[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/11/art..chafee.gi.jpg caption=" Former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee has words for Sarah Palin."]
(CNN) - Former Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee was known for keeping a low-key profile on Capitol Hill, but the Republican -turned -Independent is making waves with his exceedingly blunt comments on newly-minted Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin:
She's a "cocky wacko," he told a Washington think tank earlier this week.
WATCH: Chafee make the remarks
Chafee, the lone Senate Republican to vote against the Iraq war who endorsed Obama's White House bid earlier this year, told an audience at the New America Foundation in Washington Tuesday that Palin's selection has energized Obama backers.
"People were coming into my office, phone calls were flooding in, e-mails were coming in, 'I just sent money to Obama, I couldn't sleep last night' - from the left. To see this cocky wacko up there," he said.
He also described McCain's candidacy as "lackluster” and described the selection of Palin as a throwing "this firestorm, this tornado, into the whole presidential election."
Chafee, whose father served as senator from Rhode Island from 1976 until his death in 1999, narrowly lost his re-election bid two years ago to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse amid that election cycle’s wave of anti-Republican sentiment.
Chafee made a stir earlier this year when he directly called out Democrats who supported the Iraq war and were now expressing regret for their vote.
“I find it surprising now, in 2008, how many Democrats are running for president after shirking their constitutional duty to check and balance this president,” he wrote in his January 2008 book, “Against the Tide.” “Being wrong about sending Americans to kill and be killed, maim and be maimed, is not like making a punctuation mistake in a highway bill."
smoke screen sarah
lipstick on animals
lead by decree deport oppsition
prevaricate preterition
Well, she's at least a liar if not a wacko. All that nonsense about telling Congress "no thanks" on the "bridge to nowhere." Wonder if she's repeated that lie enough that she now believes it really happened.
Took a deep breath and watched Gibson's interview last night. This is a joke....right? The registered, thinking Republicans I know have either decided not to vote or are voting for Obama.
Umm can we get another negative Palin story on the front page? We only have 5 today, isn't that a tad below your normal dose of biased based "journalism"?
I have never been prouder to be from RI! Tell the truth, Chafee!
In Rhode Island Chaffee has been described as “goofy “ a moniker that suits him well. That’s why he is “former senator “ Chaffee.
this type of statement should be let known more openly to the american community.
A-la Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin places her need for power over the needs of the nation and, I would say, her family too.
Unlike Hillary Clinton, she is not articulate and as far as I can see not highly intelligent.
America and the world deserve much better.
"Cocky wacko." I sure hope it becomes a popular catchphrase, cuz this woman scares the bejeezus outta me. Thanks Senator Chafee!
Pft, this hardly seems newsworthy. Obviously, Palin is quite the wacko! Yes, lets support her in this "holy war"! Lets finish God's work in Iraq! Lets ALL ask if we can ban books from being at libraries! Lets make sure we all believe that Alaska is the holy land the good Evangelical Christians will flock to when we destroy the earth... or whatever that was about! 🙂
(I don't necessarily totally support either McCain or Obama, by the way. I just kinda don't want another psycho possibly running the country...)
...wacko? Yeeeeeah, a little.
Lots of people are probably losing sleep over the prospect of MCain and his "lame duck" running mate. The two of them in the White House would give anyone "nightmares" if they were lucky enough to fall asleep.
America, wake up, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! No more Repubs.
OBAMA/BIDEN
Chaffee hit the nail on the head.Palin is a WACKO.All you had to do is
listen to her interview.She didn't have a clue of what she was talking about.
......and all of the sudden we are supposed to believe what Mr Chafee has to say? Mr who? What about his background. What makes this
"ex senator" so credible? Give me a break. This is just another Obama supporter wanting to knock Palin down.
How right you are!!
2012 is the next best chance for democrats.
He's right! She is cocky and trying to be more than she is ever qualified to be. Gotta love the way she dodges National Security questions in the latest interview. No way this pair gets in the oval office.
I bekieve this X- Senator is full of sour grapes.
If Senator Lincoln Chafee uses that strong description of Palin, then I believe him! Add his comments to Noonan's and Murphy's and it's conclusive.
How many women that "relate" to Palin have skinned a moose? Or hope to someday? They are pretty weird, too.
Cocky wacko are the exact words that one of my colleagues uses to describe Palin. Chafee hit the nail on the head.
I bet he's right about her. She seems to be a hypocrite to me. She's pro life, but pro gun law. Doesn't she realize that because of the gun law that allows people to own guns, there higher crime rate in America? Incidents such as school shootings happens because of easy access guns. She is for teenage abstenance, but her daughter is pregnant. I think people that are energized by her are probably those that like guns and war like she does.
It just goes to show – Democrats are scared. Palin has energized the Republican party, and now the issue is very much in doubt for Obama.
It's really sad to see everyone attack Palin. This race has been divisive enough, but Democrats and Republicans keep throwing grenades.
I've had enough with the personality attacks. If you think Obama has experience enough to be President, then Palin does to. If you think Palin has experience enough, then Obama does too.
Let's get past this ridiculous rhetoric and personal attacks and get BACK ON THE ISSUES!!!
Ex- senator sure to make headlines by tagging on to Palin's coat tails. But, does he have an original thought, or is he saying anything that rational folks want to hear? Liberals are generous only with their insults and other people's money!
How refreshing to see an honest evaluation of this potential VP. She will never get a vote from this former Hillary supporter. She is as scarey as it gets and we need to take off the kid gloves and start dealing with this wack-job before it is too late.
Chafee is right! I agree wholeheartedly. When I heard McSame picked Palin, I was shocked. The repubs pick their running mates haphazardly just like they voted for this unwarranted war. Again, the repubs are trying to sell America a stale phony bill of goods.
Thank you. It's nice to know that there are others out there who think she's a pyscho nutjob.