I did something that hurt. I donated $10. It's not the $10 that hurt, I can afford it. It's who I gave it to that is making me wretch inside. I gave it to
Stephen Laffey, the wingnut whacko running against Lincoln Chaffee in the Republican primary for US Senate.
I don't think Lincoln Chaffee is a bad guy but his re-election is not going to get us subpoena power in '07. His poll numbers are down but he's still strong. His opponent, Stephen Laffey is downright weak vs. either Democrat. In order to have an easy pick-up in the Senate, we first have to get rid of the incumbant, Lincoln Chaffee.
More after the leap:
Rhode Island is a blue state, arguably the bluest state of them all. What few Republicans there are do not like Lincoln Chaffee. They think he's too liberal. They would like to see a freak like Stephen Laffey in the Senate representing them.
Incumbants win, it's the nature of the game. They are VERY difficult to pick off. That's why most of the resources ( a.k.a. $$$ ) goes to the open seat races. That's why Francine Busby, a Democrat, has a chance in a ridiculously red district (CA-50) next month.
In a state as blue as Rhode Island, an open seat Senate race would favor the Democratic candidate. It wouldn't be a lock .. who am I kidding, it would be a lock.
How can we make that happen? We can rip a page out of the Republican Party's playbook. They did everything that was in their power to get Ralph Nader on the ballot in every state that was deemed close enough to matter in order to siphon off votes from John Kerry. If we can get Stephen Laffey on the ballot for Senate in Rhode Island then the Democrats win.
Until we know who the Democratic candidate is going to be after the September 12th Primary, we can help him by helping the opponent most likely to bring that Democrat to victory in November.
Twisted logic? Perhaps but as a side effect, I'm now going to be the recipient of email from all of the wingnuttery and I'll have even more insight into their evil because of it.