Conservative Criticism of Ayotte Cloture Vote is Misplaced

Within minutes of Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s vote for “cloture” on legislation to strengthen background checks on gun purchases, conservative fury commenced on social media.

On Twitter, posts appears saying: “Your job is to defend the Constitution not to rip it to shreds!,” “Newtown was a tragedy, but even that tragedy DOES NOT supercede [sic] OUR RIGHTS under the BILL of RIGHTS,” and “Why are @KellyAyotte and @marcorubio destroying their once promising careers? #progressives.”

On Facebook the anger continued. Using the comment section of a picture of Ayotte presenting an award to the Girl Scouts, people fired away: “This is Ayotte’s last term, guaranteed. TRAITOR!” and “Guess LIVE FREE OR DIE has no meaning to you kelly......Career sinking....BLUB BLUB BLUB BLUB.” Under an Ayotte post honoring the late-Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney, appeared a post: “You could learn something from him. He understood DUTY!!!!! You on the other hand are a traitor!”

Few of these posts acknowledged that cloture is not a vote on the substance of legislation but a procedural motion that permits a later debate and an up-or-down vote. You may recall that conservatives used to be big fans of granting cloture. Throughout the Bush administration, Democrats blocked numerous judicial nominees, forcing more than thirty cloture votes. Republican leaders used to beg for up-or-down votes as a “matter of fairness.” Now, merely a few years later, voting for cloture has become somehow tantamount to “treason.”

Meanwhile, New Hampshire Democratic Chairman Ray Buckley was likely enjoying a hearty belly laugh as the conservative movement turned on one of its own. In reaction to the hubbub, Buckley seized on the opportunity to divide conservatives from their lone voice in Washington, tweeting: “Can @kellyayotte survive 2016? NH's 2010 flirtation with Teaparty died in 2012. Will she support NH values or go down to defeat? #nhpolitics.”

According to multiple polls, nine in 10 Americans believe that background checks should be strengthened to prevent mentally ill individuals from purchasing firearms. Dan McLaughlin, a Contributing Editor at RedState.com labeled the legislation merely “cosmetic.” In New Hampshire, both the University of New Hampshire and New England College released polls showing 88% of Granite Staters support strengthened background checks. What a strategic delight for Buckley. If Ayotte voted against cloture Buckley could portray her as out of step with 88% of her constituents. By voting in favor of cloture, he gets to sit back while conservatives cannibalize her.

All of this is as disappointing as it is baffling. In 2010, I supported Ovide Lamontagne in the GOP Primary. However, Ayotte won the primary and has seldom disappointed me. She has been a strong conservative, especially for a senator from New England. In 2011 and 2012, she earned a 95% and 76% rating from the American Conservative Union, giving her a lifetime rating of 85%. This would put her in good stead with Ronald Reagan who said, "The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally -- not a 20 percent traitor." In 2012 she was awarded the “Conservative of the Year” award by Americans for Prosperity.

Some are uneasy with Ayotte’s friendliness with Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham. Almost exclusively they have teamed up on matters of national security. They have been lonely voices in Washington in trying to get to the truth in Benghazi. They also together spoke out against Susan Rice’s potential nomination as Secretary of State and the effect of sequester cuts on national defense.

Does Ayotte deserve to be viewed as a 15% enemy rather than a 85% ally? In 2011, similar anger was directed at Congressman Frank Guinta over his vote to increase the debt ceiling. Some conservatives got behind Libertarian candidate Brendan Kelly citing that vote. The result? Kelly siphoned well over 14,000 votes away from Guinta and he lost to Democrat Carol Shea-Porter in 2012 by almost 13,000 votes. By dividing themselves, conservatives were conquered and acquired a Congresswoman that they disagreed with not only on occasion, but 100% of the time.

While we must hold our elected officials accountable for their votes, we also must take a more sober view and look at the entire picture. Kelly Ayotte is with conservatism and the protection of our Constitution far more often than she is opposed. We should spend less time attacking our friends and more time debating liberal policies and showing Granite Staters why those policies are hurting our country and freedoms. This is the more constructive approach.