Dick Lugar A Conservative? I Don't Buy That.

Earlier today, talk radio host Gary Snyder ran a brief piece claiming Senator Dick Lugar is actually a conservative, something he tries to back up with a look at the Senator's record on Presidential appointments.  Well, like it or not, Gary, Senator Lugar is not a conservative, and I know how such is the case: look at his record during his current term.

For starters, there was Lugar's support for the DREAM Act in 2007 (as a cosponsor) and again during the previous Congress (as one of the introducers).  In 2009, he voted against two amendments, one which would've restored gun rights to residents of D.C., and the other involving concealed carry reciprocity.  Senator Lugar later voted for the infamous S. 510 last year (the so-called Food Safety bill).  These are only a few examples, but how many conservatives in the Senate would vote exactly as Senator Lugar here?

And, of course, there's his record with Presidential appointments.  As Gary noted, when it comes to advising and consenting:

Senator Lugar has a solid record of doing just that, unless there are circumstances in an appointee’s background that Senator Lugar feels make him unqualified to serve.

Great, except how he concludes some of these appointments are qualified has been in question, especially when one considers the qualifications of such appointments as Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.  It isn't a matter of liberal or conservative, but a matter of supporting those appointed officials who either strictly interpret the Constitution or legislate from the bench.  Unfortunately, Senator Lugar seems too concerned about giving the President the benefit of the doubt.

Dick Lugar was doubtlessly a conservative Senator when he began serving in 1977, but since 2007, he has been anything but.  In fact, his recent decisions to not support the DREAM Act and filibuster the nomination of Goodwin Liu show he knows he's in trouble with conservative voters here in Indiana and is trying to prove he has conservative credentials.  Bottom line, Dick Lugar is no longer a conservative and needs to go in 2012.

(Update May 24th, 3:35 AM EDT): Unfortunately, thanks to some snafu from Blogger, this post came out unpolished, but I've smoothed out the rough edges.