A week after Sen. Linc Chafee (R-R.I.) indicated he won’t vote for Bush on Election Day, the Republicans apparently aren’t sure what to do with him.
Now that he has announced that he doesn’t plan to vote for President Bush in November, Sen. Lincoln Chafee said, the White House has a blunt message for him: “Get some duct tape.”
According to Chafee, that was the message delivered by intermediaries. The reference was not to some new Homeland Security Department directive but rather to the administration’s wish that Chafee keep comments critical of the president to himself.
“I’m sure they’ve naturally got some anger,” Chafee told The Hill. “But I have some anger also.”
OK, but how angry is he? Chafee flirted with the idea of a party switch when Vermont’s Jim Jeffords left the GOP in 2001 — and Chafee doesn’t seem any happier with his party now.
“It’s been an assault on the environment. A pledge to overturn Roe v. Wade. We’re mired in a difficult war” that we didn’t have to fight, he said. “It’s turned bloody and expensive.”
Beyond specific policy differences, Chafee said the White House has played hardball politics. Bush and his administration “set a policy, and then just go get the votes,” rather than negotiating with senators who disagree.
Chafee’s GOP Senate colleagues, however, are anxious to keep him happy — and in their caucus.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the majority whip, said Senate Republicans appreciate Chafee — who had conversations with Democratic leaders about a possible party switch when the Senate was evenly divided.
“I think any guy who’s sharp enough to get elected statewide in Rhode Island is a guy we want part of our team,” McConnell told The Hill. “He’s an independent voice for Rhode Island. We understand that. We are grateful to have him.”
I bet he is. In a narrowly divided Senate, McConnell doesn’t care if Chafee votes to make gay marriage mandatory for all Americans; he just wants to keep that caucus count above 50.
It’s a bit of a challenge. The White House wants to keep Chafee quiet, but can’t push him too hard without repeating the Jeffords crisis. The Senate GOP wants Chafee to be a team player, but will be satisfied if he just keeps voting to make Bill Frist the majority leader. Chafee, therefore, can expect the kid-gloves treatment for the forseeable future.
So, what does the future hold for Chafee?
For the White House, Chafee may be a problem that will not go away. “I am running again,” he declared. He has raised $750,000 for his reelection campaign and said he plans to raise between $2.5 million and $3 million to finance his run for a second full term in 2006.
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he faces a primary challenge from the party’s right, which could cost Chafee a lot of money. Or, he could make the switch to the Dems, which would make his career permanently easy. Let’s not forget, Rhode Island is a solid Blue state. Of the state’s four-person congressional delegation, he’s the only Republican. In the state legislature, Dems enjoy almost-ridiculous advantages — 32 to 6 in the state Senate and 63 to 11 in the State House.
If Chafee made the switch, he’d have to worry a lot less about his future — and his conscience.
C’mon over, Linc; you’ll be glad you did.