GOP secretly channeled millions to Lieberman

[ps1074]

The White House funneled millions of dollars through major Republican Party contributors to Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s primary campaign in a failed effort to ensure the support of the former Democrat for the Bush administration.

A senior GOP source said the money was part of Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove's strategy to maintain a Republican majority in the Senate in November. The source said Mr. Rove, together with Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, directed leading pro-Bush contributors to donate millions of dollars to Mr. Lieberman's campaign for re-election in Connecticut in an attempt that he would be a "Republican-leaning" senator.

Mr. Rove has been responsible for the White House’s effort to ensure a GOP majority in Congress for the last two years of Bush's presidency. Internal party polls show the GOP could lose between 30 and 40 seats in the House as well as its majority in the Senate. A Democratic majority in the Senate would require the GOP to lose at least six seats.

<snip>

The source said that under Mr. Rove's plan, Mr. Lieberman would vote with the GOP on national security issues and help provide the party with a 50-50 split on major legislation. The deciding vote would then be cast by Vice President Dick Cheney.

http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/Lieberman2.htm

[Stand and Fight]

1. Recommended....

Will read the full thing tomorrow. This sounds -- on a brief read -- to be of major importance.

[midnight]

2. Karl giving money to Joe. I remember a post stating that

some high profile person from Washington had visited Joe in his district right before primary. I think that this sounds like bribery to me, but then everything that is coming from Washington sounds corrupt.

[saltpoint]

3. Is this magazine on the level? Huffington is calling it a "conservative"

magazine.

If the report is accurate, probably not many of us will be wildly surprised.

But it does put Lieberman in a more difficult position. Connecticut Democrats have new reason to question the fluid loyalties of their former senator. In public he swore allegiance as a Democrat and in private he took blood money from the Rove Republicans.

I hope Ned Lamont kicks Joe's sorry ass from here to Hong Kong.

[rodeodance]

6. this reads like a gossip column to me,

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

8. NO.

It's a goddamn moonie rag.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. Like the Washington Times? n/t

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

17. It's basically the online sister publication of the Times, yes.

[Irreverend IX]

81. But why would the Moonies want to run a story like this? nt

[LiberalFighter]

30. Washington Times affiliates

International Reports
National Weekly
Insight Magazine
The World & I
Middle East Times
Tiempos del Mundo
Segye Times USA
Sekai Nippo
GolfStyles
World Peace Herald
Times Color Graphics
Arbor Ballroom

All under News World Communications, Inc
Including
UPI since 2000 (1992-2000 six Saudi Arabian families)


Ads fill an average of 35% of the Times' pages, compared to an industry average of 50-60%

Washington Times circulation 103,017 (Mar 2005)
Washington Post circulation 715,181 (Oct 2005)
Washington Post Sunday circulation 983,243 (Oct 2005)

[0007]

14. I hope he kicks his ass to the moon.

Makes one wonder how deep this goes. When I think of the Zell Millers and the Ben Nelsons.

[rpannier]

4. In the words of Gomer Pyle

Shazam! Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[annabanana]

5. I have been unable to open this link. . . . . n/t

[Vidar]

7. Link working fine. Sounds about right.

[ClintonTyree]

9. Tell us something we don't know.

There will be many more connections between Holy Joe and the RepubliCONS before November. Especially in the money department.

[Pachamama]

10. Hey Joe! Whose your Daddy?

So how much more is it going to take to show the voters of CT that Joe Lieberman has never had their interests at heart and only the interests of the Bush Administration?

This is so disgusting. It represents all that is wrong with our political system and it makes me sick.

[saigon68]

82. Here's his Daddy and Puppet Nguyen Van Thieu

[NOLADEM]

11. Question: Is this legal?

Should a party be able to fund a candidate in another party's primary? Is it against the rules now?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

12. Legal? Yes.

Ethical? You tell me.

[leesa]

15. Why would they have to pay GOP Joe for services he's willing to give?

[Kurovski]

21. So he could buy truckloads of airtime with which to present bullshit

campaign ads.

[MaineDem]

16. I'm a bit skeptical of this article

GOP would like nothing more than to deepen the divide Lieberman has caused. If Joe is re-elected they (GOP) want us all to hate Lieberman even though he has already said publicly that he will caucus with the Dems.

I don't have a lot of faith in this source.

[TechBear_Seattle]

18. Mind you, he's a LOYAL Democrat

By taking GOP money, he's keeping it out of the hands of GOP candidates (which candidates the GOP isn't supporting anyway.)

