Posted on 09/12/2006 5:29:38 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
September 12, 2006 - 20:16
What would you call someone who within the last six years has received a 100% rating from NARAL and Planned Parenthood and a 0% from the National Right-to-Life Committee? A 100% rating from the ACLU. A 0% rating from Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum. A 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters and a 0% rating from the conservative Family Research Council?
Oh, and someone who voted against George W. Bush for president in 2004, against the confirmation of Sam Alito to the Supreme Court, and who demands the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq?
I'd call that person a liberal. Not MSNBC. Not Hardball. Not Chris Matthews's field correspondent David Shuster. The person in question is Republican-barely-in-name-only Lincoln Chaffee of Rhode Island. How did Shuster describe him in a set-up piece for Hardball's discussion of the Rhode Island GOP senatorial primary this evening? A "moderate."
But when it came to Chaffee's opponent, Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey, Shuster painted an otherwise more radical portrait, branding him a "hard-line conservative" and an "anti-abortion crusader." When's the last time Shuster or any MSNBC staffer labelled a liberal Democrat a pro-abortion or even a pro-choice "crusader"? Just wondering.
Later, Shuster claimed that Laffey had "repeatedly hammered Chaffee's bipartisanship on issues like immigration." I'd say it wasn't the bi-partisanship Laffey was criticizing, it was Chaffee's weakness and laxity on border security.
Concluded Shuster: "The question is, will Republicans vote for pragmatism or ideology?" Little doubt as to what Shuster, Matthews, MSNBC & Co. think they should do.
I sincerely doubt Carl Cameron is in error.
I will check 'Guide to US elections' when I get to work tomorrow. I work in a library. :) If Cameron said the GOP has held that seat since the 1930s he is indeed wrong. I am all but certain Sen John Pastore, a Democrat, retired in 1976 and John Chaffee succeeded him. Pastore had held the seat for at least a few terms. I'll check online now to see if that info is available.
You do that.
The web is so great! Here is a bio on Sen John Pastore, DEMOCRAT senator from RI, 1950-1977:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pastore
Any other Rhode Islanders here who have any info on Pastore? The other Demo senator for many decades was Claiborne Pell. Both were considered liberal as I recall but compared to today's wacko lefties maybe they weren't so bad.
Matt seems more like a bumbling lib (although his attack on Bush during an interview was pretty ballsy...until he got smacked down) while Katie was insidious in her blind hatred for anyone right of Hillary.
It just doesn't seem the same to watch the 7:15AM Today Show Bush/Republican bashing. Thanks Governs for all of your quick takes and the branching out to Demball.
Have you been following Katie to the night shift?
Ohhh.... how DARE Laffey criticize both Pres Bush and Karl Rove. Must not be a real Republican. Funny, I see people "criticizing both Pres Bush and Karl Rove" everyday on FR, on immigration and other issues. Are Republicans supposed to blindly support everything Bush does no matter what?
So Laffey's a bad guy for just "criticizing" President Bush, but it's OKAY for RINO Chafee to openly OPPOSE Bush for re-election and attack Bush's ENTIRE platform? Laffey's too "liberal" but Chafee's socialist record is a-okay? You insist only far-left liberals can "win" in RI, yet Laffey is scum because he's not 100% conservative?
Yeah that makes sense. You people suffer from schizophrenia or something. It's the only explanation.
It's simply amazing to watch you demonize Laffey for supporting liberals 20-30% of the time, while kissing Chafee's butt when HE supports liberals 80-90% of the time.
Following such "logic", maybe we should support HAMAS over Fatah. You know those guys at Fatah are always criticizing the Jews. HAMAS wants to exterminate the Jews instead, so by following your standards, that's MUCH better than criticizing.
If Chafee’s record is fine and dandy with you, then why not support Hillary? Her voting record was EXACTLY as “conservative” as his last year (12% from ACU). If you guys like that kind of record more than a proven pro-life tax cuter who occasionally “criticizes” Bush, just join the Dem party and be with your ideological soul mates. Good riddance to “Republicans’ who swoon over socialists.
"Ohhh.... how DARE Laffey criticize both Pres Bush and Karl Rove."
Republicans vote in primaries. It was stupid for Laffey to criticize them out of the voting booth.
I never said I liked what Chafee was doing especially in relation to the Bolton nomination.
Grow up.
LMAO. Chafee has made a career out of attacking other Republicans and you idiots say vote for Jeffords II and his socialist agenda anyway. Laffey does it a handful of times and you say he's a RINO jerk who's biting the hand that feeds him.
Maybe you geniuses can start convincing Alaskans who think their state is too cold to move to Antartica instead. Same "logic"
Thanks, solo. Naturally I watched Katie on 'opening night' but haven't since. I'll probably check in on her from time to time.
Meanwhile, Meredith Vieira debuts this morning on Today! Think I'll start a live thread.
OK, it is official. John Pastore, a Democrat, held the seat 1950-76. He retired and was succeeded by John Chaffee. Pastore was preceded by a Democrat too. So if Carl Cameron on Fox reported the seat had been GOP "back to the 1930s" he is dead wrong. Only a few Republicans have ever been elected to the Senate from RI since senators were elected by popular vote. And sadly, with the Chaffees, they weren't conservative Republicans by any means. Though as I recall, the father was not quite as liberal.
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