Wes Clark Rips Lieberman, Urges Support for Ned Lamont

By: Lowell
Published On: 8/9/2006 2:42:09 PM

Go get 'em, General! :)

Dear Lowell,

Support Ned Lamont! Urge Joe Lieberman to end his campaign for U.S. Senate.

On Tuesday, the message sent by Connecticut voters was loud and clear. They want change, and they want Ned Lamont to represent them in the U.S. Senate, voting for Ned by a 52% - 48% margin over Senator Joe Lieberman in the Democratic primary.

You see, despite what Joe Lieberman believes, invading Iraq and diverting our attention away from Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden is not being strong on national security.  Blind allegiance to George W. Bush and his failed "stay the course" strategy is not being strong on national security.  And no, Senator Lieberman, no matter how you demonize your opponents, there is no "antisecurity wing" of the Democratic Party.

Indeed, Connecticut Democrats recognized all of this, and yesterday they chose Ned Lamont as their nominee for the U.S. Senate.  Now, I hope you'll join me in supporting Ned as he heads into the general election this November.


Stand with Connecticut Democrats. Send a message to Joe Lieberman to end his Independent campaign for CT Senate.

As a Democrat, I respect the will of the Connecticut Democratic voters and their decision to make Ned Lamont their nominee. Even before the election results came in on Tuesday, Ned Lamont showed his respect for the voters by committing to abide by the Democratic primary result and support whoever won.

Joe Lieberman, on the other hand, began collecting petition signatures to run as an Independent several weeks ago while concurrently running in the Democratic primary. In short, he wanted to have his cake and eat it too.

Despite his efforts to appear on the November ballot as an Independent, I held out hope that Joe would withdraw from the Connecticut Senate race after the primary votes were counted. Unfortunately, Joe has announced his candidacy as an Independent candidate, running against Ned, the Democratic nominee.

Today, I ask you to email Joe Lieberman. Urge him to respect the will of Connecticut Democrats and end his Independent candidacy for CT Senate.

In 2000, the presence of a third party candidate, Ralph Nader, no doubt played a role in the defeat of Vice President Gore and Joe Lieberman.  Now Joe Lieberman is risking our party's claim on his Senate seat by running as a third party candidate himself.  Recent news reports detail the GOP's interest in supporting such an effort.  It's time to draw a line.

I committed myself to supporting the Democratic nominee for the US Senate in Connecticut, and I ask you to do likewise.  Because too much is at stake with our troubles abroad and at home, we cannot play games this Election Day.  That's why I call on all loyal Democrats to join me in urging Senator Lieberman to drop his bid for the Senate as an Independent and endorse the duly nominated Democrat.

We should thank him for his service and invite him to stay active, or even run again someday, but as a party we cannot let Joe Lieberman be this year's Ralph Nader.

Email Joe Lieberman. Encourage him to do the right thing, withdraw from the Connecticut Senate race, and focus his efforts on electing Democrats across America.

The 2006 elections represent a real crossroads for America. We must unify our efforts to stop George Bush's radical agenda and end this one-party government. I hope Senator Lieberman will join us in this critical fight for our nation's future.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

PS: After you send your message to Joe Lieberman, please take a moment and forward this message to every Democrat you know.

Send a message to Joe Lieberman today!

Comments



He's got my vote! (drmontoya - 8/9/2006 3:09:12 PM)
I may leave the engagement part of politics this november, but I have finally decided who I will support in 2008.

Wes Clark, he's got guts!



I there really any concern that... (va.walter - 8/9/2006 4:25:28 PM)
Lieberman will "Nader" Lamont and give the election to the Republican?  The Republicans probably won't even end up fielding a candidate.  While I don't necessarily disagree with the call for the Lieberman to drop out, implying that his 3rd party candidacy somehow equals Nader's is nonsense.  Nader gave the Republicans the election.  Lieberman will do no such thing.


Yes, there's a lot of concern. (Lowell - 8/9/2006 5:17:45 PM)
Most people I've talked to, in fact.


I'll bet you a dollar... (va.walter - 8/9/2006 8:39:59 PM)
that Schlesinger doesn't even break 20%.  Especially not after all the Republican congressmen in Connecticut come out in favor of Lieberman.  Only chance the Rs have of even breaking 25% is if Schlesinger drops out and one of the congressmen jumps in.


I hear that may happen... (Lowell - 8/9/2006 9:06:08 PM)


As hinted by Chuck Todd... (va.walter - 8/10/2006 8:50:39 AM)


Thanks Wes--you the man (bladerunner - 8/9/2006 4:31:43 PM)
What a great piece by Wes Clark--he may not be the hippest dude in town, but he is all substance, and I could easily have allegiance towards him. His statement on diverting our attention away from Al Qaeda and UBL because of Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq is perfect and should be used more. Being in Iraq doesn't do a damn thing for National Security.


Clark keeps reminding me why... (Lowell - 8/9/2006 5:18:49 PM)
...I joined the Draft Clark movement in the summer of 2003 and ended up running two grassroots websites for Clark.  This guy totally rocks!


Lamont Victory and Webb (Teddy - 8/9/2006 6:28:30 PM)
All this unseemly hulabaloo about peacenicks and cut and run having an adverse effect on the Democrats' ability finally to have a victory in November is nothing more than another republican framing scam that, as often happens, has been taken up and trumpeted by our republican-friendly mass media and many national Democrats have, again as usual, responded exactly as the republicans would wish.

In my view the major effect of the Lamont vitory may well be to limit the funds available to Webb from the DSCC as it has to pour more money into Connecticut.

Also, in my view the Lamont victory is proof the progressives and the netroots are on to something here.  Unless the timid tessies of the national Dems screw it up, the Lamont victory should give Democrats at every level a spine to challenge Bush and his insane policies, and not merely about Iraq--- since Lamont's victory was not, repeat NOT, solely about Iraq.

Actually, all this agony about the Lamont win is amusing inasmuch as I thought most progressives were pulling for the man.  Then you get what you want and you start to have second thoughts? Funny, funny. Be careful what you wish for.



Chuck Schumer, I'm talking to you (Bubby - 8/9/2006 9:21:04 PM)
Call Joe and tell him that he needs to quit referring to himself as an "Independent Democrat". Let him know that he is free to use the term "Republican Tool". 


Wes Clark knows what it takes (Debby - 8/9/2006 10:26:04 PM)
He has the bonafides to call it like he sees it.  He stands head and shoulders above other leaders in the Democratic party because he knows what he speaks of, and has the experience and the vision to make him credible.  He's the candidate I supported in last Democratic Primary and with comments like today's, he'll be the man I support in 08.  No question about it-he will help to heal what George Bush has torn asunder. Go to www.securingamerica.com and sign his petition to ask Lieberman to withdraw.


website (seveneasypeaces - 8/9/2006 11:20:49 PM)
http://www.connectic...

did anyone see this. I don't know how long it will be up.