Chafee signs on with 'Republicans for Obama'
1:04 PM Tue, Aug 12, 2008 | Permalink
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By John E. Mulligan Former Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee, who left the GOP last year and later endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president, has signed on with "Republicans for Obama,'' saying that the Illinois senator embodies "my kind of traditional conservatism.'' During a conference call with reporters this morning, Rhode Islander Chafee, former Iowa Rep. Jim Leach, and a former GOP fundraiser and adviser to President Bush, Rita Hauser of New York, told how they will try to build support for the presidential candidate among Republicans and independents. The Republican National Committee quickly responded to the Obama campaign's promotion of "Republicans for Obama'' with an e-mail to reporters that carried news accounts about Obama's liberal Senate voting record. The RNC statement said Obama has a "weak record on bipartisanship.'' Chafee, who made news in 2004 by announcing that he had cast a write-in protest vote against Bush, was perhaps the most liberal Senate Republican during his tenure and the only one that that voted against Bush's Iraq war resolution in 2002. While it's true that he left the party, Chafee said his "Republican credentials are sincere.'' During his Senate tenure, Chafee often held out Arizona Sen. John McCain, now the Republican presidential candidate, as a model of bipartisanship. McCain, for his part, supported Chafee's unsuccessful bid for reelection in 2006. But Chafee said today that there are "two different John McCains.'' For example, he contrasted McCain's early opposition to Bush's tax policies to his current opposition to letting the Bush tax-cuts expire. Chafee did not respond when a reporter asked whether he and Leach and Hauser will attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver this month. An Obama campaign spokesman said there was no announcement to be made on that score. 
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Republicans for Obama??? As far as I'm concerned these people never were Republicans, and obviously aren't Republicans now. At best, they are simply weak politicians with little conviction. Calling themselves
Republicans for Obama is just a transparent political P.R. ploy to make it look like even Republicans are switching over to Obama. However, as we get closer to November, Obama is sinking in the polls, and McCain is rising. And, we still don't know how many of the 18 million Clinton supporters are switching over to McCain. And we still don't know how many people who said they'd vote for Obama, will actually vote for McCain, in the privacy of the voting booth. Obama has a track record with 9 days of foreign policy, and 16 months in government, and with very little to show for it. McCain has 25 years in the military ... 20 years in government ... tons of foreign policy experience ... proven commitment to this country, as a war hero who paid dearly. If you look at the facts, instead of Obama's smoke and mirrors, it's obvious that Senator John McCain should be our next President.
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McCain is a sellout, plain and simple. Years ago, I said he was one of a few Republicans that I would vote for-no more. His flip-flopping is Kerry-esque and he is to out of touch with the new world and its technologies to be considered a proper leader and advocate for his advancement. His quick and easy descent into negative-and false-campaigning is shameful.
We shouldn't choose a man just because he is a former POW, nor should we discount a man just because he has less experience. No, I am basing my decision based on what I have seen, what I have researched, and by what my gut tells me; and my gut says Obama would be the lesser of 2 evils.
And before anybody tries to say that I am only listening to one side of the story, or buying into liberal media bias, I have been frequently tuning into FoxNews as well as reading Republican leaning sites and blogs to try to get both sides of the story. When I "pull the lever" this November, I want to be sure that it is a firm decision based on a solid foundation of FACTS- not rhetoric.
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At first I was angry to read that Lincoln would turn on the GOP like this after all that they had done for him, but then I began to reflect and feel sorry. Not for Lincoln, but rather the Caffee family. It is obvious that this guy is not the brightest bulb in the bunch, and he is utterly unsuited for the job as a US Senator, but the way he is dragging down his father’s legacy down, is just very sad. The Chaffee name will now be associated to younger voters as one of incompetence, ignorance, and pettiness.
Linc, Please... Please... Please... stop embarrassing yourself and more importantly, your family.
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Chafee is on the moon as usual, unless his idea of 'traditional conservatism' includes a left-wing socialist agenda. Go to the convention and hang out with Hillary, Linc; this RI Republican won't miss you.
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