Independence Day

Well, it's the day before, but Independence Day has come early for Joe Lieberman:

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is to announce today he will petition for a place on the November ballot as an "independent Democrat," giving him a chance to stay alive politically should he lose an Aug. 8 primary for the Democratic nomination.

Lieberman, 64, a three-term senator whose outspoken support of the war in Iraq has brought months of grief and inspired a strong primary challenge from Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont, intends to announce his decision this afternoon at the State Capitol.

Even should he lose in August -- and the most recent public poll shows him leading Lamont by 15-percentage points among likely primary voters -- Lieberman would retain his status as a registered Democrat, but his name would not appear on the ballot line with other Democrats.

I guess Joementum wants to keep his committee assignments, so he's running as a "petitioning Democrat." That means "I'm a Democrat, but I have contempt for Democratic voters, so if I lose the primary I can still retain my divine right to be your Senator."

Lieberman had to announce this early, because of Connecticut election law. He's hedged his bets for hears. In 2000 he ran for Vice President and Senator at the same time. If he would have won both, the Republican governor of Connecticut would have appointed a fellow Republican to a 6-year term. The Senate ended up tied 50-50. Lieberman, were he elected, would have been responsible for handing the Senate back to the Republicans.

His job is more important that his party. It always has been. The question is whether the Party will follow him in this self-destructive manner. David Sirota sez:

Will the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee back Lieberman if Lieberman loses the Democratic Party primary? After all, the DSCC itself claims that its “mission is to elect more Democrats to the United States Senate.” So, will the DSCC respect the will of Democratic Party voters in Connecticut and back the Democratic nominee, even if it is Ned Lamont? Or, will the DSCC succumb to Washington insiderism and back Lieberman, even if he loses the Democratic Party primary and leaves the party?

It’s time to take action. Call the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at 202-224-2447 or email them here. Tell the party’s insiders in Washington that they should issue an official statement immediately promising to uphold their own mission statement, back Connecticut’s Democratic Senate nominee and not back someone who, after losing a Democratic Party primary, would leave the Democratic Party in order to cling to power.

That's a few minutes of your time well-spent for the sake of democracy. The Party may not come willingly, but eventually they're going to need to hop aboard and get out in front of the people who want real Democrats standing up for them in Washington. They can take all the credit they want when it succeeds. Just don't get in the way.