The Silent Senator: When Will Chafee Denounce Inflammatory Ads?

With Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee and his primary challenger Steve Laffey locked in a tight campaign, Senator Chafee's desperation is becoming more and more transparent. The latest evidence is his refusal to denounce a divisive television ad sponsored by the National Republican Senatorial Committee that seeks to help the senator's struggling campaign by attacking immigrants.

While Senator Chafee is reputed to be a moderate, he and his campaign have refused to denounce this extremist ad, which demonizes Latinos by falsely implying that Mexican immigrants will carry out acts of terrorism against government buildings and airplanes. This week, the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic Caucus sent NRSC Chair Elizabeth Dole a letter demanding that she pull the ad and "stop fear-mongering and demonizing Latinos for political gain." Nether Senator Dole or Senator Chafee have responded.

The Senator's silence prompted Providence Journal columnist M. Charles Bakst to ask today, "Why won't Sen. Linc Chafee stand up to the National Republican Senatorial Committee over an ugly, inflammatory TV ad that even he worries might stereotype Hispanics as it attacks primary challenger Steve Laffey on immigration issues?" [Providence Journal, 8/31/06] Senator Chafee will have yet another opportunity to join Democrats in denouncing the ad this weekend when he appears on ABC's This Week on Sunday.

"Senator Chafee's silence on an ad that relies on divisive, misleading innuendos to recklessly incite fear looks like a calculated attempt to save his political hide by scapegoating immigrants," said DNC spokesman Damien LaVera. "The people of Rhode Island have a right to know if Senator Chafee supports the shameful and divisive tactics being used on his behalf by the Karl Rove Republicans in Washington."

"Democrats understand that Americans want comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens our borders, protects U.S. workers and their wages and allows hard-working immigrants who pay taxes and obey the law the opportunity to earn the right to apply for the responsibilities of citizenship, not shameful attempts to play politics with this crucial issue by scapegoating immigrants."

The following is the text of the letter sent by the DNC's Hispanic Caucus to NRSC Chair Elizabeth Dole:

August 29, 2006

Honorable Elizabeth Dole
Chairwoman NRSC
422 2nd Street, NE
Washington D.C. 20002

Dear Senator Dole:

We are writing to demand that the NRSC immediately stop airing your new campaign ad currently running in Rhode Island supporting your candidate for the Senate.

Your ad shamefully demonizes Latinos by falsely implying that Mexican immigrants will carry out acts of terrorism against government buildings and airplanes. Such divisive, misleading innuendos recklessly incite fear for what can only be a calculated attempt to win an election by scapegoating, rather than an honest debate of the issues. While we support the goal of comprehensive immigration reform, such an advertisement has no place in American political discourse and we insist that you repudiate any such portrayal of Latinos as the campaign season moves forward.

Furthermore, we were appalled to see that you dismissed the legitimate concerns many raised about Senator Conrad Burns's recent remarks about immigrants as "silly." As a leader of your party, your tacit endorsement of anti-immigrant slurs is distressing.

At a national gathering of Latino leaders earlier this year, your party chairman Ken Mehlman used a very different tone as he told the audience that reaching out to the Hispanic community was "vitally important" given the changing demographics and increasing importance of Hispanics in American society. We submit to you that this shameful ad, which is part of the divisive rhetoric and tactics we have heard and seen from your party demonizing Latinos, makes it clear that your party is willing to say or do anything to win an election.

We urge you to act immediately and stop running the ad in Rhode Island or anyplace else, and to stop fear-mongering and demonizing Latinos for political gain. Additionally, we urge you to publicly call on your candidates and campaigns to renounce fear tactics that demonize all Hispanics, and that the NRSC insist that all of its candidates' campaign tactics treat all Americans regardless of background with the respect and tolerance that made America great. Anything less would send a clear message to the Latino community across the country that Republicans don't care about their lives, their future, or their votes.


Alvaro C. Cifuentes
Chairman, DNC Hispanic Caucus

Steven K. Alari
DNC Member,
Long Beach, California

Dr. Celita Arroyo de Roques
DNC Member
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Tonio Burgos
DNC Member
Jersey City, New Jersey

Luisette Cabanas
DNC Member
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Hon. Maria Chappelle-Nadal
DNC Member
University City, Missouri

Linda Chavez-Thompson
DNC Member
Washington, D.C.

Maria Echaveste
DNC Member
Berkeley, California

Edward Espinoza
DNC Member
Washington, D.C.

Norma Fisher-Flores
DNC Member
El Paso, Texas

Hon. Grace Flores Napolitano
DNC Member
Washington, D.C.

Alexandra Gallardo Rooker
DNC Member
Los Angeles, California

Giovani Garibay
DNC Member
Houston, Texas

Maria Handley
DNC Member
Lafayette, Colorado
Teresa Krusor
DNC Member
Winfield, Kansas

Maria Luna
DNC Member
New York, New York

Debbie Marquez
DNC Member
Edwards, Colorado

Adriana Martinez
DNC Member
Las Vegas, Nevada

Hon. Iris Y. Martinez
DNC Member
Chicago, Illinois

Ramona Martinez
DNC Member
Denver, Colorado

Raul Martinez
DNC Member
Hialeah, Florida

Robert Martinez
DNC Member
Dallas, Texas

Hon. Kenneth McClintock
DNC Member
San Juan, Puerto Rico

John A. Perez
DNC Member
Los Angeles, California

Hon. Roberto Pratts
DNC Member
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Jeffrey Radjweski
DNC Member
Chesterfield Twp, MI

Joe Rios
DNC Member
Kearney, Arizona

Mannie Rodriguez
DNC Member
Denver, Colorado

Eliso Roques-Arroyo
DNC Member
San Juan, Puerto Rico

Mirian Saez
DNC Member
San Francisco, California

Annadelle Sanchez
DNC Member
Espanola, New Mexico

Hon. Raymond Sanchez
DNC Member
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Hon. Norma Torres
DNC Member
Pomona, California

Christine Trujillo
DNC Member
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Tracy Velasquez
DNC Member
Bozeman, Montana

Jerome Wiley Segovia
DNC Member
Falls Church, Virginia

Steven Ybarra
DNC Member
Sacramento, California