Sen. Chafee Not Ruling Out Changing Parties

theday.com/ ^ | Published on 11/4/2004 | LOLITA C. BALDOR

[crushelits]

Sen. Chafee Not Ruling Out Changing Parties
R.I. Republican says party is now too far to the right

Washington — Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee remained mum Wednesday on whether he planned to jump from the Republican Party, which he says has moved too far right under President Bush. Chafee, who is part of the state's better known Republican families but often votes with the Democrats, had said he would consider switching party affiliation if Bush were re-elected. On Wednesday, after Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry conceded the race to Bush, Chafee's spokesman said the Rhode Island lawmaker wasn't ready to make a final decision. “Clearly we're trying to digest the situation,” spokesman Stephen Hourhan said. “Ultimately, it's a question of what he wants to do and when he wants to do it.” U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said the Democrats would welcome Chafee with open arms, and were probably already trying to encourage his defection. “He's a fine senator, he has a lot of independence,” Dodd said. “He may find it more comfortable to be with us Democrats.”

After Tuesday's vote, Republicans were assured 55 Senate seats, strengthening their 51-48 margin, with one Democratic-leaning independent.

Hourhan said Chafee was buoyed by some of the victories that moderate Republicans posted around the country, and there would be no immediate move.

“The Republican Party, up until now, has been very nice to him,” Hourhan said.

Known for moderate views that often run counter to the Bush administration, Chafee said he cast a write-in vote for Bush's father, George H.W. Bush, in Tuesday's election, calling it a “symbolic protest.”

The Republican senator said it would have been impossible to vote for President Bush given their opposite views on issues such as abortion, gay marriage, the deficit, tax cuts, the environment and the war in Iraq.

Chafee, 51, has opposed the administration's push to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and voted against Bush's energy plan and tax cuts. He also criticized Bush's handling of the postwar reconstruction of Iraq and was the only Republican senator to vote against the October 2002 resolution that gave Bush the authority to invade Iraq.

Chafee, who was appointed to the Senate in November 1999 to fill the seat when his father, John, died, said if he were to change parties, “it would be with great sadness.”

In heavily Democratic Rhode Island, Chafee has been a Republican since birth. His parents named him Lincoln after the first Republican president. He's told The Associated Press he wants the moderate wing of the GOP to rise again, and he has trouble with the direction his party has been going. Chafee said ever since Bush has been in office, “it's been an agenda of energizing the far-right-wing base, which is divisive.”

[gridlock]

Don't let the door hit 'ya on the way out. The 'Pubbies could not count on your vote on legislation or cloture, and they don't need you vote on organization...

It really must suck to be you this week, Senator Chaffee..

[FreedomNeocon]

The Republican senator said it would have been impossible to vote for President Bush given their opposite views on issues such as abortion, gay marriage, the deficit, tax cuts, the environment and the war in Iraq.

Chafee, 51, has opposed the administration's push to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and voted against Bush's energy plan and tax cuts. He also criticized Bush's handling of the postwar reconstruction of Iraq and was the only Republican senator to vote against the October 2002 resolution that gave Bush the authority to invade Iraq.

And this is a REPUBLICAN?!?
Good riddance....

[Chad Fairbanks]

Chafee, who was appointed to the Senate in November 1999 to fill the seat when his father, John, died, said if he were to change parties, “it would be with great sadness.”

Well, it's not like you campaigned long and hard to get the job to begin with. Like every other liberal, you want everything handed to you.

Good riddance, I say.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Let's not say goodbye to him without first trying to logically show him the error of his ways. Maybe we can put together a list of Donk and Pubbie methodologies since Reagan and let him see for himself which party is pro truth. After all, if he is relying on the MSM for his news, he is sadly ill-informed.

[mwl1]

This is just for local consumption at home. I believe he is up for re-election in 2006.

He ain't gonna go, he gains nothing by jumping to the minority party.

I am more interested in learning whether Ben Nelson is gonna jump to our side -- a lot more plausible.

[rjmeagle]

When we have "friends" like Chafee, who needs enemies? I, for one, would prefer that all the turncoats in the Republican Party leave and go to hell for all I care. That includes Olympia Snow and Arlen Specter.

At least we will know who our friends are and of course, who is the enemy. I am tired of "jackasses in elephant clothing"!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Has Lincoln released his divorce papers?

[wideawake]

Well, Suzy Chafee, 25% more Rhode Islanders voted for the President this year than did in 2000.

Maybe the President is moving in the right direction and you're becoming irrelevant.

[AaronInCarolina]

The Republican senator said it would have been impossible to vote for President Bush given their opposite views on issues such as abortion, gay marriage, the deficit, tax cuts, the environment and the war in Iraq.

Replace the phrase above in bold with stay on with the Republican Party and you see why he has no business in the Republican Party. Those positions on the issues he cites are the official positions of the Republican Party. The positions that Chafee takes on those issues are precisely the official positions of the 'Rat party. Begone with him! We no longer need Benedict Arnolds in our party.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Mr. Chaffee,

Don't go away mad, just go away!

[Libertarian444]

Sen. Chafee Not Ruling Out Changing Parties,/P>

[B Knotts]

Normally, you try to switch to the majority party, not the other way around.

Just helpin' ya out here, Linc.

[SaintDismas]

Hey if he would join Jeffords and become an independent, they could start their own little party. Delightful!!

[HEY4QDEMS]

Don't let the door hit ya where God split ya!

[MamaLucci]

Could anyone possibly BE any more irrelevant than missingLinc Chaffee?

[politicket]

Hey Chaffee, don't let the door hit 'ya where the good Lord split 'ya!

[Sunsong]

Buh Bye

[Old Professer]

Jay Rockefeller clone.

[Publius6961]

He might as well leave. Who would trust someone with that caliber of character and integrity anyway? As a Republican, he is now both marginalized and useless.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way!

[Hermann the Cherusker]

I say good and take Snow and Spector with them.

At least Collins campaigned for Bush.

Of course, Specter and Snowe won't leave because if they did, they would be the most Conservative Democrats in that caucus, right alongside Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Snowe and Specter usually get ACU ratings in the 50-65% range in recent years. The next nearest Democrat, now that Breaux and Hollings are gone, is Sheets Byrd, down around 30, which is also where we find Chaffee. most Democrat Senators,a long with Jumping Jim are in the 0-20 range. That says someting about where the Democrat party is, doesn't it?