"It's not my party anymore": Chafee Blasts the GOP

By: Lowell
Published On: 9/16/2007 8:28:31 PM

Another day, another Republican realizes that his party has left him.  Now, it's former Senator Lincoln Chafee, who has switched from "R" to unaffiliated, saying about the Republicans, "It's not my party any more." 

How did the Republican Party leave a moderate Republican like Lincoln Chafee?  According to Chafee, the issues are:

*The Iraq War
*"'[P]ermanent deficits' caused by Republican tax cuts."
*"[T]he 'starve the beast' strategy that Republicans have used in an attempt to shrink government has undermined social programs that bolster a strong American middle class." (Chafee specifically mentioned "Pell grants, which help needy students attend college, and Head Start programs, which support the education of low-income children.")

Chafee might also have added his support for stem cell research, environmental protection, and a woman's right to choose.  On all these issues, today's Republican Party is on the opposite side of the vast majority of Americans.  No wonder why more and more Americans are saying about the GOP, "It's not my party anymore."

P.S. Does any of this sound familiar?  I life-long Republican who says his party left him over Iraq and issues of social justice and economic fairness?  Hmmm, who could THAT be? :)

P.P.S. Perhaps all this helps explain why Republicans are in danger of losing 7+ U.S. Senate seats (Virginia, New Hampshire, Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, and several other possibilities)?

Comments



What puzzles me is why he didn't make the switch earlier. (beachmom - 9/16/2007 8:49:59 PM)
He could still be a U.S. senator representing Rhode Island, and be true to his ideals.  And caucused with the Democrats.  That is what I don't understand.


Where have you seen that he's claiming to be a Democrat? (Sui Juris - 9/16/2007 9:12:13 PM)
Everything I've seen says that he's simply dropped his affiliation with Republicans.  Encouraging, to be sure, but not at all the same thing as signing on with the Democratic Party . . .


You're right. (Lowell - 9/16/2007 9:53:27 PM)
Apparently, he's switched from Republican to "unaffiliated," but I'd argue that in Rhode Island - and given that he supports gay rights, abortion rights, the environment, stem cell research, etc., etc. -- that de facto makes him a Democrat.


A close parallel would be John Warner. (JPTERP - 9/17/2007 12:56:54 AM)
The Rhode Island GOP is split between pro-business, fiscally conservative Rockefeller Republicans and socially conservative Catholic voters.  At a state level the Republicans also tend to be a lot less corrupt.

Had Chafee won in 2006 he would have been primaried him again in 2012.  It's the same story with Warner who dealt with a primary challenge in 1996 and the threat of a challenge in 2002.

Part of the larger story here is that Republicanism tends to be synonymous with inane and neglectful economic policy.  So we get the "no car tax" and deficits here in Virginia, or we get tax-cuts for the rich, and record deficits at the national level.  The middle class, meanwhile, gets screwed.

Chafee actually did cite a couple capable fiscal conservatives at the local level in Rhode Island (they are a dying breed but they do exist) -- I think his alienation is more with the national party which has gone completely off its rocker.  If he'd visited Virginia in the 90s to the present day, I suspect he would have gotten an inkling about where his party was headed during the Bush years. 



growing ranks of independents (JScott - 9/17/2007 3:03:36 PM)
I cannot help but think that the overwhelming growing ranks of independents, or at least people claiming to be this election cycle is being fueled this time around by Republicans. We will see what happens in about 50 days. Whereas most of the ranks former Dems it is now growing with displaced moderates or less social conervative Reps but more fiscal conservatives who feel betrayed by the national GOP. Oddly enough the State GOP appears to get a pass but not sure exactly why.Because a third party as yet to really get going it begs the question if these folks will be re-absorbed by the big two at some point before 2008. Time will tell.