From FireDogLake:
http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/08/14/a-closer-look/ A Closer Look
By Christy Hardin Smith
TeddySanFran got a letter from NARAL that I thought was worth sharing:
Dear (TeddySanFran),
Thank you for contacting us about the Senate race in Connecticut.
As you know, NARAL Pro-Choice America has endorsed Sen. Lieberman in that race. As a nonpartisan organization, we support pro-choice elected officials, regardless of party affiliation. Therefore, our endorsement stands, regardless of Sen. Lieberman’s party registration. We responded similarly when pro-choice Sen. Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an Independent.
We recognize that some of our members are avid party activists as well as pro-choice stalwarts, and understand that not everyone will agree with each of our endorsement decisions. However, we hope you will continue to stand with us. Our only chance of defending a woman’s right to choose is by focusing our energies on our real opponents: George Bush and his anti-choice congressional allies.
Thank you again for getting in touch. Please feel free to do so at any time with additional questions or comments.
Well, I had questions and comments, so I gave them a call at (202)530-4179, which is the number that Elizabeth Shipp, political director of NARAL, gave to Teddy in her note.
And I was told, yes indeed, they are continuing to endorse Joe Lieberman, loser of the Democratic primary. When I asked why, the fellow with whom I was speaking didn’t really have an answer, and didn’t feel comfortable talking with me further about that particular question. When I asked if they had spoken as yet with Ned Lamont’s campaign to ascertain whether a switch in endorsement might be the better move, considering Ned kicked Joe’s butt in the primary and all, I was told that he didn’t know the answer to that question. When I asked if they were getting a few phone calls on this latest contact on the CT Senate race, he told me that they were.
You, too, can contact NARAL if you would like, and ask why it is that they continue to endorse Joe Lieberman, whether they plan on ever contacting the Lamont campaign to even speak with a fully pro-choice candidate, instead of a pseudo-pro-choice-but-voting-for-Alito-cloture-short-ride-kinda-guy like Lieberman, and just what they are thinking with this myopic decision-making in general. Here is their contact information: Main Number: 202.973.3000; Main Fax: 202.973.3096; Shipp’s Number: (202)530-4179.
I think they are interested in hearing lots of opinions on this — clearly, they just aren’t interested in actually taking them into consideration. Hmmm…kind of like Joe Lieberman was interested in participating in the CT Democratic primary, he just didn’t care what the voters thought of him since he’s decided to completely disregard the primary results and keep on whining.