Many times the elections are won because of the opposition's blunders. As I intently watch the development of the 06 election, I must say I am mystified and delighted with the apparent tactical blunder of the ideological wing of the GOP. I am not talking about the corruption that hit "The Hammer" and the Abramoff Scandal (Though they certainly hurt the GOP's reputation). I am talking about the schism inside their party, the conservatives' war against their own party members in the Congress.
The ideological conservatives in the GOP have for years tried to purge from its party those who refuse to give undying loyalty to the conservative principles. Pat Toomey's challenge against Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter in 2004 was a good example. This year, it seems the conservative have named Senator Chafee as the RINO (Republican in Name Only) of the year and are threatening to overthrow him in the primary. Could it be that the "Right Republicans" have been in the South or West so long tha they forgot how to win a Senate seat in the more liberal Northeast?
It is true that Sen. Chafee is a pro-choice, pro-environment Republican, a position supported by the majority of the New England voters. Yet, to call Chafee a traitor for conforming to the wish of his constituents is an ideological bias of the Right Republicans. Chafee has a credible pro-business, pro-fiscal responsibility voting records that earned him endorsements from the economically conservative wing of the GOP, such as the US Chamber of Commerce. Contrary to accusations that he is a dangerous social liberal, Chafee actually received 50% in the scorecard of Christian Coalition (run by Pat Robertson). Those who condemn Chafee's vote against Alito forget that he has also voted against the filibuster, practically confirming Alito's nomination.
Whether the Right Republicans like it or not, the majority of Rhode Island voters are more socially liberal than those in the Red States. In such an environment, Chafee has defended many Republican economic policies (support for school vouchers and social security reform) while defending his constituents' views on social issues. In this solidly Blue State, what choice does Chafee have but to build bipartisan support? Chafee's centrist record has weakened the Democrats' organized resistance against him, and assured him a fair chance of reelection, that is, if he is not stabbed in the back by his fellow Republicans.
Boasting that they proved a decisive factor in the GOP's 2004 victory, the Right Republicans bully the more moderate Republicans to submit to their agendas, even at the expense of ignoring the will of their constituents. Perhaps it is this harassment from her own party members that Christine Todd Whitman, the former governor of New Jersey (yet another socially liberal, blue state), wrote in exasperation her book "It's My Party Too", As the Right Republicans continue to drive the sincere dissenters out from their party, I warn that in 06 (and in any future) elections, the GOP would sorely miss every one of the moderate voters they drove away, as much as the Democrats are now missing their old Dixiecrats.
Jong Eun Lee is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.
