Lambert unapologetic and making threats

By: JC
Published On: 12/10/2006 9:04:13 AM

Disgraced State Senator Benny Lambert (9th District) continues to burn bridges and make threats.  The turncoat senator now faces disciplinary action from two local Democratic committees: Richmond City and Henrico County.  The senator's district straddles three municipalities: Richmond, Henrico and Charles City County.  No word yet as to whether he may face disciplinary action in Charles City.

According to The Washington Post, Lambert's latest insult to his fellow Democratic Party members is his threat to run as a Republican if he is expelled from the Richmond and Henrico Committees.

Lambert is preparing to put up a fight if the members try to expel him, saying he will have his lawyers review party bylaws to see whether he can be kicked out of the party. Lambert, who is up for reelection next year, also warned that he could run as a Republican or independent if the Democrats try to expel him.
For Lambert to make this threat before meeting in person with the Richmond or Henrico committees is likely to further inflame opinion against him.  It's hard to excuse Lambert's behavior when he refuses to apologize for it and begins making threats against the entire Democratic Party of Virginia.
As I have noted before elsewhere, the chairman of the Richmond committee--Jim Nachman--possesses quite abit of moral authority on this issue because of his own uphill fight against Eric Cantor in the heavily Republican 7th congressional district.  Nachman's fight sets a high standard for political courage and party loyalty.

The comments of the Henrico committee's chairman, Tim Mitchell, are also extremely significant.  When asked by the WaPo's Tim Craig about what action the Henrico Committee might take, Mitchell had this to say:

We are just going to say you have violated our bylaws to support Democrats and, therefore, you are not part of our committee anymore.
Mitchell's declaration makes it sound as though Lambert's expulsion is an accomplished fact.  Many of you may remember that Mitchell was a staunch supporter of Harris Miller during the primary.  Mitchell was understandably disappointed by the results of the primary, but he reconciled himself to the results and worked, along with his family, to elect Jim Webb to the U.S. Senate.  In doing so, Mitchell sets an example of loyalty to the party and faith in the Democratic primary that nominated Jim Webb.

Placed alongside Nachman's courageous uphill fight and Mitchell's stalwart loyalty to his party, the extent of Lambert's betrayal is even more stark.

Delegate Donald McEachin, who is rumored to be considering a primary run against Lambert, had this to say:

I don't think one can hold such a position of high regard such as the state Senate of Virginia, be a Democrat, endorse a Republican who is bad on issues that affect the African American community, and expect there are not going to be consequences," McEachin said. "Congress turned completely blue because of Jim Webb's election. For him to stand in the way of that was, quite frankly, tragic.
Indeed, Lambert's self-destruction does bear many of the marks of a classic tragedy, not least of which is the hubris that caused him to bolt his party in the middle of a desperate fight and then threaten his former friends when his own moment of judgment arrived.

You can read the rest of Tim Craig's article "Democrats considering penalty for Lambert" in The Washington Post.


Comments



You reap the seeds you sow!! (thegools - 12/10/2006 10:21:39 AM)
(F#@k him...)

Bolt the Democratic party?  He already did.  Of course he had every right to do that, but he shouldn't be surprised by the backlash.  He should eat that elephant-manure filled Humble Pie with a big giant pitchfork.

[Can you imagine if Webb had barely lost?  This clown could then claim (and rightly so) to have the honor of being the reason that the  GOP retained control of the Senate!!!  Bad move Senator Lame(bert).]



Lambert should defect and go.... (mosquitopest - 12/10/2006 11:58:09 AM)
He's already acting like a Republican...I think he should go ahead and join that bunch...

Buzz...Buzz...



you are saying he should become a defective? (teacherken - 12/10/2006 12:23:58 PM)
but has he already demonstrated that he is defective?


Is being a sell out.... (mosquitopest - 12/10/2006 2:27:26 PM)
and not having ethics defective in your book?

It is in mine.

Buzz...Buzz...



The worst part (DukieDem - 12/10/2006 4:07:02 PM)
is that you can't even call Lambert a sell out because HE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING! It's now like he traded his endorsement for the money for HBCU's, because he never got the money!


How do you know Lambert didn't get something from Allen? (JC - 12/10/2006 4:41:53 PM)
Sure, he didn't get the HBCU funding, but he's been getting "help" from Allen for a while now.

Look at this article by Jeff Shapiro of the RTD.

"A Lambert Liability"

Shapiro theorizes about the possible financial ties between Lambert and Allen, and I think this goes a long towards explaining Lambert's "inexplicable" actions.



Some old info (Kathy Gerber - 12/10/2006 10:59:04 PM)
JC - you may want to review this diary and the comments
http://www.raisingka...


Thanks Kathy! (JC - 12/11/2006 11:04:21 AM)
This is definitely of interest.


he IS a sell out... (mosquitopest - 12/10/2006 4:36:38 PM)
Only a very cheap or "free" sell-out.

Maybe that's why he's gotten the defective label?

Buzz...Buzz...



"Threaten" to defect? (libra - 12/10/2006 9:09:00 PM)
Shoot... Even LIEberman was much more subtle and didn't do that :)

I'm very much opposed to the "my party, right or wrong" maxim -- saw too much of it growing up back in communist Poland -- but it seems to me that it would be a relief if that guy made good on his threat/promise. "Good riddance to bad rubbish", as the Brits say.