Posted on 05/27/2006 2:21:45 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
The liberal challenge to Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) escalated Friday when the political arm of MoveOn.org, an influential online advocacy group, endorsed the political newcomer opposing his bid for renomination.
Gaining the support of MoveOn's political action committee was Ned Lamont, a businessman who wants to unseat Lieberman largely because of the veteran lawmaker's staunch support for the war in Iraq.
The group announced its backing after polling MoveOn's members in Connecticut.
MoveOn has emerged as a leading voice for left-leaning activists, and the endorsement marks the first time that its PAC has sought to unseat an incumbent Democratic senator.
"Lamont's message resonated with members who want a senator who will stand up to President Bush on key issues and represent the views of most people in Connecticut," said Eli Pariser, executive director of the MoveOn PAC.
With the endorsement, the group will seek to raise money and generate volunteers for Lamont among MoveOn's 3.2 million members nationwide.
Lamont earlier this week gained an endorsement from Democracy for America, a liberal grass-roots group that Howard Dean established as his campaign for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination foundered. Dean gave up his leadership role when he became chairman of the Democratic National Committee last year, but the group is headed by his brother, Jim Dean.
Lamont's candidacy also has become a priority for many liberal websites, such as Daily Kos — whose founder, Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, recently appeared in one of Lamont's television advertisements.
With the involvement of these groups, the face-off between Lieberman and Lamont in Connecticut's Aug. 8 primary has emerged as the focal point of tensions between Democratic liberals and centrists over the party's direction.
"This is a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party," said Marshall Wittmann, a senior fellow at the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
{insert smiley popcorn-eating image here}
:-)
There's a fight going on for the "soul" of the Republican party too.
And here I thought the 'Rats had sold their souls long, long ago.
I have this feeling that Lieberman is going down. It is just a feeling. Lamont is telegenic, and has great personal wealth, to add to his anti-Iraq, Lieberman is soft on Bush, message. What do you think John?
Hmmmhhh..., an oxymoron perhaps? A religious term inserted in a sentence on the dims?
This can't be! For the past few months, the MSM has been telling us that the Democrates are united (and that their support for Amnesty for Illegals is what united them).
I have a feeling that Lieberman will lose the primary, run as an independent... after that, all bets are off.
Maybe he'll start his own party: The Liebertarian Party.
"This is a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party,"
"Hmmmhhh..., an oxymoron perhaps? A religious term inserted in a sentence on the dims?"
to the Dems, soul = coffers
So much for the Party of the Big Tent.
Hasn't everyone who's ever been endorsed by moveon.org lost?
There's a fight going on for the "soul" of the Republican party too.
The Dimocrats have no soul and the 'Pubs are selling their soul now to Vicente Fox.
Gaining the support of MoveOn's political action committee was Ned Lamont, a businessman who wants to unseat Lieberman largely because of the veteran lawmaker's staunch support for the war in Iraq.
That's right kick out one of the few remaining adults left in your party.
"We have two political parties in this country, the Stupid Party and the Evil Party. I belong to the Stupid Party."
Alan Simpson
Maybe he'll start his own party: The Liebertarian Party.
LOL.
Well the day after Lieberman loses the primary, he would need to file petitions equal to 1% of the total number of votes in the last senate election, to get on the ballot. That means he would need to collect the signatures prior to primary election day.
the communist org moveon.org has a political arm? moveon.org is pure, plain and simple political.
It has to do with Lieberman supporting Israel's right to exist and thus Ariel Sharon, which is a no-no in the left wing of the Democratic party.
Why don't Joe Liberman just go on and become a RINO?...
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