Posted on 11/09/2006 5:35:03 PM PST by libertarianPA
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Two days after losing a bid for a second term, Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) said he was unsure whether he would remain a Republican.
Chafee lost to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse in a race seen as a referendum on President Bush and the GOP. On Thursday, he was asked whether he would stick with the Republican Party or become an independent or Democrat.
"I haven't made any decisions. I just haven't even thought about where my place is," Chafee said at a news conference. When pressed on whether his comments indicated he might leave the GOP, he replied: "That's fair."
Chafee, 53, is a lifelong Republican who has represented Rhode Island for seven years. His father held the same seat for 23 years before that.
He is the most liberal Republican in the Senate and was the sole Senate Republican to vote against the war in Iraq. But that was not enough to prevail against Whitehouse, who shared many of Chafee's views but was a Democrat in a heavily Democratic state.
Chafee said his loss may have helped the country by switching control of Congress.
"The people have spoken all across America. They want the Democrats and Republicans to work together," he said. "I think the president now is going to have to talk to the Democrats. I think that's going to be good for America."
Chafee said he waged a lonely campaign to bring the party to the middle. He described attending weekly lunches with fellow GOP senators and standing up to argue his point of view, often alone.
"There were times walking into my caucus room where it wasn't fun," he said, adding that he stayed with the GOP largely because it allowed him to bring federal dollars home to Rhode Island.
CHAFEEs a RINo...Let him go. And take Graham, Mccain, Snowe ETC with you !!!!!
If he can't make a decision, he's definitely a democrat.
No doubt the "vote for a guy with an "R" after his name NO MATTER WHAT HIS VOTING RECORD" peanut gallery will be teary over this.
Chafee was a Republican? Who would have thought? I thought he was a socialist.
Like chaff blowing in the wind. Goodbye Linc, we sure won't miss your kind.
Good timing Linc!
Brilliant logic there, just brilliant. Maybe he can be a character on Family Guy since the show is based in Providence (Quahog).
Good news for a change. We need it.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
If a rino switches parties will anyone notice???
I will notice only if he takes Chuck Hagel with him.
The question is does anyone care?
It's not like he's any help now to the party.
He wants to run for something as a democrat. That is my guess.
You can also bet if he won, he would have switched parties.
His lose is the best thing that happened all night.
he lost who cares who he votes for as a civilian
It never was a Republican.
Que the sound of flushing the toilet.
See ya...RINO. Time to clean house.
There is the door, beotch...I'll hold it open for ya and promptly slam on your worthless ass as you are leaving.
You are not, nor ever have been, a Republican.
Now STFU, loser.
Oh this is just hysterical. BOO HOO!
Why would anyone give a rat's ass what this moonbat does?
He's out of the Senate....good frickin' ridance.
Whino RINO
I could not agree more... as unhappy as I was on Tues night was glad that this jerk and DeWine lost
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