Outing Himself
The RuPaul of American politics.

May 23, 2001 12:55 p.m.

ermont's Jim Jeffords is the RuPaul of American politics. For over two decades, Jeffords has been a reliable liberal dressed up as a Republican. Now he's outing himself.

Jeffords is reportedly upset because the White House didn't invite him to some ceremonial event. You can be sure that when he announces his defection from the Republican party, he will wrap his umbrage in righteous indignation and a painful process of self-discovery. That's the way of petty politicians.

As a member of the House, Jeffords frequently abandoned his president and his party. In 1981, he voted against the cornerstone of Ronald Reagan's economic agenda — significant, across-the-board cuts in marginal income-tax rates. Jeffords's behavior followed him into the United States Senate. He voted for Hillary Clinton's national health-care plan even when many Democrats were jumping ship. He voted not to convict Bill Clinton for his high crimes and misdemeanors during the impeachment trial. And most recently, he voted with Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle to torpedo George Bush's $1.6-trillion tax-relief plan. Apparently it was this vote that steamed Bush and led to Jeffords's exclusion from a White House event.

Jeffords's idea of "being his own man" involved steadfast support for the Democratic party's agenda, while caucusing with his Republican colleagues. There's nothing principled or even honest about this kind of conduct. Jeffords seemed to believe that he was free to undermine his president and party without political consequence. It took nothing more than Bush's gentle rebuke to expose Jeffords's true nature. The fact is that Jeffords isn't simply leaving the Republican party; he's giving control of the Senate to the Democrats. Good riddance.