MoveOn Hopes to Claim 1st Election Wins (with victory for Ned Lamont)

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060807/D8JBD9E80.html

MoveOn Hopes to Claim 1st Election Wins
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Aug 7, 1:50 AM (ET)

By DAVID ESPO

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Other than the candidates, no one has more riding on this week's Connecticut Democratic Senate primary than MoveOn.org, a liberal organization at the edgy intersection of politics and the Internet.

With victory for Ned Lamont, the group can claim a role in helping an anti-war challenger dump Sen. Joe Lieberman, who supports President Bush's policy in Iraq and has the backing of the Democratic establishment.

A come-from-behind win for Lieberman would mark yet another setback for MoveOn in its parallel campaign - to strengthen its credentials as a force to be heeded by Democrats as they seek congressional majorities this fall.

"The bottom line is: We and our members think you get there by boldly standing up on the most important issues that we face, on Iraq, on energy policy and on health care," says Eli Pariser, the group's 25-year-old executive director. "Some in the party, and Joe Lieberman for sure, don't think that's a winning strategy."

[javadu]

1. This is Embarrassing

First, let me say that if I were in Connecticut, I would certainly vote for Mr. Lamont instead of Lieberman. Like many others, I am very angry at Lieberman for enabling this administration.

At the same time, this implies that Moveon can only win elections in primaries when democrats are pitted against each other, but they can not win against repugs.

I hope we get the same energy for some general election races against repugs that we get for Lamont. If we could get this same energy, we could win a few general elections. My personal favorite right now is Claire McCaskill in Missouri. Why can't we get as much energy for her as we get for Lamont?

[Nite Owl]

2. First things first

this primary will set the tone for the rest of the election cycle. We all have a lot riding on this one and if Lamont wins it our best candidates will have a better chance of winning.

[Kagemusha]

3. Because of who the opponent is here.

Lieberman's being defended by all manner of conservatives (David Gergen to Ann Coulter) because he's a painfully visible Democrat who disparages anyone who criticizes the President on the war. When Newt Gingrich characterizes anti-Lieberman voters in CT as "a legitimate insurgency" (as in potent, rather than legal or just), he is following in the footsteps of Lieberman himself and his staff, who characterize bloggers, anti-war activists and fervent Lamont supporters in general as fanatics, radicals, and even jihadists. In other words, only terrorists would oppose Joe Lieberman.

That makes those who oppose Joe Lieberman very... eager to see him go.

[nsd]

4. Yes! Absolutely. /nt

[merwin]

5. In many cases, this is the only available option.

When you have an incumbant who does not want to leave, there is no other choice. The Democratic Party's official stance is to support the incumbant unless he gets beaten in the primaries. If there IS a better candidate, such as Lamont, then he will win and become the incumbant :-)

[Lochloosa]

9. Not Embarrassing at all.

I don't care if it's Move on or the Swiftboat liars. It's the people who are voting. It's not DU nor FR. Obviously Connecticut Dems want a change. What is Embarrassing about that? That's the way our system is SUPPOSED to work.

[javadu]

13. I Agree and I Want Lieberman Gone As Much as Anyone

But, I have supported Moveon quite a lot over the last several years. This article implies that Lamont's win over Lieberman will be their FIRST election win!?!?!? Is moveon that ineffective? Can they win against repugs in general elections? I am embarrassed at the ineffectiveness of moveon and other progressive advocates if this is the best that they can do.

[ShockediSay]

6. Let's not give MoveOn a power trip

especially BEFORE the election

others, including another progressive organization I support,
and many other individuals, have gone full tilt for Ned,
who, by the way, served as a teacher, and has I think some serious
contributions to make on the education issue.
http://www.americanpolitics.com/20060806punditpap.html

Lamont is not a single dimension candidate with only MoveOn
supporting him.

[Robbien]

7. I've seen very little support by MoveOn, Lamont's support has

been widespread with the DFA and the netroots being there from the start.

[ShockediSay]

8. Think you just said it better than I did nt

[Catchawave]

10. First I've heard of MoveOn involved at all...

I'm on their mailing list too.

[Robbien]

11. I believe this article is RNC spin

They are hoping to scare Fauxnews voters into getting to the polls and vote for Joementum. All Fauxnews voters have been constantly told to hate the dreaded MoveOn.

[krkaufman]

14. Exactly. I don't recall receiving any specific mailings from MoveOn ...

... in regards to Lamont v Lieberman. While I've been hearing about this race continually on Air America (and especially Majority Report).

Nothing against MoveOn, I think they should be more focused on communicating the issues than investing themselves in particular candidates, but I just hadn't noticed their involvement in lifting Lamont's campaign.

[Omaha Steve]

12. It was the DFA....

that first got my attention on this race.