Maine’s RINOs Collins and Snowe

Perhaps the two senators from Maine who epitomize the acronym RINO – Republican in Name Only – think they have fooled a lot of people in where they stack up on political issues, but to conservatives they are more left than center as they are often labeled.

In Maine, which over the years has progressed toward the left, Collins and Snowe appear to be conservative in their views.This may be true when comparing those views to the extreme liberals who are finding refuge in the Pine Tree State but compared to the rest of the country, the two Senators more often than not, line up with the Democrats.

Both Senators are pro-abortion and strive extremely hard for social programs and handouts from the government for their ample share of poor people. Both come from a state that is anti-business and the working poor are rapidly become the working poorer. The state of Maine has shown repeatedly that it discriminates against the Indians of Maine by refusing to allow gambling and slot machines on tribal land yet voting to approve it to other locations not affiliated with the tribes. Maine also endorses same sex marriage. The state has become a haven for immigrants because it is so easy to get welfare there.
Just yesterday, a report came out that put Maine ranked 44th in the country when comparing personal income and job growth. This was down from 22nd in the prior quarter.

Susan Collins was in Bangor yesterday as the guest speaker of the Bangor Theological Seminary’s 101st Convocation. Anti-war activists showed up to ask (badger) Collins about the war and invited her to attend a meeting that was going to be held in Belfast, Maine later in the week to answer questions about the war. She did not answer those questions but directed the askers to a Bangor office where she would be happy to meet with small groups to discuss those issues.

Collins seemed to avoid the war issue but in her speech, she began to show her true colors.

“Faith is a deeply personal matter, yet matters of faith often enter the public arena,” she told the crowd of seminary students, graduates, faculty and guests.

“This has never been more true than it is today. From the Nativity scene in the city park and the working of the Pledge of Allegiance, to education curriculum and school funding, it is clear that the constitutional separation of church and state is not a clean line of demarcation, but a point of contention.

“Our Constitution,” she continued, “guarantees a freedom of religion, but does not that mean freedom from religion? The devil, as is usually the case, is in the details and there is many a Supreme Court decision that attempts to answer that question.”

Her comments reveal that she, first of all is fearful of stating the facts about the Constitution. The Constitution does not say anything about the separation of church and state. This is a misstatement that has gone on for so long now, nearly everyone believes it to be true. The only thing the Constitution guarantees is that the government will not tell you and I how to worship.

The rest of her comments are mostly just talking points rhetoric that any politician would throw out, especially while attending a church function. The whole world knows as well that the Bangor Theological Seminary is one of the most liberal schools of theology in the nation. Collins blended in quite well.

Neither Collins nor Snowe have come out in support of Supreme Court nominees Roberts and Alito mostly because of their issues with abortion. Both Collins and Snowe did vote for Roberts in the final tally. I’m curious as to how they will vote on Alito.

Bush did not win Maine in either 2000 or 2004 and often both Senators have lined up on the opposite side of the isle from the Republicans. In a state that votes quite strongly for Snowe and Collins, you would think more support for the Republican Party could be garnered from the two Senators.

If Lieberman runs for President, perhaps as an Independent, look for either Collins or Snowe to be a running mate.