Changes

After being elected mayor in 2002 to the [[liberal]] town, Cranston, Laffey faced many hurdles. One of the biggest was his fight against waste caused by city unions. Laffey stated that other politicians were scared to deal with the unions because, “They’re not going to get reelected without the unions’ support. Me, I don’t care.” <ref>http://www.providencephoenix.com/features/top/multi/documents/04004923.asp</ref>. The mayor worked to deal with the issue of overpaid city crossing guards workers; which were being paid the equivalent of $129 per hour in the city, this action led to a lot of criticism from unions and some government officials<ref>http://www.providencephoenix.com/features/top/multi/documents/04004923.asp</ref>. He also used security cameras as evidence that city workers were being negligent on the job<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200510180823.asp</ref>.  In 2003, Laffey gave private groups permission to set up [[Christmas]] displays on city property. The [[ACLU]] attacked the mayor decision saying that it broke the “separation between church and state,” Laffey defended his position stating that state was not paying for the displays and that anyone could put them up. In the end, the city was victorious over the ACLU with a unanimous ruling by the [[U.S. Court of Appeals]]<ref> http://politicalincorrectblog.com/2005/11/</ref>. Laffey was reelected as Cranston mayor in 2004, winning 64% of the city's vote. <ref>http://www.senate08.com/states/ri.html</ref>  

After being elected mayor in 2002 to the [[liberal]] town, Cranston, Laffey faced many hurdles. One of the biggest was his fight against waste caused by city unions. Laffey stated that other politicians were scared to deal with the unions because, “They’re not going to get reelected without the unions’ support. Me, I don’t care.” <ref>http://www.providencephoenix.com/features/top/multi/documents/04004923.asp</ref>. The mayor worked to deal with the issue of overpaid city crossing guards workers; which were being paid the equivalent of $129 per hour in the city, this action led to a lot of criticism from unions and some government officials<ref>http://www.providencephoenix.com/features/top/multi/documents/04004923.asp</ref>. He also used security cameras as evidence that city workers were being negligent on the job<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200510180823.asp</ref>.  In 2003, Laffey gave private groups permission to set up [[Christmas]] displays on city property. The [[ACLU]] attacked the mayor decision saying that it broke the “separation between church and state,” Laffey defended his position stating that state was not paying for the displays and that anyone could put them up. In the end, the city was victorious over the ACLU with a unanimous ruling by the [[U.S. Court of Appeals]]<ref> http://politicalincorrectblog.com/2005/11/</ref>. Laffey was reelected as Cranston mayor in 2004, winning 64% of the city's vote. <ref>http://www.senate08.com/states/ri.html</ref>  

==Senatorial Primary Race==

==Senatorial Primary Race==

In 2006, the [[conservative]] Laffey ran against [[Republican]] [[Senator]] [[Lincoln Chafee]], who was known for his [[liberal]] voting record. This primary race would turn out to be a fierce battle which would pin Laffey up against some established [[Republican]] leaders including [[United States]] [[President]], [[George W. Bush]], [[Elizabeth Dole]], and the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]]. Many political spectators draw the comparison between Laffee’s primary race and that of [[United States]] [[Congress]]men, [[Patrick Toomey]], who also went against the GOP in a failed attempt at replace liberal [[Republican]] senator, [[Arlen Spector]].<ref> http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200510180823.asp</ref> Throughout Laffee’s campaign he drew support of conservative organizations like [[National Review]] and the [[Club For Growth]],  which donated half a million to Laffey’s primary race. Although conservatives supported Laffey, many Republican organization's donated large amounts of money to Chafee’s campaign, Laffey stated,  "Whatever happened to [[Ronald Reagan]]'s 11th commandment," referring to Reagan’s admonition never to speak ill of another Republican.<ref> http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2006/09/06/fearing_loss_national_republicans_rally_behind_moderate_senator/?page=2</ref>After a long primary battle Laffey was unable to overcome the opposition that the National Republican Senatorial Committee brought. He lost by 8% in a primary that brought a record turnout. <ref>The Hill, Newspaper, http://www.rightangleblog.com/2006/09/13/defeat-of-laffey-was-a-defeat-for-conservatives/</ref> Laffey's opponent, Lincoln Chafey, later went on to lose the general election to [[Democrat]], [[Sheldon Whitehouse]].

In 2006, the [[conservative]] Laffey ran against [[Republican]] [[Senator]] [[Lincoln Chafee]], who was known for his [[liberal]] voting record. This primary race would turn out to be a fierce battle which would pin Laffey up against some established [[Republican]] leaders including [[United States]] [[President]], [[George W. Bush]], [[Elizabeth Dole]], and the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]]. Many political spectators draw the comparison between Laffee’s primary race and that of [[United States]] [[Congress]]men, [[Patrick Toomey]], who also went against the GOP in a failed attempt at replace liberal [[Republican]] senator, [[Arlen Specter]].<ref> http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200510180823.asp</ref> Throughout Laffee’s campaign he drew support of conservative organizations like [[National Review]] and the [[Club For Growth]],  which donated half a million to Laffey’s primary race. Although conservatives supported Laffey, many Republican organization's donated large amounts of money to Chafee’s campaign, Laffey stated,  "Whatever happened to [[Ronald Reagan]]'s 11th commandment," referring to Reagan’s admonition never to speak ill of another Republican.<ref> http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2006/09/06/fearing_loss_national_republicans_rally_behind_moderate_senator/?page=2</ref>After a long primary battle Laffey was unable to overcome the opposition that the National Republican Senatorial Committee brought. He lost by 8% in a primary that brought a record turnout. <ref>The Hill, Newspaper, http://www.rightangleblog.com/2006/09/13/defeat-of-laffey-was-a-defeat-for-conservatives/</ref> Laffey's opponent, Lincoln Chafey, later went on to lose the general election to [[Democrat]], [[Sheldon Whitehouse]].

==References==

==References==