RI-Sen: Sheldon Whitehouse should go negative against Chafee and racism NOW

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.

•  tip jar

  Please let me know what you think of this message and help me strengthen it before I pass it along to the Whitehouse campaign.

  by jab on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 07:37:51 AM PDT

  •  God Bless Roger Williams

    and Sally Hutchinson!!!  As the Theocrats try to take over our country and impose their particular brand of tight-ass, hateful "faith" on everyone else, it's good to remember these brave folks, and others, who came to these shores expressly to experience religious freedom!!!

    by serrano on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 08:01:02 AM PDT

    •  include these facts in the ad

      On May 18, 1652, Rhode Island passed the first law in North America making slavery illegal.

      The area that is now Rhode Island became a safe haven for people who were persecuted for their beliefs — Baptists, Quakers, Jews, and others went there to follow their consciences in peace and safety.

      --wikipedia

      by jab on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 08:06:42 AM PDT

      •  Wow-Thanx!!!

        I spent about six years in RI, and you've just made me prouder than ever of my association w/, and fondness for, the Ocean State--thanx for that!!!

        by serrano on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 09:05:18 AM PDT

•  Why now?

  Why attack Chafee now, when receiving attacks from the Dem is just going to increase Chafee's creds among RI Republicans? If we're agreed that it's better for our side if Laffey wins the nomination, then I think Whitehouse's best bet is to sit on the sidelines and hope it happens.

  by arquebus on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 07:39:35 AM PDT

  •  calling Chafee out for failing to denounce racism

    is essentially a character attack on Chafee.  Such an attack, if done without overt partisan overtones, should hurt Chafee in the primary as well as (if he makes it that far) the general.

    by jab on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 07:42:45 AM PDT

    •  By proxy, maybe

      He should head up to Central Falls or somewhere and get some community leaders to make noise.

      by freedc on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 08:52:05 AM PDT

    •  in a sense

      But don't forget that the most driven GOP primary voters are pretty conservative on immigration-- indeed, that's why Laffey actually HAS flip-flopped his position on immigration as the NRSC's racist ad implies, and why they ran it even though Chafee has moderate record on the issue. I do still question whether it would, on balance, be counter-productive and help him to get attacked.

      Your overarching point though, that Whitehouse needs to call it out somehow before the primary and target soft Chafee supporters-- old-style Repubs, independents, and Democrats who changed their affiliation to I-- is absolutely on point. A TV ad that gets wide exposure just might not be the best bet. Somehow targeting those sorts of folks, especially those who might also be tempted into voting in the Democratic primary over local matters (on Providence's wealthy-liberal and Chafee-friendly East Side, for instance, there are two very competitive City Council primaries), to make them disgusted over the NRSC ad is a must.

      by sip1983 on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 08:58:56 AM PDT

•  Roll the dice and win this in the primary

  Look the Dems need to win this seat on September 13, we need to conserve resources for other races.

  Whatever needs to be done to help Laffey in the primary, the Democrats need to do.  Those Dems in RI or nearby areas should go and volunteer for Laffey.

  I did something similar in PA in 2004 for Pat Toomey who was running against Arlen Specter, I changed by registration, volunteered the weekend before, and then voted for Toomey.  He lost by 8000 votes, had many more Democrats had done this, Toomey would have won, and we would have Sen. Hoeffel today.

  by IhateBush on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 08:28:23 AM PDT

•  Patience, grasshopper

  Whitehouse is doing the two things he needs to do:

  • raise money
  • introduce himself

  While Republicans are shooting at each other you want to just get out of the way.

  That having been said, he does need to carefully take notes of everything both Chafee and Laffey do and say now because it can and will be used against them in a general election.

  by freedc on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 08:49:47 AM PDT

  •  by the way, freedc...

    I'm glad Armando didn't scare you away last week.  He's got a fearsome temper.

    Want to join with me in starting a dedicated RI-Sen blog?

    by jab on Fri Aug 25, 2006 at 12:17:57 PM PDT