MoveOn Online Election: Lieberman vs Lamont

[rpgamerd00d]

For the record, I support Lamont. But I wanted to post this anyway.

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Dear MoveOn member,

While the Lieberman campaign decided not to submit a letter, we wanted to make sure you had information on both candidates at your fingertips for the primary tomorrow. So, we've put together a guide to make the case for Joe Lieberman. Look later today for an e-mail from Ned Lamont.

We hope this is helpful as you weigh this important decision. Ballots for voting in the online primary will be distributed tomorrow at 8:00 AM.

Thanks,

–Eli Pariser
Executive Director, MoveOn.org Political Action
Wednesday, May 24th, 2006

P.S. If you missed last week's announcement about the online primary learn more at: http://political.moveon.org/ctprimary/basics.html?id=7768-6737422-TN2X4pr2X0Bbw9xjLPHzTA&t=1

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Why Senator Lieberman is running:

"Campaigns are always about the future. Our future is about which of the candidates can do more to help the state's economy, do something about health insurance, protect our environment, support education, etc. . . . The Iraq war is an important issue in the campaign, but it's not the only issue. I'm asking people in the state to judge me on my overall record."
Learn more on his website:

http://www.joe2006.com

MoveOn members in support of Joe Lieberman

Some MoveOn members have written in support of Senator Lieberman. Here's what two of them had to say:

Kathryn from Greenwich, CT wrote, "I support Joe Lieberman because I believe he has been good to Connecticut through the years. I don't understand Ned Lamont's platform. It seems to me that Ned Lamont is a single issue candidate and the war is not the ONLY important issue to Connecticut voters."

Dan from Branford, CT wrote, "I am hard pressed to support the removal of a high ranking Democrat. Because even though he frequently supports Republican issues, his ties to that party and ability to persuade bipartisan votes helpful. Being from a predominately Democratic state, I am more interested in aiding swing states where votes against Republicans are more crucial to obtaining control of Congress, whereas Connecticut should continue to provide 2 Democratic senators."

Prominent Democrats who support Joe Lieberman:

Senator Chris Dodd, at the Connecticut Democratic Convention said, "We need Joe Lieberman fighting for those values that we stand for as Democrats," and added, "Joe Lieberman has always championed Connecticut's causes in the U.S. Senate."1

Almost every prominent Democratic politician in Connecticut has endorsed him including Senator Christopher Dodd, Rep. John Larson, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Lieutenant Governor Kevin Sullivan, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, state Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams and Speaker of the House Jim Amann.2

Speaking at an event for Senator Lieberman, Rep. Rosa DeLauro said, "Joe has been my friend for 30 years and I wanted to be here for him today because I know no one who has been more committed to the issues that are important to women and their families than Joe Lieberman. Whether the issue is civil rights, economic security, choice, health care; for three decades he has lent his voice and cast his vote for socially progressive causes and for the families of the state and country. He is someone with character, integrity and strong values."3

And Senator Barack Obama said, "I know that some in the party have differences with Joe," Senator Obama said, all but silencing the crowd. "I'm going to go ahead and say it. It's the elephant in the room. And Joe and I don't agree on everything. But what I know is, Joe Lieberman's a man with a good heart, with a keen intellect, who cares about the working families of America."

Endorsements and Ratings:

U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman has been endorsed by prominent groups including the League of Conservation Voters, the Human Rights Campaign and about a dozen Connecticut labor unions.4 Last Friday the state Democratic convention endorsed him for U.S. Senate.

