Lincoln Chafee Explores Presidential Run as a Democrat

[cali]

With no advance warning, the Democratic race for president got a surprise new contender on Thursday.

Lincoln Chafee, the former Rhode Island governor who has a strong relationship with President Obama, announced his news in a web video and in an interview with Rhode Island Public Radio.

In the video, Mr. Chafee says almost immediately that as a United States senator he voted against the Iraq war — something that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton supported. It was a position that was used against Mrs. Clinton in the Democratic primary leading up to the 2008 election against Mr. Obama.

“I would argue the decision to invade Iraq has destabilized” the Middle East, Mr. Chafee says in the video.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/04/09/lincoln-chafee-explores-presidential-run-as-a-democrat/

[Ninga]

1. Very worthy of consideration. Hope he does it. Nt

[MANative]

2. He's a decent guy...

but another "Dem" who's a convert because the Republicans just got far too crazy. From what I know about him - and it's admittedly surface knowledge and hearsay from my relatives who live in RI - he's not anything close to progressive.

[cali]

3. His record is pretty damned progressive:

Voted against the IWR. Consistently against tax cuts for the wealthy. voted against drilling in ANWR. Consistently voted for increase in the minimum wage. Supports abortion rights. Has long supported (prior to President Obama, for instance) marriage equality. Supports gun control. Supports affirmative action. Opposes the Death Penalty. Opposed Alito. Supports J Street rather than AIPAC.

On the other hand, he's been supportive of FTAs.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Voted for CAFTA while Hillary voted against it.

Which would matter greatly if it was reversed.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. I did the work of linking his ADA vote by year

Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) is an American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA works for social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research and supporting progressive candidates.

http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2001.pdf

http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2002.pdf

http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2003.pdf


http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2004.pdf

http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2005.pdf


http://www.adaction.org/media/votingrecords/2006.pdf

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. He's closer to progressive than 99 Percent of our current "progressive" lineup.

Dig deeper.

[Autumn]

4. I like him but seriously, he needs to work on bringing the republican

party back to sanity. Please don't run as a democrat, please.

[cali]

5. Why shouldn't he? I think he should run as a dem and Bernie should run as a dem

[Autumn]

10. You know cali, had Chaffe become a Dem when he left the republican party

I wouldn't be so cynical. It just seems opportunistic to me. A republican who leaves their party to become an Independent because their party has become bat shit insane then mulls becoming a Democrat to run for President leaves me leery.

[cali]

13. Doesn't bother me anymore than Jim Jeffords becoming an I.

and I think we need more people challenging Hillary.

[Autumn]

15. Oh I am all for ANYBODY and everybody challenging Hillary.

I'm working on Bernie.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. Why? He's a registered Dem now.

He has been. He left the Rs for I...then registered as a D. I'd LOVE to see him run as a D, and I'd actually knock on doors again and get physically involved, which is something I haven't done since 2004.

[Autumn]

11. Yet he was open about not voting for the Democrat in 2004. Instead wrote in a republican

bush's daddy

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Yes he was, as I commented in another post here.

While I hate that he wrote in Poppa Bush's name (I voted for Poppa Bush int hat election--sue me, I was an 18-year-old goofball), I love that he refused to follow the path the Rs were taking. That's a good thing in my book. His votes against the war in Iraq, his support of choice, gay marriage, the environment, income tax percentages and lifting the burden on the middle class more than do his speaking for him.

The plus side? Idiotic people (like myself when I voted for Poppa) will vote for him on name recognition.

Sorry, he's been more Dem than most Dems for more than 15 years now.

On edit: I think it was smart to wait until 2010 to register (after co-chairing Obamas relection campaign, mind you) as a Dem. I'm not super thrilled with "Democratic" decisions a lot of the time either. It's why I'm an Independent who has only ever voted Dem after that first stupid vote.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. THIS!!! YES THIS!!!

I thought about opening up a discussion on him the other night and asking what Rhode Islanders thought about it. Mr Chafee co-chaired Obama's reelection campaign and was ridiculously liberal even as a Republican.

I love that he didn't vote for Bush the second time around, but hate that he wrote in a vote for Poppa.

Thanks for posting this! Day=MADE

[bigtree]

7. he'd be a good candidate

...he's made many good legislative votes and decisions.

He'd differ from Hillary Clinton in his views on Israel and in his vote (only republican senator) against the IWR. Very strong on the environment.

Some 'splaining to do about his earlier affiliation with the republican party, but he's been decidedly Democratic in most of his legislative positions and votes since he switched parties.

[cali]

17. Even as a republican his record was more liberal than most dems in the Senate

The only Republican Senator more liberal than Chafee was Jeffords.

[PassingFair]

16. If our only alternative to Clinton are former republicans and independents, then HELL YES!

I could get behind Lincoln Chafee!

I am more than discouraged that amongst the hundreds of
prominent Dems, ZERO have thrown their hats into the ring.
It disturbs me that all are so reluctant to take on the dodgy Clinton dynasty.

I'm talking to you, Russ Feingold, Jan Schakowsky, Dick Durbin
Barbara Boxer, et al

[bigtree]

19. Russ Feingold

...would be a true and formidable rival. Man, would I just love that.

[Historic NY]

18. Sorry Chaffee is milk toast...

he lost to Sheldon Whitehouse in his last Senate race. He just seems a bit light in the gumption dept. His decision to switch parties was long and drawn out.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. He lost in 2006 as part of the Midterm Sweepout of Republicans.

Last edited Thu Apr 9, 2015, 12:51 PM - Edit history (1)

He said in an interview at the time that he knew he and other Rs were going to lose their seats and that they deserved to lose their seats for not standing up against the direction the party was taking.

If he's in, I'm in.

[PassingFair]

21. He had the gumption to stand up and vote NO on IWR

...unlike some "milk toast" democrats I know.

[mmonk]

23. I'm glad he's thinking about this.

He didn't belong in the other party anyway.