The GOP candidates running against Democratic Senatorial Nominee Ned Lamont is not being supported by President Bush. Per Josh Marshall:
Bush fixin' to support Lieberman? More shortly.
In this morning's press briefing, Tony Snow said President Bush would not endorse Alan Schlesinger (R-CT) the Republican nominee in the race.
One of Lieberman's most vocal supporters and close neocon friend, New Republic head Marty Peretz, doesn't even want the Democratic Party to take either House of Congress this November.
Joe's got Republicans set to fund his campaign:
A Republican campaign fund-raiser based in Washington, who spoke on condition that he not be identified by name, said, "“There'’s a definite sense among a significant number of the Republicans who I deal with that Joe Lieberman is a man of principle and a man we should support."”
This fund-raiser said he'’ll contribute money to Lieberman's campaign and raise money for him.
The head of the entire Republican National Committee:
...on NBC'’s Meet the Press, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman refused to support the Republican candidate in Connecticut'’s Senate race. Mehlman expressed his agreement with Lieberman's policies on the Iraq war and national security. Mehlman said that Lieberman had been "kicked out of the Democratic party" for supporting the President'’s position on the Iraq war.
Well, if he was kicked out of one party that means he's a potential pick-up by the other. Who's to say Benedict Lieberman doesn't re-register as a Republican if he accidentally wins? Lamont could still be killed in a Paul Wellstone-type airplane crash. Would you put it past a plutocracy?
David Sirota is, as usual, calling reality for what it is:
From now on, I am going to be referring to Joe Lieberman as De Facto GOP Nominee Joe Lieberman and I urge everyone else covering this race to do so in the interest not of partisanship, but out of respect for objective accuracy. Over the last few days, it's very clear that is what Joe is. RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman is refusing to endorse the actual GOP nominee in Connecticut, and is instead heaping praise on Lieberman. Same thing for the White House, which is also refusing to endorse the actual GOP nominee in Connecticut. Lieberman has been telephoned with a supportive call from Karl Rove, GOP caacrosss accross the country are rallying to endorse him, and a Swift Boat Vets-ish front-group run by neocon leader William Kristol and Bush Iraq War spokesman Dan Senor is beginning to air ads on behalf of Lieberman. Meanwhile, Joe is parroting Vice President Cheney's talking points overtly implying that Connecticut voters are Al Qaeda sympathizers, and now attacking leading U.S. Senate candidates necessary to win back the Senate for Democrats.
And now it seem that having lost his friend Rev. Al Sharpton's endorsement to Ned Lamont back in the Primary when Joe called Sharpton over the weekend and "Sharpton told him he disagrees with him on too many issues," Al is being racially caricatured by Lieberman's close friends at the neocon Weekly Standard rag. Writes Oliver Willis:
It wasn't enough for the Weekly Standard to speak about their disagreement with Ned Lamont, his supporters or even the controversial politics practiced by Al Sharpton (who I happen to disagree with). No, the Weekly Standard, said by some to be the favored political journal of the White House and a major player in conservative politics via editor-in-chief William Kristol (former Dan Quayle chief of staff) - chose to depict the African-American Sharpton as just another white gloved chaueffeur, subserviently ferrying around his white "massa" Ned Lamont.
What the hell is wrong with these people? It shows the lack of moral compass they've exhibited for years now, and displays that it is so ingrained in their system and the world they live in that there's nothing apparently negative about depicting a black person - even one like Sharpton - as just a modern day Step N Fetchit.
Ask Sen. George Allen (R-VA) if Republicans have a problem being perceived as racist.
Hate is Fear's older brother, often paving the way for the Terror tactic. Hate tends to come from desperation, as in GOP nutjobs running America are terrified they'll lose their power over us. Not only are Lieberman's most ardent supporters pushing the H&F diet, his wannabe-Rove campaign manager, Daniel Gerstein, is officially red-baiting in Joe McLieberman's name. He's even demonizing Al Sharpton (a cynical move aimed at older Jewish prejudicies and fundraising), Lieberman's old pal from the 2004 campaign trail. Per Steve Gilliard:
Why is the racist Dan Gerstein representing Joe Lieberman. He's clearly racebaiting and redbaiting.
Gerstein is a racist. He has sought to demean black voters and black politicians. Why does Joe Lieberman have him speak for him?
From John Campanelli at DailyKos:
Lieberman isn't even trying any longer to pretend he has any sympathy for the Democratic cause.
He and Dan Gerstein have launched a full-throttle attack on a number of Democrats and liberals.
Let me repeat this because it's important to note who he is and is not choosing to attack: Lieberman feels it most productive right now to attack Democrats and liberals rather than this administration and its party.
Even more than the Ned Lamont campaign ever argued, Lieberman has gone whole hog over to the other side, no matter his official Party affiliation or protests to the contrary. He is the Republican Senatorial candidate in Connecticut. They are going to make sure he does not run out of money and drop out. This is a great distracting tactic for them through the November election, and they are going to ride it through election day.
But maybe what looks bad for the Dems is something that might actually backfire on Joe and the GOP. Maybe by giving Ned Lamont a legitimate target for debating the Administration's handling of the war through the first Tuesday in November, it can galvanize public debate between continued enabling of America's decline through BushCheneyCo, and change.
Here's the first rock star coming out to see Ned, this Thursday the 17th. Check out the coverage that night and the day after and see if John Edwards doesn't galvanize the crowd.
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