Joe Lieberman Needs To Be Defeated

The man who went to the well of the Senate and fretted about the moral standing of the country in 1998 now thinks calls for Dennis Hastert to resign are too partisan. This comes on the same day that Congressional staffers allege that Hastert knew about Mark Foley's predatory tendencies for at least two years.

Ned Lamont is 100% right.

“Joe Lieberman just can’t bring himself to hold anyone in Washington accountable, even when the safety of our children is at stake. If Dennis Hastert knew that Mark Foley was harassing minors and didn’t do anything about it, he should resign immediately. Anyone who disagrees is morally tone deaf. The fact that Joe Lieberman says calling for Hastert’s resignation is too “partisan” demonstrates that he’s been in Washington so long that he can’t recognize the difference between what’s right and what’s partisan.

We expect Senator Lieberman to stand by President Bush on the war and other failed policies, but until now we didn’t expect him to protect a public leader who put the safety of our children at risk. Connecticut deserves better than someone who puts a twisted definition of “bipartisanship” ahead of what’s right for this country. It’s time for a change.”

Bam. Damn right.

Between this and Lieberman intimating that he'll caucus with Republicans if he doesn't keep his seniority, essentially holding the Democratic leadership for ransom, it's beyond imperative that he is defeated. The speculation that he'll bolt is out there and growing, and despite his pledges to the contrary, I could totally see him swayed if it means control of the chamber flips back to the Republicans as a result. Republicans are bankrolling his campaign. They're his most loyal supporters in polls. They're running his ground operations. The guy doesn't respect the decades-old primary process and has contempt for Democratic voters.

Ned Lamont should continue to hit hard over Moral Joe's moral equivocating. Connecticut voters ought to understand that their senator uses "values" as a political prop. He has none.

Not to mention his support for a failed war, selling out to corporate interests, wanting to intervene in the Schiavo case, etc., etc.