Linc Chafee has given Whitehouse a huge opening by
failing to denounce the
despicable, racist attack ad that the NRSC is running on his behalf. That ad might play well to the tiny slice of Republican primary voters -- though I doubt even that -- but I guarantee it won't play well to the average Rhode Islander. We're proud of our tolerance here, going back to
Roger Williams, and we're proud of our many immigrant communities.
To Sheldon, or the DSCC: go on TV now--before the September 12 primary--and denounce that Chafee ad as racist. "I'm Sheldon Whitehouse, and I approved this message because singling people out based on their skin color is wrong."
Why? Details below the fold.
Whitehouse's strategy thus far, as far as I can discern it, has been to (1) fundraise and (2) buff his image in the state with a series of "community cookouts". At these well-attended events, he's been listening to people's concerns, talking about the need for change in Washington, and making a good impression on people, town by town across the state (all 1200 square miles of it). This is good, but now is the time to do better.
Why now?
(1) Immediately after the primary, no matter who wins it, the Republican attack onslaught will begin. I have no doubt that their ads are already produced and ready to ship to TV on September 13. Whitehouse must act now so that the battle is fought on our terms, not theirs.
(2) Chafee's base of support for the general election comes from Independents and older people, including many Democrats, who generally approve of Chafee's voting record and are sentimentally attached to his father. These people need to understand who Linc Chafee is associating himself with. Start peeling them off now, before Chafee starts tacking hard to the left after the primaries.
(3) Chafee's base of support for the 9/12 primary election comes from old-school liberal New England Republicans, independents who affiliated as Republican in order to support Chafee (not as many as Chafee may like to think), and pragmatic Republicans who want to win (Rove's followers). We can't dislodge the Rovians, but a carefully crafted anti-Chafee ad could help depress turnout among the independents and liberal Republicans Chafee is counting on, thereby leading the eminently defeatable Steve Laffey to primary victory.
(4) Finally, there's a distinct whiff of racism emanating from the Republicans this campaign season. From "macaca" to "nice little Guatemalan man", from "blacks are not the greatest swimmers" to drunks having Spanish last names, and now the Rhode Island NRSC ad, Republicans are showing their true colors (or lack thereof) to the world. Democrats everywhere should stand up strong and righteous against this -- both for votes, and because it's the right thing to do.