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November 14, 2006

Chafee, in NY Times op-ed, blames anti-Bush sentiment for loss

U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee blames his ouster on "anti-Bush virulence that swept the country" in an opinion piece that ran in the New York Times' Sunday editions.

"Last Tuesday, I was one of the many moderate Republican casualties of the anti-Bush virulence that swept the country. Despite my having voted against the Iraq war resolution, my reputation for independence, the editorial endorsement of virtually every newspaper in my state, and a job approval rating of 63 percent, I did not win," Chafee wrote.

The lame-duck senator then recounts a meeting between moderate Republican senators and Vice President Cheney in which Chafee suspects there may be a problem.

"As we sat in Senator Specter’s cozy hideaway office and discussed the coming session, I was startled to hear the vice president dismiss suggestions of compromise and instead emphasize an aggressively partisan agenda..." Chafee wrote. "I was incredulous."

Near the end of the 611-word piece, Chafee talks about his regret.

"Do I have any regrets about Tuesday’s outcome? Yes. I regret that I will not be able to participate in the difficult, but critical, healing process that must take place in our government if Democrats and Republicans are going to solve the serious problems facing this great nation."

Chafee, a Republican, will be replaced by Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse in January.

Extra: Hear Chafee speak about his election loss last week, in his first public interview.

-- Projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples  at 5:10 PM | Permalink

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