Club For Growth Encourages Stephen Laffey To Challenge Lincoln Chafee In Rhode Island Primary

The Hill ^ | May 18, 2005 | Peter Savodnik

[Clintonfatigued]

former Rep. Toomey (R-Pa.) said he had spoken in recent weeks with Laffey about running against centrist Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.)

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Island is a liberal state and only a liberal Republican can get elected Senator there."

---

Tell that to pro-life conservative Republican Governor Carcieri.

Having a Senator Chafee with an R next to his name merely results in our 2-person advantage on each committee being reduced to 0 on every committee and sub-committee on which Chafee sits, since Chafee votes with the Democrats on just about every important issue. We're not talking Specter or Snowe here; Chafee doesn't support the GOP majority position on *anything*, be it social, econoic or foreign. Given the fact that the Democrat Senate candidates are currently a second-tier group, I think Mayor Laffey could get elected if he defeats Chafee in the primary. But, more to the point, if we "convince" Chafee to make it official and join the Democrats we would immediately gain two net Republicans in every committee and sub-committee on which he sits and set up a bloodbath in the Democrat Senate primary among Chafee and one or more longtime Rhode Island Democrats.

And if if it fails, and we thus start off with 54 Republican Senators (before we consider the likely pick-ups we'll have in 2006), then so be it. We should not have room in the GOP for someone who is to the left of Bill Clinton.

[dfergu7477]

I love the Club for Growth (CFG) and I support them financially, but I'd rather they concentrate on knocking off RATS, instead of going after RINO's in primaries. You know what'd happen here, right? Bush would come into RI to campaign for Chaffee in the primary, just as he did for Spector.

I'd rather they's focus on finding good Senate candidates for WV, FL, NE, ND, WA, MD, VT, WI, MI, NJ, etc., and Congressional races, too, to replace RATS.

[Kuksool]

After today's deal on judge confirmation, Chafee's approval ratings may rise with RH voters. The sad fact is that Chafee acts like a RINO because the RH electorate demands it.

[jw2therescue]

I thought I was finished posting about my (by far) least favorite Republican senator....But now that the cowardly AuH20Republican is mouthing off again, I must respond.

First of all, a conservative Republican can get elected as GOVERNOR in a blue state. The issues are much different. In blue states such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island are controlled by far-left Democratic legislatures. Taxes are very, very, very high. Spending is very, very high. Corruption is out of control with the liberals. When liberals are in control of a state legislature --- disaster is so prevalent that most moderate Democrats are open to putting a Republican in the governor's mansion.

Governor's races are localized. They are about taxes, balancing the state budget, fixing failed education systems and other fiscal issues. Issues like Abortion and Gay Rights have limited impact in those races. For example, Conservative Dino Rossi's response in the Washington Gov's race was "Those issues have no relevance in this race."

In a senate race, the issues are nationalized. Issues like the War in Iraq, Abortion, Social Security/Medicare nationalized health care loom large in senate races. Rhode Island holds liberal views on most of those issues. A conservative can't say "those issues have no relevance in this race" in a senate campaign. That's why no conservative Republicans are senator in deep blue states.

Chafee is a disgrace to Republicans. If I was forced to get rid of one R in the senate, it absolutely would be him. Unfortunately, our Senate Majority may be in trouble in 2006. Better safe than sorry. Hold your nose and vote for Chafee.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Cowardly? Why am I cowardly, because I believe that the GOP actually stands for something and refuse to let the party be taken over by Democrats in sheep's clothing? It is you who is cowardly if you refuse to stand up to somebody who votes against the positions of the GOP platform more often than not.

As for the distinction between federal and state elections, you are correct that abortion is seen as a "federal issue" by many, and thus states like Alaska have elected pro-abortion Democrat governors and states like Rhode Island have elected pro-life Republican governors. But it is also true that Rhode Island's 2nd CD has elected pro-life Democrats to Congress for many years now, first with Bob Weygand and then with Jim Langevin, so being pro-life does not make one unelectable in Rhode Island. But anyways, I'm not necessarily advocating that a pro-life Republican challenge Chafee in a primary or that we convince Chafee to leave so that a pro-life Republican runs---I would be satisfied with someone who is not a liberal extremist in the Chafee mode, even if such candidate is for the most part pro-choice on abortion. As much as I hate Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter, I would accept Republicans with such issue positions if they were running in Democrat Rhode Island. But Lincoln Chafee would be unacceptable as a Republican anywhere except maybe the District of Columbia.

[Petronski]

Laffey v. Chafee?

[jw2therescue]

You're cowardly because you didn't bother to answer back to me on the "Strickland is running for governor" post.

That's true that pro-life Democrats have won federal office in R.I. That's because on just about every other issue, Wegyand and Langevin are very liberal. Those guys are far left on Unions, Taxes, Entitlement Spending, Guns..... They're pro-life, but then again, so is Harry Reid and He's doing a lot of work agaaint the life movement right now. If a pro-life Republican was very liberal on a ton of issues (Like a John McCain,) then maybe they could win in R.I.

Don't get me wrong...If you started a Chafee Stinks Club....I'd join!

[NeoCaveman]

Now more than ever

[Kuksool]

Social issues like illegal immigration, abortion, and gun rights are seen as federal issues by many. However in fact, these issues are creeping down into local races as well. For example, Chicago has a ban on many types of guns, established a domestic partner registrar, gives tons of money to Planned Parenthood, and recognizes the Mexican Matricular cards as valid forms of ID.

Straight ticket voting is alive and well today. Swing voters are becoming fewer and fewer. People are taking sides. The Red / Blue divide is solidified in national politics. I expect the same to happen in state politics.

[Clintonfatigued]

"The Red / Blue divide is solidified in national politics. I expect the same to happen in state politics."

You're correct, but it will take a long time for state politics to reach that level. After all, the divide mentioned in national politics was a while coming. From a historical perspective, it began in 1990, when a number of incumbents in both parties saw their percentages drop, which is highly unusual.

[California Patriot]

Chafee is nothing but trouble. He takes up one of our seats on the Foreign Relations Committee and I assume one or two other committees. He rarely votes with us, and he gives legitimacy to other RINOs -- the fewer of them there are, the more an individual RINO stands out and is weakened thereby.

This is a seat we can and should lose. Offing Chafee in a primary would be well worth it, even if Laffey wouldn't win the general. All real Republicans should contribute to any serious primary campaign against Linc.

[NeoCaveman]

According to the NRO article last week Chafee only has $139,000 on hand.

Perhaps he's planning on retiring or maybe he just expects to bankrolled by the RNC. IOW he's worthless to us.

I'll support Laffey and anyone who runs against Dewine in the Ohio primary.