ME-Sen: Senator Collins's Broken Pledge

In 1996 when campaigning for the US Senate, Susan Collins pledged that if she were elected, she'd only serve two terms. Up until now, there was only audio of Collins making that promise. But now video has emerged and it doesn't get any more unambiguous than this:

"I have pledged that if I am elected I will only serve two terms regardless of whether a term limits constitutional amendment passes or not."

Pesky YouTube (h/t Turn Maine Blue):

In 2002, during her Senate re-election campaign, Collins reaffirmed her pledge as you can see here in this letter to a constituent.

"I intend to serve only two terms as I indicated in the Sanfgord forum 6 years ago."

Yet here she is in 2008 running for a third term, having blatantly broken her promise to Maine voters. Turns out that whole term limits thing...just a "frenzy".

On October 12, 2006 Collins stated that she was breaking her pledge and would seek another six year term in the Senate. Collins justified her new position stating that her viewpoint on seniority has changed, "At the time, I thought that 12 years, that two terms, would be enough. This was at the height of what I would call the frenzy over term limits."

Susan Collins saying one thing and doing another is nothing new, of course. In fact, it's the central premise of her entire post-Bush tenure in the senate. She claims to be moderate yet over and over she's proven to be nothing more than a Bush rubber stamp, whether it be her approval of George Bush's anti-choice judges or her refusal to increase veterans' healthcare benefits in favor of preserving tax cuts for the rich. As Collins Watch makes clear, Maine does have a Republican Senator with a real claim to a moderate, independent label, but Susan Collins ain't it:

--Only one of Maine's senators has opposed setting an Iraq withdrawal timeline.

--Only one Maine senator supported President Bush's irresponsible 2003 tax cut package for the rich.

--Only one Maine senator voted for the habeas-shredding Military Commissions Act of 2006 and then against reinstating habeas corpus in a later bill.

[...]

Just how has Senator Collins pulled the wool over the eyes of Maine voters? The DSCC counts the ways:

Luckily for Maine, Rep. Tom Allen is running to replace Susan Collins and end her string of broken promises.



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Re: ME-Sen: Senator Collins's Broken Pledge (none / 0)

I don't know how big a deal term limits is to people in Maine, but I'd definitely make an advertisement with that clip.


The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK
by Vox Populi on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 03:49:46 PM EST

what's the difference between saying she'll be (none / 0)

running for only 2 terms and Obama saying he'll fillibuster FISA and then says he will vote for the bill? Double standard when it comes from Obama?


by suzieg on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 09:51:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: what's the difference between saying she'll be (none / 0)

I didn't realize Obama was the subject of this thread, silly little concern troll.


The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country. ~RFK
by Vox Populi on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 01:13:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ME-Sen: Senator Collins's Broken Pledge (none / 0)

Oh please.  Governor Clinton pledged that he would remain  the governor and Senator Obama pledged to serve out his term as governor.


by bslev22 on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 03:57:08 PM EST

Re: ME-Sen: Senator Collins's Broken Pledge (none / 0)

Sorry, should be that Senator Obama pledged to complete his term as Senator.


by bslev22 on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:15:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ME-Sen: Senator Collins's Broken Pledge (none / 0)

I think hitting her on being a Bush rubberstamp would be a lot more effective than talking about term limits pledges. If it is all packaged as the beginning of a line of lies of deception that's fine, but term limits are so 1994. They were a dumb idea then and a dumb idea now. We have the ability to term limit whoever we want by voting for the other person.

Term limits were just a dodge against entrenched public corruption, and a tool that Republicans would try to use against ever being out of power in the House for another 40 years. It failed and no matter how hard Pelosi tries, there won't be a Republican Congress anytime soon.


by wengler on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 04:22:04 PM EST

Re: ME-Sen: Senator Collins's Broken Pledge (none / 0)

Term limits a bad idea? Is that just for the Legislative branch, or the Executive too?

BTW I agree that labeling Collins as a rubberstamp would be much more effective with voters here in Maine.


by Midcoast on Mon Jul 07, 2008 at 01:36:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: ME-Sen: Senator Collins's Broken Pledge (2.00 / 1)

How can dems get upset or outraged over Collins changing her mind with Obama as our standard bearer. He has cut the ground out from any stand like this.Remember when he was  emphatically not going to go against public financing and fisa, and. and. and.


by linfar on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 04:27:21 PM EST

Obama will be a great President (none / 0)

Maybe I'm wrong but the point is to look at Collins' record. I can't imagine she's helping many people in Maine but those who live in the Bush compound. There are people other than multi-millionaires with vacation homes in Maine. Rep. Tom Allen has already demonstrated that he would do a better job base on his record. Term limits may be so 1994 and I think wengler has it right. I may not want her to have 6 more years in the Senate when we could have a better Senator, and it doesn't really matter how many terms she has had. She needs out. Otherwise we should just getting rid of all term limits because they won't mean a thing if she doesn't get voted out based on her record. If people are not willing to vote her out because of her record, then we have a big problem. And me and mine just got back from Ridgely lake in Maine and it was really awesome.


Barack Obama is my President
by Jeter on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 08:03:56 PM EST

That DSCC ad has a typo: (none / 0)

In the blurb about the energy policy, it should read "its effects" not "it's effects".

Picky, yeah, but people do notice such things.


Wouldn't it be nice if there were no rhetorical questions?
by Elsinora on Fri Jul 04, 2008 at 03:28:21 AM EST


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