Dean V. DSCC Over Lieberman
Jim Dean, bro of the DNC chair and head of Democracy for America, is hopping mad at the DSCC and Chuck Schumer.
We reported yesterday that Schumer pointedly declined to rule out supporting Lieberman even if Lieberman's allies were to mount an independent bid on his behalf. Schumer seemed to say that as long as Lieberman promised to caucus with Dems and vote for Harry Reid as majority leader, Lieberman would still be in Schumer's good graces.
That really oinked off Jim Dean, who wrote this morning that
"Joe hasn't confirmed that he's planning to run as an Independent. But his campaign seems to be laying the groundwork, courting important Beltway insiders from both sides of the aisle. Amazingly, Senator Chuck Schumer, Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), has said that the DSCC will not rule out supporting Lieberman if he runs as an Independent. The DSCC's mission is to elect Democrats to the Senate. Yet in this case, they would prefer to back an incumbent who leaves the party instead of a principled progressive who's proud to be a Democrat."
Dean urges Lieberman to promise to support Lamont if Lamont wins. He then asks for money for Lamont (and other DFA-endorsed candidates.)
This is personal: Jim Dean hails from Connecticut.
One note of caution: Schumer's answer was probably intended to give Lieberman some public, establishment cover to begin to explore the mechanics of an independent bid. And even if he does, we doubt the DSCC will spend a dime's more than already budgeted in CT anyway. It's a safe seat for a Dem -- or an independent who caucuses with Dems. [MARC AMBINDER]
Dear Supporter,
Have you seen the news in Connecticut? Hot off a DFA-List endorsement, Ned Lamont is surging. Two recent polls show him within striking distance of Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Senate primary.1 He also recently won key endorsements from teachers' unions -- both AFT Connecticut and the Connecticut Education Association announced their support for Lamont this week.2
Senator Lieberman knows that Ned Lamont is for real. A few days ago, Lieberman told reporters that he is refusing to rule out leaving the Democratic Party to continue his run for re-election as an Independent. In fact, he told reporters that he is not "going to close out any options."3 While that's his prerogative, it's still outrageous. Joe Lieberman seems to believe that he is entitled to keep his Senate seat, and he's open to leaving the party to do so.
Like the vast majority of other Connecticut Democrats, myself included, Ned Lamont has promised to support the winner of the Democratic Primary, even if he doesn't emerge victorious. Please join me and urge Senator Lieberman do the same:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/standtogether
Joe hasn't confirmed that he's planning to run as an Independent. But his campaign seems to be laying the groundwork, courting important Beltway insiders from both sides of the aisle. Amazingly, Senator Chuck Schumer, Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), has said that the DSCC will not rule out supporting Lieberman if he runs as an Independent.4 The DSCC's mission is to elect Democrats to the Senate. Yet in this case, they would prefer to back an incumbent who leaves the party instead of a principled progressive who's proud to be a Democrat.
Primaries are healthy for the party, and Democrats in Connecticut will decide their nominee on August 8. The winner should receive the full support of all Democrats. We need to stand together in November. Please join me and ask the Beltway Democrats, including Joe Lieberman and Chuck Schumer, to do the same:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/standtogether
Last week, over 400 Connecticut DFA and MoveOn members came out from around the state to attend our Ned Lamont endorsement rally in New Haven. After the rally, State Representative John Geragosian said, "I've been in politics 20 years, and I don't know anyone in this room." This is how we start a movement. Together, we're taking our country back.
Jim Dean
Chair
P.S. You can support DFA's member-driven efforts in Connecticut and hundreds of other races around the country by contributing today:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/contribute
1 Political Wire, 6/14/06, 6/08/06
2 Lamont Blog, 6/14/06
3 Hartford Courant, 6/10/06
4 Hotline Blog, 6/14/06