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Sen. Lincoln Chafee: A dissenting voice
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Republicans are nearly united in their support for the Iraq resolution, but CNN Correspondent Jonathan Karl talked with the only announced dissenter in the ranks, Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island. The interview took place on the Capitol subway as part of Karl's "Subway Series." The following is an edited transcript: KARL: Sen. Chafee, welcome to the subway series. SEN. LINCOLN CHAFEE: Thank you for inviting me. KARL: Now, if I understand correctly, you may well be the only Republican in the United States Senate that is going to vote against this Iraq resolution. CHAFEE: Yes. KARL: Why is that? CHAFEE: Yes, it appears that way. Each of the members make up their own mind as they see fit, and I know a lot of them are struggling with it. Several Republicans might vote with 11 and then if that fails, vote with the president. KARL: But how does it feel on an issue of war, on an issue -- I mean, there couldn't be a more important issue that the Senate is considering now, to be the only member of your party standing against what the president has asked for? CHAFEE: Well, it's not easy. I listen carefully to what he says. I've been very receptive to all the arguments and I just have to make up my mind. KARL: Well, what is the single biggest reason for you opposing this resolution? CHAFEE: I think the lack of international support, that even the countries that surround Iraq, whether it's Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, even Kuwait, has expressed some kind of opposition to this military intervention. And to me, that's says if the threat is so imminent, why the countries that are actually sit on the border to Iraq voicing their opposition? KARL: Have you received any pressure from the Republicans or from the White House to change your vote on this, to support the president? How have they approached you? Have they lobbied you hard? I mean, what are they telling you? CHAFEE: No, not too much pressure. I think the feeling is that this is going to be an overwhelming vote. KARL: So they're not concerned about one vote from Senator Chafee? CHAFEE: No, they're not going to beat me up on this one. KARL: The other big issue, going back a little ways that you were at odds with your party, was the tax cut. How do you feel now about your vote back then against the president's tax cut? CHAFEE: Yes, I held steady on that and hat was a lot of pressure. And I thought in my gut, We can't afford it, let's go slowly. And I think I've been vindicated. It didn't take long for the surpluses to disappear. KARL: Would you vote to take back the tax cut? CHAFEE: Absolutely. KARL: You used to have some company on being, you know, on the dissenting side. Jim Jeffords used to be there with you frequently. And he obviously faced a lot of pressure from Republicans and a lot of pressure from the White House until he didn't want to take it anymore and he switched parties. CHAFEE: Yes, that was a shame. That was a darn shame that things could have been handled so differently for that good man to have been in the party all these years to leave, not only for our majority but just to lose a good man. It's a shame. KARL: You know, there's a very real possibility, looking at the midterm election, that the Senate could end up right back where it started 50-50, with Vice President Cheney casting the tie breaking vote and the Republicans again being in charge. I mean, it's a real possibility. CHAFEE: Yes. Yes, it is, as you look at the races. KARL: What would you do if that were to happen? CHAFEE: Cross that bridge if we get to it. Have some discussions with the White House. We can't -- we can't be intimidating moderates out of the party. KARL: Would you absolutely rule out the idea of switching parties? CHAFEE: I'd -- that's a decision I'd really be -- find very difficult to make. Very, very difficult. Been a Republican a long time. KARL: Senator, thank you so much for coming on the subway with us. CHAFEE: My pleasure.
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