Last week, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association Peter Shumlin officially invited Gov. Lincoln Chafee ’75 P’14 to become a member of the Democratic Party. With strong ties to both President Obama and other Democratic governors, Chafee may very well be inclined to change his affiliation, especially in light of the upcoming 2014 gubernatorial election. But we encourage our governor to remain an independent, for both the representation of Rhode Island’s divergent political views and as a strong reminder that, in an increasingly acidic and divisive political system, bipartisanship is a viable and laudable option for political leaders.
This is not the first dance between Chafee and the Democrats. In November 2011, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley encouraged Chafee to join the Democrats, especially after Chafee endorsed Obama in 2008. Though Chafee’s response at the time was that he was “happy” where he was, he noted that being an independent made certain advantages unattainable — for instance, having a party spokesperson.
In some ways, it would be sensible for Chafee to join the Democratic Party. He spoke at the Democratic National Convention last year, endorsed Obama for both elections and holds beliefs that fall on the liberal end of the political spectrum, such as support of legalizing same-sex marriage. While having another Democratic governor would help strengthen the Democratic Governors Association as well as the party as a whole, Chafee could very well be competing in a three-way primary race, with both the Democrat-affiliated General Treasurer Gina Raimondo and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras likely to run.
It is also important to consider the real implications of changing party affiliation. Chafee would not be the first politician to bounce between parties: The late Sen. Arlen Specter, D-P.A., for example, began his career as a Republican but grew increasingly disillusioned with the party and eventually became a Democrat in 2009. But this move did not necessarily garner him more support — Specter lost the Democratic primary in 2010. Former Governor Charlie Crist of Florida also left the Republican Party to become an independent in 2010 — losing a race for the Senate in the process — and officially joined the Democrats in 2012.
Both politicians endured criticism from members of both parties for switching sides. By switching, Chafee would also likely alienate his Republican and otherwise non-Democratic base. Though he has often faced poor approval ratings since attaining office, it is worth noting he actually won as an independent in 2010, receiving 36 percent of the vote in a four-way race without financial backing from either party. Maintaining a position in the middle of the spectrum would not only provide an alternative for those disillusioned with both parties, but it would also help maintain the diversity of backgrounds of supporters he has gained during his career in Rhode Island politics.
But most importantly, Chafee remains a powerful example of how politics can transcend party. After Chafee endorsed Obama in 2008, Obama did not endorse Chafee’s Democratic opponent in the 2010 gubernatorial election. Even when he was a Republican, Chafee rejected the party line when it came to issues on which he did not agree — particularly by opposing the Iraq war. His status as the lone independent governor in the country is not only a testament to how difficult it is to remain unaffiliated with either of the two big players in the political field, but also to how important it is to maintain moderation and bipartisanship in a political climate that emphasizes competition over cooperation. Chafee’s refusal to participate in this institutionalized dichotomy is a strength.
Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board: its editor, Dan Jeon, and its members, Mintaka Angell, Samuel Choi, Nicholas Morley and Rachel Occhiogrosso. Send comments to editorials@browndailyherald.com.
ADVERTISEMENT
