Former RI Sen. Lincoln Chafee Leaves GOP

NewsMax ^ | 9/16/2007

[RightWingConspirator]

Former Sen. Lincoln Chafee said he has left the Republican Party because the national GOP has drifted too far from him on critical issues, including the war in Iraq, the economy and the environment.

"It's not my party anymore," Chafee, who represented Rhode Island from 1999 until 2007, told The Providence Journal in an article published Saturday.

Chafee said he is now an unaffiliated voter after leaving the GOP "in June or July."

He said he made the move because "I want my affiliation to accurately reflect my status."

Chafee was appointed in 1999 after his father, Sen. John Chafee, R-R.I., died suddenly, but lost last November's election to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.

During that campaign, Chafee made an issue of his differences with the national party. He was the only Republican senator to oppose the resolution supporting the invasion of Iraq and was also critical of the "permanent deficits" caused by Republican tax cuts.

He also noted that he opposed other Republican stances, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

He told the newspaper that although the bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommended in December a gradual pullback of American forces, the advice has been largely ignored.

He also criticized Republican leaders for abandoning fiscal conservatism, once a mainstay of the GOP's platform, by passing tax cuts without spending cuts to balance the resulting loss of revenue.

The strategy, he said, has undermined social programs that bolster the American middle class. He specifically mentioned Pell grants, which help students attend college, and Head Start programs, which support the education of low-income children.

[RightWingConspirator]

Good riddance to this loser. I can't understand why President Bush campaigned for this jerk in 2006.

[Doctor Raoul]

Traitor without a country...

[3AngelaD]

Chaffee leaves the GOP? How will anyone be able to tell?

[Tzimisce]

Let’s hope he joins the Dems and brings his brand of “moderation” to their party....

[Abathar]

Don’t let the door hit ‘ya where the good Lord split ‘ya you frigging RINO......

[doesnt suffer fools gladly]

He was a Republican?

[theDentist]

Hey Chaffee, good riddance!

[Badeye]

I’d say he’s bored hanging out at the country club, and hopes to get a job with Ron Paul....

[Rummyfan]

Hasn’t he returned to his prior occupation as a farrier (that’s a horse-shoer to you folks in Rio Linda)? Regardless, he left the GOP a long long time ago....

[papasmurf]

We hate to see you go,
We hate to see you go,

We hope the heck,
You never come back,

We hate to see you gooooooo!

[Tolkien]

Who?

[nuconvert]

buh bye

[rightwingextremist1776]

He said he made the move because "I want my affiliation to accurately reflect my status."

Like we couldn't figure that one out. Thank God another RINO bites the dust....now for the rest of them.....Snow, McCain, Specter.......you listening????

[freekitty]

LOL

[Man50D]

Translation, he is a Socialist.

[NeoCaveman]

You mean he was a Republican?

[avacado]

"He also criticized Republican leaders for abandoning fiscal conservatism, once a mainstay of the GOP's platform, by passing tax cuts without spending cuts to balance the resulting loss of revenue."

A pedant point perhaps, but federal revenue increased substantially after the 2003 tax cuts.

[listenhillary]

Slow news day

Loser in last election announces his true stripes.

[Thrownatbirth]

I can't understand why President Bush campaigned for this jerk in 2006.

Don't forget that we also sacrificed John Bolton for this clown.

[reagan_fanatic]

"It's not my party anymore," Chafee, who represented Rhode Island from 1999 until 2007, told The Providence Journal

It never was, RINO.