:puke:

[VP505]

19. I can't get

the link to work either, I'll try later. Seems like it would be worth the effort for the Lamont Camp to try and substantiate this and then use it. I can picture a TV ad with Joe telling everyone what a dedicated loyal Democrat he is then another scene with him taking money from Rove, then the kiss from Bu$h.

[grizmaster]

24. I always have trouble with insight links

they always either don't open or open up at a snails pace

[dalloway]

20. Actually, I subscribe to the theory that the GOP is hoping to

get Lieberman elected, then replace Rumsfeld with him after mid-terms and have the Repub gov. appoint a Repub to his seat. Joe's ego over loyalty would love this plan, and that would certainly justify funnelling GOP money to him.

Mark my words, if Joe wins this set, I'll bet that is what is coming. That is why they are helping him so much, IMO.

[The Stranger]

22. And it started here with posters thinking what if we went with a Conn. Dem

to run against the mole Leibercon. Others said, and I bet you could find the posts, "Are you kidding? Joe Leiberman is unbeatable in Connecticut. He has a powerful base and incumbency."

And now look what happened.

[tlsmith1963]

23. Actually...

I wouldn't be surprised if it were true. This is the Bush admin. we are talking about here. They will lie, cheat & steal if it means that they get what they want. Good thing Lieberman lost.

[Festivito]

25. They BRIBED our Vice Presidential candidate. AND HE TOOK IT?!

This is just open bribery. I had though smarmy Joe could have had some job in a cabinet or such. But, no. This sounds criminal.

[progressoid]

27. Lets face it, he was chosen as VP because of his right leaning ways.

Those geniuses thought that a "moderate" could smooth-over all of that liberalness of the Clintons.

Now he's free to be the RW hack he's always wanted to be.

[Festivito]

29. If "right wing hack" EQUALS "bribed whore" This is criminal to me.

It should be considered criminal. It should be investigated as criminal.

[ShortnFiery]

34. The Whorish News media, especially CNN always show video

of Lieberman ONLY when they are discussing this race. The M$M are now representative of shameless WHORES. CNN had the camera FIXED on Lieberman for four of the five minute segment. "News you can trust?" ===> Bullshit! More like News Models consistently whoring for the GOP! :puke:

I get my news from BBC World Service, NPR, and a little tidbits from WP, LA and NY Times newspapers on the side.

Oh! I'm not omitting - Our "The Latest Breaking News" forum here at DU often enlightens me to other, less mainstream sources. Duh. ;)

[Festivito]

65. Buying CNN is one thing. Taking money to become a charlatan is another.

Lieberman is a charlatan and a traitor.

[peacetalksforall]

26. The source doesn't matter if you read between the lines of recent history

.... I don't believe he is maneuvering to benefit the Dems. Not acquiescing in the Lamont win says it all. Look at his record since the start of the invasion. The GOP number 1 objective is to win the oil, have the people of Iraq bow down to our military and Washington, save themselves from tribunals and jails. He has helped them all along and they desperately need Joe in that Senate now.

Retroactively, I am filled with suspicion about what he was doing during the recount in 2000.

What has he done or said that would counter anything I'm now believing about him?

[springhill]

31. Boy, I'm glad I'm not the only one..........

I always found it very suspicious the way he handled the subject of the military ballots. Basically just giving into the GOP talking points.

[Vanje]

28. Roves College Republicans supported Lieberman in primary

I read here at DU that College Republicans provided money for motel ansd transportation for its members to journey to Conn to work as volunteers in Liebermans primary campain.

[KingFlorez]

32. This is a lot of crap

What would they gain by this? If they lost control of the Senate, this would do them any good

[ps1074]

38. of course it wil do them good

Imagine a 51-49 democratic senate with Joe. Imagine a major national security vote. Joe votes with the dark side and it is a 50-50 with Cheney breaking the tie...

Now imagine a 51-49 democratic senate with Ned. Ned sticks with the good guys and Cheney ducks back into his undisclosed location.

See the difference?

Rove knows there is no way they win in CT. So, instead he puts the GOP resources behind Joe, knowing Joe will have to pay his dues when the time comes...

[KingFlorez]

50. Nonsense

When it comes down to it, the Republicans can't benefit from Lieberman be reelected. And it's not guaranteed Lamont would do the right thing, he doesn't have enough of a record to make that assumption.

[Richard Steele]

56. Well, the Repubs disagree with you.

They sent the College Repubs to help his campaign,
they are refusing to support his REPUBLICAN opponent,
and they're telling the richest friends to give him
million$ for his campaign.

Seems pretty clear that THEY THINK there is benefit
to them in a Lieberman victory.

[Arugula Latte]

62. Well, we've had years and years of Joe doing the wrong thing.

Lamont would be a huge improvement.

