Lincoln Chafee - Independent Candidate for Rhode Island Governor

TRANSPARENCY: a clear picture of what is taking place; no smoke screens

August 25, 2010

Jedword
By, Jed Waverly

You have heard me talk about my favorite coffee shop, the LaSalle Bakery in Providence. It is where I have my bran muffin and coffee every morning. It is also where I read the New York Times, chat with regulars and staff about the Red Sox and the Syracuse Orange. But it also where I get my latest information on the local political scene.   In this city/state it is a constantly-moving target, so frequent updates are necessary.

Yesterday I had a very helpful conversation with one of my political gurus whose name will remain anonymous. I will call him Sean, for any number of reasons.   Sean and his daughters came by my table and before you know it, he and I had lapsed into an update or analysis of the local scene. He and I are supporting the same candidate for Mayor, Angel Tavaras, so there's not a lot of space between our thoughts on him. It sounds like a meeting of a fan club sub-committee when we get going. There will be a Democratic Primary in September which may, or may not, change our mutual situation.

But I asked him about the situation in the Governor's Race, and that became a very interesting conversation. Again, he and I are not far apart on our perceptions of the candidates. However, he said something that made me stop and take a breath. I knew immediately that I was going to write about it today.

One of the candidates for Governor of Rhode Island is former Senator Lincoln Chafee, whose father had been a Governor of the State at one time. Linc, as he is known in Rhode Island, served as a moderate to liberal Republican, primarily during the George W. Bush era. He was someone the Democrats could look to for support on the substantial issues affecting the country. After being defeated for the Senate seat in 2006 he returned to Rhode Island to teach at Brown University and withdrew from the Republican Party. He is running for Governor as an Independent.

I like Chafee, and I like the principles he embraces. I believe he would be a good Governor. My friend, Sean, agreed.

"However," said Sean, "I don't think he's going to win the election. I think Frank Caprio, the probable Democratic contender, will win."

Sean's take on it is that Lincoln Chafee is too honest. It is that statement that is the reason I'm writing this post today. Many, if not most, of you do not live in Rhode Island and could probably care less about who is elected Governor in November.   But the comment Sean made is something that should catch your attention no matter where you live.

Sean is right. One of the high points of the campaign so far is the statement that Chafee made that if he is elected Governor the State of Rhode Island he will probably have to raise taxes.    When is the last time you heard a candidate say such a thing?

The reality is that Chaffee is absolutely correct. There is no way in the world that this state can dig itself out of the economic hole in which it finds itself without adjusting some of the taxes of the people of Rhode Island. Caprio knows that; the Republican candidate knows that; the voters know that.

But the voters don't want to hear it. Lincoln Chafee is a man who is self-confident, and who doesn't "need" to be Governor.   He wants to be Governor, and he has a passion to lead this State out of the situation in which it finds itself. But if it means that he has to pretend that it's going to be all roses and chocolate cake over the next decade, he won't do it. He tells it like it is.

Prior to the last poll, Chafee had been leading in the gubernatorial campaign. The latest polls show him having slipped slightly, just outside the margin of error. But there has been a lot of Democratic publicity because of the primary. There is every reason to believe that the figures will change after September 14, and he may well find himself back on the top of the pile.

But what about the campaigns elsewhere in the country? We hear a lot about transparency as a quality espoused by candidates from Maine to California. But does their meaning of transparency include the truth-telling like that which Linc Chafee has articulated? Is the fear of not being elected or re-elected so strong that white lies and ambiguities reign over truth? Some say that it's okay to stretch the truth during the campaign. Nobody actually expects the candidate to stick to it when elected.

I don't think so. I think much of the current electorate has a burr under its saddle about that issue. I think many people want elected leaders who tell the truth during the campaign and then act on that truth when elected. The question is whether there are enough people out there with this principle on the banner they are waving.

Stay tuned. I suspect this storyline will change a number of times before November.

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Linc Chafee is a tested leader of unquestioned integrity and a strong independent voice. As Governor, he will work hard to create new jobs, rebuild our economy, solve our chronic budget problems, end corruption, and forge a new way forward for Rhode Island.