In a striking and bizarre turn of events, former Rhode Island Governor and one-time Republican United States Senator, Mr. Lincoln Chafee (D) announced his candidacy for president of the United States early June. This was a disaster of epic proportions, and he eventually withdrew.
Some notable praise came from GoLocalProv contributor Russell Moore who called it a brilliant decision (perhaps Moore will be featured under ‘Not’ in his weekly column “Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not” next to Chafee?). Unfortunately, Chafee’s decision turned out to be anything, but brilliant.
Chafee was an awful presidential candidate overseeing an even worse campaign. He could not raise money, couldn’t articulately explain his positions, had no campaign staffers, and received zero support nationwide in most political polls.
So what does Chafee’s presidential run say about Rhode Island politics? It is more about who you are, know, or are worth than about substance. In Rhode Island, while not an absolute, you can likely win an election if you 1) have a well-known last name, 2) are uber-rich, 3) have ‘D’ next to your name on the ballot, 4) know someone famous, or 5) all or some of the aforementioned. This is a sad state of affairs for a place that is in desperate need of talented, new leadership.
Chafee had a number of these characteristics. He was from a well-known family, wealthy (estimated net worth $60 million), changed his affiliation to a Democrat as governor, and he knew many people in political circles.
After the passing of his father, in 2000, he was appointed to the United States Senator as a Republican to represent Rhode Island. That same year, he had a resounding victory against the Democratic challenger, Robert Weygand, for the seat in a notably dark-blue state.
In the United States Senate, Chafee had an unremarkable stretch. Chafee had few achievements except for having a liberal voting record for a Republican, and coming out against the Iraq War. Even with all his advantages, he ultimately was swept out of office in 2006, and took a brief political hiatus.
In 2010, Chafee practically walked into the Rhode Island governor’s seat. He attended some debates as an observer, and to the umbrage of the endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Caprio, announced his independent candidacy for governor later in the election cycle. Chafee secured a fairly easy victory in the general election as an independent (any other independent candidate would have been crushed).
As governor, just like Nero in Rome, Chafee fiddled while Rhode Island burned. Chafee oversaw a state with sky-high taxes, one of the highest unemployment rates, and decrepit infrastructure. In addition, Chafee was widely seen as insecure, and uncomfortable with making bold decisions. With Chafee’s approval rating hovering in the mid-20s, he opted not to run again, and passed a fiscal crisis to the next governor – quite a leader.
In Rhode Island, Chafee brought as much to the table as Paris Hilton, only known for being famous, nothing substantive. His career is notable for not only achieving little on the legislative side (United States Senate), but being a complete mess on the executive side (Rhode Island Governor). If he had a different surname, less money, fewer political connections, he would be written off as a political contender, but this is Rhode Island.
Chafee’s track record parallels another known local commodity, Rhode Island’s United States Rep. David Cicilline. Like Chafee, Cicilline had a terrible executive track record (as then mayor, Cicilline left Providence on the verge of bankruptcy). Cicilline also has a legislative record absent of any achievements. However, while Cicilline is sleazy, a pathological liar, an incompetent legislator, he is a decent politician, exuding confidence (Cicilline is a great actor too). While bubbling over his own words, Chafee exudes anxiety, and paranoia.
This brings us to Chafee’s failed candidacy for president. The world had only a passing glance (or should I say grimace?) of what Rhode Islanders vote for, and it was embarrassing. On the debate stage, Chafee couldn’t explain his critical vote to repeal the Glass-Seagull Act (legislation thought to be an underlying cause of the financial meltdown in 2008) other than saying, “I think we get some takeovers.” No idea what that means.
Chafee’s statement epitomizes his entire arrogant, disjointed, out-of-touch political career. When asked a rudimentary question or botching a serious crisis, he comes up with a jumbled, confused answer asking to be given a break (after all, he is famous and rich, right?).
With Chafee, Rhode Islanders go through a looping cycle. Typically, Rhode Island voters elect Chafee, mostly for his fame, realize he doesn’t have clue, have a case of buyer’s remorse, vote him out office, Chafee runs for another office, Rhode Island voters elect him – he is a Chafee after all -- and the cycle continues.
