Lincoln Chafee: The Definition of Flip-Flop
Lincoln Chafee: The Definition of Flip-Flop
Today, the full Senate will vote on the nomination of John Bolton for ambassador to the U.N. Bolton’s nomination hinges on the conscientious votes of bipartisan members of Congress who realize that Bolton is the antithesis of a diplomat and has a highly questionable record that does not support a promotion. Lincoln Chafee is one of those senators who must vote his conscience in order for the Bolton nomination to be rejected, but as his record has proven, he has found it extremely difficult to locate a principled stance on the matter:
FLIP: Chafee spokesman Stephen Hourahan: “We’re inclined to support the nomination.” [AP, 4/7/05]
FLOP: Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-R.I.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee that is weighing the nomination, “is less likely right now” to vote to confirm Bolton, his spokesman Stephen Hourahan said in an interview. [Washington Post, 4/21/05]
Chafee Does Not Even Meet His Own Standard:
Chafee said, “I try to be consistent.” He said he asks voters to trust him. “Trust is built with consistency,” he said. [Prov Journal, 5/15/05]
After Nomination Was Announced, Chafee Publicly Supported Bolton
Chafee: “I have been assured that he will bring a more balanced approach to his new role.” Chafee said he would make “no commitments” to vote for Bolton. [AP, 3/8/05; Roll Call, 3/9/05]
Chafee spokesman Stephen Hourahan: “We’re inclined to support the nomination.” [AP, 4/6/05]
Then As Opposition Mounted, Chafee Began To Waver
“He wouldn’t be my choice to be the nominee,” said Chafee. [AP, 5/12/05]
Chafee had “not made up his mind” and was “going to spend some time reading written testimony” from other witnesses, Hourahan said. [LAT, 4/13/05]
Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS): “He’s Irrelevant Today. In Every Way.” [AP, 4/13/05]
“No, I’m still listening, still consistent and want to go through the process. If there is some really damaging testimony, I want to reserve the right to say no, but generally would be inclined to vote yes.” [Prov Journal, 4/14/05]
Chafee said Bolton is “absolutely not” the best choice for the job. He compared Bolton’s temperament to that of bombastic New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. “It’s not my style. I don’t endorse it.” [AP, 4/14/05]
A poll is released showing over 80 percent of Rhode Islanders oppose the Bolton nomination. Stephen Hourahan, spokesperson for Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), said that the Senator was “keeping his ear to the ground.” [LAT, 4/17/05]
After Voinovich Announced His Opposition, Chafee Grabbed Hold of a New Position
“The dynamic has changed,” said Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I. “A lot of reservations surfaced today. It’s a new day.” [AP, 4/20/05]
Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R-R.I.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee that is weighing the nomination, “is less likely right now” to vote to confirm Bolton, his spokesman Stephen Hourahan said in an interview. [Washington Post, 4/21/05]
Chafee: “I think it would be accurate to say I’m on the fence” on voting to confirm Bolton. [Providence Journal, 4/21/05]
As Committee Vote Neared, Chafee Flipped Again
Sen. Chafee said “he will reluctantly support the embattled nominee.” [AP, 5/10/05]
Chafee Votes For Bolton In Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing While Criticizing Him. Chafee: “I’m apprehensive that by promoting John Bolton we’re signaling an endorsement of that intimidation.” [Senate hearing, 5/12/05]
And What Does Chafee Say Now?
Chafee said, “I try to be consistent.” He said he asks voters to trust him. “Trust is built with consistency,” he said. [Prov Journal, 5/15/05]
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You know, this could be construed as meaning you’re against Chafee voting no…….. I’d think we’d encourage him to “flip-flop” if he’s flopping away from the republican party line!
May 26th, 2005 at 1:22 pmNo, I think it’s a lampoon of Chafee’s being a moving-target on the issue. I don’t nnecessarily think it’s in his interest to be such a windsock with his vote, but it’s his vote. If that’s the kind of senator they elect in Rhode Island, then more power to them…
May 26th, 2005 at 1:32 pmWhat does the Administration hope to accomplish with an ambassador that most of the UN (if not all) will not listen to? I mean, if his record’s so shoddy, and he really cannot be trusted completely, why bother? What can you hope to get done with incompetent fools?
May 26th, 2005 at 1:47 pmThis piece baffles me. I know virtually nothing about Senator Chafee, so I cannot be certain of this but it sounds like the guy is trying to make up his mind and he simply hasn’t decided yet. That’s not flip flopping.
He’s trying to weigh different arguments — such as loyalty to his party, the qualifications of the man in question, and the evidence in general. This sounds like a good thing to me. I wish more legislators, on both sides of the aisle, would consider all sides of an issue and make their decisions on the facts, rather than blindly following the dictates of their party or automatically responding negatively to the other party’s proposals, no matter what they might be.
Our country is being torn to pieces by ideologues on both sides who, in their methods, are more alike than they are different. If this horrible situation continues, I fear the consequences.
May 26th, 2005 at 1:58 pmThe whole Bolton thing exposes Dick Cheney’s role w/ the neocons & their imprint on the current administration. By all accounts, Bolton is his boy & he’s been the one pushing this through.
The neocon’s don’t want agreement with the world, they want complete domination.
May 26th, 2005 at 1:59 pmI see your point, kindness. My point is, why appoint someone who’s crass, intimidating, and apparently without decent diplomatic skills? The UN won’t stand for an ambassador who only seeks to push the agenda of his puppeteers. Even if he IS approved, I don’t think his tenure will last long, given his record. What have they got up their sleeves? Why trust a bully in matters of diplomacy?
May 26th, 2005 at 2:12 pmI agree, Steve. We should be happy that Chafee’s thinking so hard about this.
May 26th, 2005 at 2:49 pmOh, I’m against Bolton. But republicans have the numbers in congress (and apparently the votes) so what I think isn’t important to them.
Now, why republicans (the voters, not the congress) think it’s a good idea hasn’t really been explained to me very well yet. Most of it has been, Bush wants him, that means I want him.
Wish I knew a cliff i could direct the lemmings to.
May 26th, 2005 at 3:10 pmChafee in for a fight come 2006. He knows that. Of course NARAL made it a lot easier for him to flip-flop when they called for the head of Jim Laverine(sic) and forced Chaffee’s best opponent out of the race before it even began.
Why have the supposed “North Eastern Liberals” not united, like the Reps. in the South, to kick Chafee, Sununu, Snow, and Collins out of the Senate? We HAVE THE NUMBERS TO GAIN 4 SEATS BACK, WHAT ARE WE WATING FOR?
While the Republicans in the south are united against any Democrate that seeks office , the folks in Rhode Island, Maine, etc… go about shooting each other like they did with Laverine(sic) instead of coming together like the Democratic party is doing in Pennsylvania right now. Do you think that the dems in Pa. care that Bob Casey is pro-life at this point? Hell no! They want Santurum out and they are backing Casey 100%. Good for them. Maybe the rest of “blue-America” will pay attention soon.
May 26th, 2005 at 3:26 pmthe flip-flop label is not different than the willie horton ad of ‘88. A politician is first and foremost a politician. None of them want to take a stand when they are looking at collecting campaign contributions for their next reelection. Since the House does that every two years, it was DeLay’s job to control the internal Repug discourse by being in charge of campaign contributions. That was why the GOP in the House was so apparently united. The Senate isn’t that easy. Boxer gets reelected and can stand up and shout, but come five years she too will have to equivocate. Chafee’s looking for cash and re-election.
May 26th, 2005 at 7:31 pmmy pc is too old Meridia ,
December 3rd, 2005 at 1:44 pm