Stacey Tallitsch, running for Congress from Louisiana's first district, has the action page above and his own choice words to say on this subject, but the words below are the responsibility of this writer alone.
During his debate with Ned Lamont the other night, the hopefully soon to be former Senator Lieberman demanded, "Who is Ned Lamont?" Like it was some kind of big move, he asserted, "We don't really know."
In point of fact, Joe, YOU'RE the one we can't be sure of. Your outrageously self-serving act this week of repudiating in advance the results of your own party's primary should have every Democratic voter in CT asking themselves, "Who the hell IS Joe Lieberman anyway?" We don't really know anymore. Or maybe it's just hard for some of us to admit it.
If there is one quality that the American people find despicable in a politician, it is someone who tries to have it both ways. If Lieberman would simply to declare his intention to run as an independent that would be one thing. But he has NOT. What he is doing instead is running for the Democratic nomination, while at the same time declaring he reserves the right to disrespect the voters' decision, insinuating that if he did not win it would be because they were too lazy to get out and vote on a hot August day. Connecticut voters have every justification for being totally insulted.
And look at the way he did it, dropping the bomb the day before a national holiday, the way the Bush administration does when it's hoping to sneak a scandalous story past the regular news cycle. And just before Independence day of all days. Get it? Running as an independent? Independence day? It's just too precious.
But in the days that have passed since, the story is not getting smaller, it's getting bigger. When pressed on the subject, too many other Democrats we also thought we knew have refused to say whether they will support the winner of the Democratic primary in CT. At least one of his gang of 14 neocon ideologue loving cronies, Salazar, has gone on record that he will campaign for Lieberman regardless.
Shame, shame on any Democrat who sets one foot in CT to campaign for him even in the primary, unless he commits to HONOR the result and support the winner of that primary. For what's most disgraceful is for Lieberman to style himself should he lose as an "independent Democrat", otherwise phrased by him as "individual Democrat" or "petitioning Democrat", in defiance of CT law, which unambigously states that on the ballot he "shall not incorporate the name of any major party", unless he is their duly designated nominee (Sec. 9-453u(c)2).
If Lieberman were a man, he would declare himself an independent NOW, and not try to two time the party that has given him so much support for 18 years. His is not an act of independence, it is one of selfish opportunism. Commit to the Democratic party or commit not, but don't play us all for suckers.
ACTION PAGE: http://www.staceyforcongress.com/petitions/pnum344.php
And yet there are some who cannot let go of the illusion that Joe still loves them. What is this, some kind of battered Democratic voter syndrome? Has he bought you off with a couple cheap baubles of earmarks he might have brought home? Either he is loyal or he is disloyal. And for Lieberman to try pass his disloyalty off as something honorable or high-minded is truly sickening.
Lieberman promises he would continue to "caucus" with the Democratic party. As what? A spy? A mole? A saboteur? Diversity he calls it. Diversity is fine BEFORE the primary. After that it is one thing and one thing only, disunity. His strategy apparently is to DIVIDE the Democratic party, and then try to get his margin from Republicans who like to see him kissing up to George Bush.
Joe is the guy who would take a woman out on a date only to flirt with one of her girlfriends right in front of her. Don't fall for it Connecticut. You'll hate yourself in the morning on November 8th.