With this disastrous presidential run, Chafee was far outside the Rhode Island political comfort zone. While other known national presidential candidates – Bush or Clinton for example – are excused for flaws, significant or minor, lesser-known nationwide candidates such as Chafee are closely scrutinized.
The world had a zesty, yet bitter sample of the type of Rhode Island political figure that held a United States Senate seat, and led our state government, humiliating us all. This glaring miscarriage of justice was prominently displayed on the Democratic presidential debate stage for all to see.
During the debate, with poll after poll showing literally zero support and all eyes on him, Chafee should have exasperatedly blurted out that famous line from Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, “Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.”
Mr. Chafee, come back to Rhode Island where you belong. It isn’t comfortable in the real world, is it?
Matt Fecteau ([email protected]), of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, lost to U.S. Rep. David Cicilline in last year’s Democratic primary. He is a former White House national security intern and Iraq war veteran.
Related Slideshow: Grading the Chafee Administration
Vice President and Director of Governance Studies, Brookings Institution
Chafee Grade: A for honesty, B for fiscal reform, C for economic performance.
Administration wins: Governor Chafee’s best accomplishment was pushing the marriage equality bill into law. That is a signature achievement that forced him to overcome several high-profile opponents. In a small state that remains fairly conservative on social issues, that was a big step forward. Future generations will see that as a great demonstration of leadership on his part. Another landmark bill was the public pension reform. Working with other state leaders, he encouraged people to tackle the long term funding problems associated with state employees and helped the General Assembly adopt a landmark bill. It will save the state millions of dollars down the road and help put the state on a more sustainable path. He also deserves credit for running a very honest administration that did not engage in the corruption we have seen in the past.
Administration losses: His biggest challenge has been the economy. Rhode Island always is the first into recession and the last to come out, and this continues to be the case. The state’s economy has been slow to revive and lags the national recovery. It is hard to know what he could do to create jobs and lower the unemployment rate, but the fact that it remains stubbornly high has fueled discontent and made it difficult for people to feel good about the state’s direction.
Chafee Grade: B. Leading in today’s polarizing environment is not easy and we should thank those who step up to the plate with the best of intentions.
Administration wins: Successfully shepherding the Shared Nursing Education Facility at South Street Landing, thus setting the stage for significant knowledge economy investment in the region. This was a huge accomplishment, and we extend our congratulations.
Administration losses: It was unfortunate that the early days of his administration were rocky with sales tax proposals and litigation around 38 Studios which had the practical effect of dampening economic development activity. Relations improved substantially in the final years.
Administration wins: I will leave it to others to assign grades, but will say that it has been a privilege to work with Governor Chafee. He prioritized investment in education and workforce development, which will better prepare Rhode Island students and workers for the jobs of a modern economy. He emphasized regulatory reform and customer service, helping to change the culture at state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Management and the Division of Motor Vehicles. His strong environmental stewardship carries on the tradition of his father, and will leave a lasting legacy for generations of Rhode Islanders. He was never afraid to stand on principle, regardless of whether it was the politically opportune thing to do. He is upstanding and honest, and it was an honor to have served alongside him in government.
Administration wins: He has to be given some of the credit for the pension overhaul.
Administration losses: Unfortunately Lincoln Chafee has considerable difficulty stating clearly and succinctly what he wishes to say and seems to be overly successful in sticking his foot in his mouth. In addition, he gave the appearance of catering too much to “progressive” notions, and seemed almost totally incapable of working with the legislative leadership.
CEO, Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity
Chafee Grade: F
Administration wins: Not blocking the recent corporate and estate tax reforms.
Administration losses: Jobs and the economy. The state's relative near-bottom of the barrel rankings as compared with other states has not improved to any degree as the drag of increased spending levels and associated taxes continue to harm the economy.
Mr. Chafee apparently believes that low and moderate income families are better off surviving under public assistance programs, than they would thriving in a growth economy -- our center disagrees and believes that every family can enhance their quality of life if we can only get oppressive spend-and-tax policies out of way of our people and business.
