Quotes, not Votes

The OpinionJournal Political Diary has an interesting "quote of the day" today:

"How, then, are we reading about [Lindsey Graham of South Carolina] -- just another first-term conservative Southern senator -- in such choice venues as The New York Times' front page and David Broder's column? Yes, Graham has spoken out against the administration's prosecution of the war in Iraq and its approach to terrorist detainees. But the operative word is 'spoken.' Graham has mastered the art of being a rhetorical rebel -- not unlike the late great Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, whose blunt pronouncements delighted reporters and provided ample fodder for Republicans. Like Moynihan, though, Graham says much to arouse anger within his own party but casts predictable votes when the roll is called; his transgressions come in the form of quotes, not votes" -- Jonathan Martin, a staff writer for National Journal's Hotline, writing in The New Republic.

We spend a lot of time discussing Senator Lincoln Chafee and the Northeaster RINOs (you never find a RINO in a square state) who vote with Senator Kennedy but caucus with the GOP.

What do you make of Sens. Graham, and McCain, and Chuck Hagel (WTF-Neb.) who have solid voting records but are on the news every night bashing the President and the Party? I once was crafting a nasty post about Senator Hagel, and I looked up his voting record, thinking I would find things to cudgel him with.

Hagel's voting record is clean as a whistle. McCain touts his conservative bona fides and his percentage of votes with the President. Does this not come, somehow, under "aid and comfort to the enemy?" By appearing on the nightly news or New York Times every day questioning the party position, these folks give a lot of cover to Democrats and prevent the GOP from drawing clear distinctions.

Okay, ThreeSourcers -- we need a pejorative name for these folks. Republicans In Vote Only doesn't sound nefarious enough.

Politics Posted by jk at September 29, 2006 12:49 PM