Smith skips breakfast, misses Senate votes

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., who lost his reelection bid to Rep. John E. Sununu in Tuesday’s primary election, skipped a Republican Unity Breakfast yesterday morning in New Hampshire so he could cast an important vote on the Senate floor, his staff said Wednesday.

But Smith did not vote on yesterday’s first order of business, a 10 a.m. roll call vote on the nomination of Timothy J. Corrigan of Florida to be a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. The nomination was approved, 88-0.

Smith also failed to vote in the afternoon on two amendments to the homeland security bill.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for Smith said he would have attended the breakfast if not for key votes on the Senate floor. Otherwise, he’d be at the breakfast, Smith’s press secretary Lisa Harrison told The Union Leader. “He said he would spend the rest of his term furthering President Bush’s agenda on homeland security and fighting terrorism,” she said.

But yesterday Harrison said, “We called the Republican cloakroom (on Wednesday) and (officials there) just told us there were votes,” she said, without specifying what the votes were on.

Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., attended the breakfast event in New Hampshire and flew directly to Washington, missing the early vote but making both roll calls later in the day on the homeland security bill.

Smith, who did not return phone calls, was driving back to Washington yesterday morning, according to Harrison.

Gregg said he was not concerned that Smith’s actions reflected any division in the party.

“Sometimes when something like this happens you’ve got to take some time and put your house in order,” Gregg said, referring to Smith’s defeat. He added that he had no doubt Smith is supporting “Sununu, the Republican Party and the agenda of George W. Bush.”

>> I've posted a few times on FR that if Bob Smith lost the nomination he might go insane and run as an Independant <<

I posted that even AFTER Sununu won the nomination, his "supporters" would continue to bash Bob Smith, make up lies about him, and mock his record instead of consentrating on Shaheen (making sure all Republicans rallied against a common emeny).

Seems I was right.

Smith's 100% against Shaheen. Always has been, always will be. The first thing he said after his concession speech is that Sununu MUST win in order to stop Shaheen. ( Ousted Smith Claims Sununu 'Must Win' ) But you're STILL against Smith (R). You tell me who's the "real Republican"

I know a guy who became a small "i" independant for a whooping few monthes and voted SOLIDLY (99.9999%...ONLY exception was ANWR) consevative during that time and solidly with President Bush and with the Republican leadership.

And I know some other guys (a few who post on this forum) who defend candidates who donated to Shaheen in '98, say any openly pro-life candidate is "out of touch" with New Hampshire, and engage in endless personal attacks on conservative incumbants (INDENTICAL to the stuff you hear on DemocratUnderground) even after the primary is over.

I know which one is the real Republican.

Sununu needs my support. It is DESPITE of, and not because of, a particularly nasty strain of RINO attack dogs here.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.