His legislative ratings from some prominent national groups are:

AFL-CIO: 85 percent in 2005
Alliance for Retired Americans: 100 percent in 2005
American Civil Liberties Union: 83 percent in 2003-2004
American Conservative Union: 8 percent in 2005
Americans for Democratic Action: 80 percent in 2005
Business-Industry PAC: 17 percent in 2005
Children's Defense Fund: 89 percent in 2005
Christian Coalition: 0 percent in 2004
Disabled American Voters: 75 percent in 2005
Friends Committee on National Legislation: 64 percent in 2003-2004
Gun Owners of America: 0 percent in 2005
Human Rights Campaign: 88 percent in 2003-2004
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights: 82 percent in 2005
League of Conservation Voters: 70 percent in 2005
League of United Latin American Citizens: 100 percent in 2003-2004
NAACP: 85 percent in 2005
NARAL Pro-Choice America: 75 percent in 2005
National Education Association: 88 percent in 2003-2004
National Parent Teacher Association: 60 percent in 2003-2004.
SEIU: 83 percent in 2005
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: 61 percent in 2005
U.S. Public Interest Research Group: 68 percent in 2005

(Source: Project Vote Smart)

Lieberman on the issues:

The Norwich Bulletin recently asked both candidates to answer some questions. Here are Senator Lieberman's answers, unedited.5

Iraq:

I supported the war. I believe still that the world is safer without Saddam Hussein in power and the United States is safer. The Bush administration made some significant mistakes in the post-war period and in the failure to plan for it. I've talked about this for years. Sometimes in this campaign, people don't remember the things I was saying in '02 and '03 and '04 about we should be doing. They didn't send enough troops to secure the country. They didn't follow the plan for post war plan for political and economic reconstruction that the State Department had worked really hard on.

Submarine Base:

The Pentagon has reached consensus number that our attack submarines cannot fall below 48. I think that's low, we ought to have 55 out there, so do most American commanders around the world. To keep at 48, we need to build 2 a year, sooner than 2012. ... There's a lot of work going on this now. We have been in contact with the Navy and the whole Congressional delegation and trying to accelerate that.

Healthcare:

People who are hurting the most are those who do have health insurance but their employers because of cost increases are cutting back on premiums, raising their deductible. And limiting or eliminating health insurance for retirees. People are very anxious about their retirement future ... The goal has to create an affordable universal health insurance system where everybody gets insured.

Homeland Security:

The 9/11 Commission said we are not yet safe enough. We are doing some work on that. One of our continuing points of vulnerability is port security. We don't inspect enough of the containers coming into our country. The Homeland Security... adopted bipartisan legislation last week to greatly beef up port security. To require inspections of every container that comes into this country. Inspect it in the port of origin, before its comes to this country.

Transportation:

We still have a deficient mass transportation system. ... One could imagine having trains run the subway does in New York or the metro does in Washington. ... People are beginning to say to themselves I'm spending too much money on gas and I'm going crazy in this gridlock, I'm going to take the train. There is only so much we can do. I know periodically we talk about making the roads wider, It's very difficult and very expensive. I think this is one where we really gotta change behavior.

Education:

President came in $12 and a half billion short of NCLB funding levels. ... Some of the things in NCLB are unrealistic and impractical. It's up for reauthorization next year and we've got a chance to one, fix some of it without departing from the worthy goal and two, do whatever we can to make sure it gets adequate funding.

National Debt:

The debt is shockingly high. This is like the great iceberg that we don't wanna think is there, but we are heading toward it. Its an act of irresponsibility. The Bush administration will be seen in history as the most fiscally irresponsible administration that we have ever head in this country. Certainly in the modern era, in the last century.

Global Warming:

We have to look beyond Kyoto. Kyoto was supposed to achieve its goals by 2010 or 2012. We have to figure out a new regimen that we and the Chinese and Indians will join. If we don't deal with this soon, our children and grandchildren are going to be furious at us, and they are going to be right.

Affordable Housing:

The federal government has had a historic role in subsidizing housing for lower income people. The pressure is now on lower middle income people. In different parts of our state, It's very intense in south western Connecticut where workers can't live close to their job. Some of the assistance we give is in tax deductibility and mortgage-interest payments and property taxes, etc.
Sources

1. Connecticut Democratic Party. Nominating Convention. May 19, 2006.
2. Lieberman Campaign Press Release. February 24, 2006.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1820&id=7768-6737422-TN2X4pr2X0Bbw9xjLPHzTA&t=2
3. Ibid.
4. "Liberal Democrats Take Aim at Lieberman," U.S. News & World Report. May 23, 2006.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1821&id=7768-6737422-TN2X4pr2X0Bbw9xjLPHzTA&t=3
5. "Battle for the nomination: Lieberman vs Lamont." Norwich Bulletin. May 10, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1822&id=7768-6737422-TN2X4pr2X0Bbw9xjLPHzTA&t=4

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://political.moveon.org/?id=7768-6737422-TN2X4pr2X0Bbw9xjLPHzTA&t=5
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

[GodlessBiker]

1. I'm disappointed MoveOn is supporting Lieberman.

If I lived in CT, I would vote for Lamont.