OSTPA, a "Voice for the Taxpayers of Rhode Island"
Chafee Grade: N/A
Administration wins:
Administration losses: Governor Chafee duped RI citizens when he said "Trust Chafee". His political perspective and his actions reveal a disconnect between claiming to take proactive steps to improve RI's economic rankings while supporting his true progressive agenda laid out in his RhodeMapRI plan. The progressive vision aims to equalize disparities in income and housing under the guise of an economic development plan. Scary stuff. Chafee is leaving office without a solid economic plan, no jobs plan, persistently high taxes that squash the middle class and oppressive business regulations.The big question is how does Governor-elect Raimondo see it? Does she buy into this vision for RI? If so, it was certainly not a vision that was discussed on the campaign trail.
President, National Education Association Rhode Island
Chafee Grade: N/A. I hate to give ratings since he is leaving office and won’t have an opportunity to fix some of the major problems we still have and hopefully the new Governor can.
Administration wins: While many probably wouldn’t see his administration being all that successful, based on latest polls, especially in terms of jobs and growth, I do think he tried and got at least some promoting the benefits of Rhode Island and living here. Initially anyway, he pushed for the Department of Education to work with teachers, administrators and others to move public education forward but never addressed the fact that the overwhelming majority (based on the poll we did over a year and a half ago with the AFT) of teachers believed their views and insights were often ignored by RIDE and it was up to the General Assembly to correct the NECAP situation and teacher evaluation. From a personal viewpoint, he appointed me to the Board of Education which gave educators another voice there and that was and is important.
Historian and former Executive Director, Common Cause RI
Chafee Grade: C+
Administration wins: I deeply appreciated his commitment to equal marriage. People who claimed to speak in the name of God were vitriolic in legislative hearings I attended. Without a courageous governor and core of committed legislators, this overdue reform could not have passed. Historians may see his commitment to genuine pension reform as equally crucial. No state treasurer could have secured passage of the 2011 pension overhaul without the governor’s support.
Administration losses: I see him as an honest person and an ethical governor, but he failed to spend political capital in two key areas.
First, he should have pressed obstinate Senate leaders to let voters consider a constitutional amendment to bring the General Assembly back under the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commission. Now that Chafee's term has passed and voters have turned down a constitutional convention, lawmakers remain immune to prosecution even for blatant corruption.
Second, Gov. Chafee should have insisted that the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) obtain accreditation. A law enacted in 2010 required DCYF to start work with the Council on Accreditation (COA) in 2011. The Chafee administration launched that process with a preliminary review (2012 report attached) but failed to follow through. As a result, vulnerable children suffer further abuses while in state custody. Thousands grow up feeling that no one sees or cares, and families (including both birth parents and foster parents) lack reliable support services. Professional accreditation raises the bar for universities, hospitals, police departments, and child protection agencies in other states. Why not Rhode Island?
Lawyer and RI Moderate Part gubernatorial candidate,
Chafee Grade: D. I usually avoid kicking a person when he is down, but I did give him that during the campaign.
Administration wins: I do not know the inside story, but I was at least interested with the break up with Bob Walsh after the NEA got him elected. This could be the greatest accomplishment or downfall, but without the inside story, I cannot tell which is which. I was also very skeptical of the "Trust Chafee" campaign promise.
Administration losses: His manner of governing is more suited to legislative rather than executive functions, and, as such, he couldn't approach the situation from a point that was required. He is a personable guy, just not suited for executive functions. Anyone can be Governor, it takes much more to be a good Governor and stay responsive to the people. It is ironic in a way that he once called me and the Cool Moose Party a party of one.
Professor of Political Science, Roger Williams University
Chafee Grade: N/A
Administration wins: I can say that a couple of his positives were to move the state away from the Studio 38 climate of insider politics, to work with Gen Treasurer Raimondo on the very difficult task of pension reform (whether or not one liked the result, at least they stopped kicking the can down the road), and his sensitivity to the needs of the municipalities. As a former mayor, the Governor checked in frequently with local mayors and town administrators to get a sense of their needs and how to address them. The clean air and water bond that was just approved by the voters was largely his initiative and an important legacy. He also worked hard to diversify appointments to boards and commissions.
