Chafee May Defect From GOP

(AP)  Two days after losing a bid for a second term, Sen. Lincoln Chafee said he was unsure whether he would remain a Republican.

Chafee lost to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse in a race seen as a referendum on President Bush and the GOP. On Thursday, he was asked whether he would stick with the Republican Party or become an independent or Democrat.

"I haven't made any decisions. I just haven't even thought about where my place is," Chafee said at a news conference. When pressed on whether his comments indicated he might leave the GOP, he replied: "That's fair."

Chafee, 53, is a lifelong Republican who has represented Rhode Island for seven years. His father held the same seat for 23 years before that.

He is the most liberal Republican in the Senate and was the sole Senate Republican to vote against the war in Iraq. But that was not enough to prevail against Whitehouse, who shared many of Chafee's views but was a Democrat in a heavily Democratic state.

Chafee said he has not decided what to do after leaving office, but he hoped to stay involved in public life. He said his loss may have helped the country by switching control of Congress.

"The people have spoken all across America. They want the Democrats and Republicans to work together," he said. "I think the president now is going to have to talk to the Democrats. I think that's going to be good for America."

Chafee said he waged a lonely campaign to bring the party to the middle. He described attending weekly lunches with fellow GOP senators and standing up to argue his point of view, often alone.

"There were times walking into my caucus room where it wasn't fun," he said, adding that he stayed with the GOP largely because it helped him bring federal dollars home to Rhode Island.

[Tammy rosebud]

this shows me just how wishy washy he is and his only goal was the ballot box and not the voters. We do not need goverment leader of this type.

[marcelde]

SEN. CHAFEE, PLEASE BRING CHUCK HAGEL WITH YOU WHEN YOU OFFICIALLY BECOME A DEMOCRAT. WE COULD ALSO USE CHUCK'S INDEPENDENCE!

I'm not going to put my 2 cents in about him as I do not know anything about him, oh sure I could do some research, but you really can not believe everything you read. I will say that for a man that is only 53 years old, he looks like he has been ridden hard and put up wet

[radmoddem]

Lincoln Chafee would be a welcome addition to the Democratic Party. Right on Iraq, good for the environment, and understanding of the issues facing the middle class. He knows the political process and has principles. How do you say, "Chafee for Vice President?" Now that's the bi-partisan approach America could use in the '08 election leading to effective governance in January of '09. Howard Dean, have you called him yet?

[jn122736]

If Chafee had indicated to voters prior to the election,that he would switch to independant and caucus with the democratic party if re-elected he just may have won.

[kerimparrot]

P.S.
I like the rule they have/had in Tucson, AZ "Resign to run".

[kerimparrot]

Quit sucking off the public teat. Go to the real world.

[peterbaldwin-2009]

It is a sad irony that Lincoln Chafee, the exact type of man (or woman) that voters want for Congress today - humble, honest, sincere, principled and uncorruptible, ended up being the proverbial "baby" that got thrown out with the dirty bath water.

There is a place in the political system for Mr. Chafee, an environmentalist and a progressive but also a conservative, and America, more than ever, needs him.

[memerider]

The problem is the Republican party left Chafee. The Republican party itself has become so vicious, self-righteous, and arrogant that members don't even care what the voters think. The Republicans have a recent history of partisan extremism and locking democrats out of the game. Why Chafee would want to remain a part of this is beyond me. There is no place for centrists or moderation in the Republican party.

[bigeye9]

Now it's time Mr. Chafee get over it and consider getting a job, and please not a Government job. He's just 53, let's see what he's going to do...

Oh by the way Abramhov, and ENRON all worked with Democrats too. It's time for all of us to be honest, as painful as it is...