vote for a conservative in the primary.