[rpgamerd00d]

2. They aren't supporting Lieberman, read the text.

They are doing a "fake" online Primary, and need to send out info on both candidates.
This is the letter they sent for Lieberman.
Another is forthcoming for Lamont.

[GodlessBiker]

4. I see. That's a good thing. Thanks.

[papau]

3. Joe is a solid liberal with flaws: kissing Ins Co ass, and Kissing Bush

over Israel.

His Universal Health care comment is a con - he has never been for single payer universal health - indeed if he would come out clearly for single payer universal health I'd say the insurance company control was under control. He gets a pass on Iraq once he says anything with the words "Bush Administration" and "now destroying American lives and fortunes via an occupation that has made the situation worse".

Indeed at that point I would even vote for Joe.

[rpgamerd00d]

5. Update: Here is the Ned Lamont Letter, from Ned himself

Dear MoveOn member,

The race for U.S. Senate in Connecticut is a fight for the heart and soul of the progressive movement and the Democratic Party. As we stand on the brink of a majority in Congress for the first time in over a decade, Democrats need to stand up for our progressive values and provide a clear contrast between our party and the Bush Adminstration. Unfortunately, Joe Lieberman has gone out of his way to undermine progressives on issue after issue. I invite you to watch a short video introduction about our campaign's historic effort. You can watch the video by visiting:

http://www.nedlamont.com/page/invite/natgwdvd

Joe Lieberman thinks we challenge President Bush's failed leadership in Iraq "at our nation's peril." I believe our troops should begin heading home and allow the Iraqi people to take control of their own destiny. It's time to stop spending $250 million a day in Iraq and start re-investing in our needs here at home. However, Iraq is not the only reason I have decided to challenge Senator Lieberman in the primary. From his stands on Terri Schiavo and domestic spying, his vote for the president's energy policy and against the filibuster of Samuel Alito, Joe Lieberman's wrong-headed votes and rhetoric are not simply individual instances of principled difference of opinion. He consistently repeats Republican talking points on television talk shows and takes pride in repudiating his own party and its values. In the last few years he's made a career of being "George Bush's favorite Democrat," and the time has come for the people of Connecticut to tell him that that career is over.

Here's what I stand for:

* I believe a quality, affordable healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and should be assured to every American.

* I support a comprehensive approach to clean, sustainable energy independence: research into new technologies, higher fuel efficiency standards, incentives for conservation, and investment in clean energy alternatives.

* I believe we must never compromise basic Constitutional liberties. If the president is found to have broken the law by ordering unprecedented, widespread domestic spying, he should be held accountable. The American people should never be asked to waive their rights with their flags.

* I absolutely support a woman's right to complete and appropriate health care and to reproductive freedom. While Joe Lieberman would allow some hospitals to deny emergency contraception to victims of sexual assault, I will fight to make the morning after pill available over the counter, emergency contraception available to all rape victims, and support the nomination and appointment of pro-choice judges.

To find out more about my campaign or to read my positions on the issues please visit:

http://nedlamont.com/issues

Our campaign is about two-way communication, citizen participation, and bringing a fresh outside-the-box thinking to politics. That's my way of doing business, and grassroots Democrats recognize campaigns like ours are the only way to reclaim the country for ordinary Americans. Once upon a time, Joe Lieberman accepted the Democratic Party nomination for Vice President of the United States. Today, he won't even promise he'll run as a Democrat in this U.S. Senate race. The choice for MoveOn members couldn't be more clear. I hope you'll join my campaign.

Sincerely,

Ned Lamont
Candidate for U.S. Senate