In this era of scandals and scoundrels, Rhode Island is fortunate to have a choice between two honorable, decent men to represent it in the U.S. Senate.
For seven years, Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee has voted his conscience, not afraid to be mocked by fellow Republicans.
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Rhode Islanders appreciate this; we wouldn’t have him be any other way.
And yet Senator Chafee is not his father. The younger Chafee works hard to understand the issues and find the right answers, and mostly he comes out just fine – but so far, anyway, he is more bystander than participant in the debate about the party’s positions.
Sheldon A. Whitehouse has a more forceful presence and seems to have a stronger command of the issues. Speaking with Providence Business News’ editorial board last week, he offered thoughtful answers to virtually every question he was asked. And yet politically, he cannot win our endorsement.
Yes, there are issues on which we agree with him – especially on the need to invest in health care reform. We also agree with him on the need for a wiser energy policy.
But on trade policy, he worries us. Like many Rhode Island manufacturers, Mr. Whitehouse’s instinct to use trade policy to force social change in the Third World (with the goal of creating a more level playing field in the global marketplace) does not help create long-term economic health. Senator Chafee calls himself a free trader and supports President Bush’s approach.
Mr. Whitehouse also lost us on tax policy. Senator Chafee opposed the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and wants to review them, while Mr. Whitehouse wants to scrap them entirely.
We don’t agree with every detail of the Bush tax cuts, but there is a good argument to be made that they have promoted economic growth and encouraged entrepreneurship, while raising taxes runs the risk of stifling the economy.
Given all these considerations, we endorse Senator Chafee for re-election. We look forward to seeing him grow and become a stronger leader in the coming six years.