[KingFlorez]

73. The point is, we don't know what Lamont would do if elected

[Ken Burch]

79. He could hardly be less principled than Lieberman after this disclosure.

And why do you still assume that HolyWarJoe would caucus with our side if he won?

Time to admit it King, We have to beat Joe in November or Connecticut's Senate seat WON'T be held by a Democrat.

[OzarkDem]

51. Its how they operate

this is what they do to keep from losing control of the Senate. If it doesn't work, its no big deal to them - they have access to billions in campaign contributions, thanks to government contracts to their donors.

Even if they don't win a majority in the Senate, they still probably have other Dems like Joe to do their bidding. I suspect we can name a few others who have also taken the money.

[bluedog]

33. Cal it what it is....Its a BRIBE n/t

[Deep13]

35. Ned! Ned! Ned! Ned! Ned! nt

[savemefromdumbya]

36. Who else in the Democratic party is receiving money and treats from GOP?

[OzarkDem]

43. My first thought, too

Is there any way we can find out? I doubt there area a lot, but no doubt there are more than a few. It certainly explains why Dems don't fight in Congress.

[tavalon]

37. Wow, I'm shocked

not that this happened but that it got out.

[Bake]

39. If Joe wins the general election, he'll thank the Pukes.

And he'll do so by changing his party affiliation and caucusing with the Pukes. I'll bet on it.

Unless, of course, the Dems take the majority in the Senate!! Then, of course, Joe the Ho' will want to be on the side of the winners. If that happens, I hope the Dems don't need him to keep the majority and strip him of his seniority and chair appointments. Make him Chairman of the Paper-Clips Oversight Committee.

Bake

[onenote]

44. I'll take your bet

Of course, I don't think Joe's going to win in November, so its (hopefully) a moot point. But if he does end up winning, I'll donate $10 to DU if he caucuses with the repubs. Willing to match me?

[Bake]

48. You betcha! $10 it is!

Either way, it helps DU (the $10, that is!). I say he caucuses with the pukes if they retain the majority; you say he caucuses with the Dems regardless. Did I state the terms correctly?

Bake

[onenote]

52. Yep!

Hopefully, we'll never know which way former Sen Lieberman would've gone...

[Bake]

59. One step further ... if Joe loses:

What do you say we BOTH donate $10 to DU if Lamont wins?

Bake

[onenote]

61. works for me

[reprobate]

58. I hope someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but Joe will get NO

committee assignments if he wins (may the Goddess forbid) as an independent.

Committee assignments are given by the parties leadership, Democrat and Repuglikkkan. There is no independent party to give him committee assignments.

But then of course the repugs will reward him with their assignments if he wins. If so it should cause some huge resentment among loyal repugs. A no win for the bushista leaders.

[whistle]

40. Is this legal? A party member bought off by the opposition

...Just how much corruption will the leaders of the democratic party tolerate from one of the highest ranking democrats in the party? :wtf:

[Botany]

41. Call Senator Reid's office

Washington
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone] / Fax: [phone]

And ask to speak to a staff person about removing Joe L from
his committee seats ..... he is getting tons of calls, the staff person just told me

[redqueen]

45. Son of a BITCH!

Reid's official position is that he won't make any changes until after the election.

I just told the staffer that this is the kind of thing that is making it harder for me to get people to get active and vote. They get the message that there's no difference between the parties and that they're both corrupt... so they see something like this happen and what's done about it? Nothing.

My head is spinning.

[OzarkDem]

47. There's not much time left

the GOP will probably shut things down quickly, lets hope nothing important comes up.

[OzarkDem]

46. How do we know

Reid isn't getting money, too? This is bad news.

[robbedvoter]

42. legit source or not, it's little I didn't know

Who else would keep the loser in the race? it's obviously not the Dems! So, it may not be millions, but it's quite obvious where the sole support for this campaign comes from and why.

[Initech]

49. Cheney casting the deciding vote? There's a scary thought...

[oc2002]

53. GOP has billions to spend, a few million is just chump change.

They have all the money, since they are owned by the 5% of the wealthiest people that own 95% of all the wealth.

[rustydog]

54. Apparently there are two ways to spell Joltin joe's name:

1. Lieberman
2. Republican whore

[WI_DEM]

55. So is Lamont using this information to portray Lieberman as a Republican

in disguise and is this getting media attention in Connecticut?

[warrens]

57. If true, Holy Joe is through

[TexasLawyer]

60. Hey Connecticut DU-ers!

Make sure this story gets covered in your local press.

[spooky3]

63. Joe's practicing the world's oldest profession.

And I don't mean politics.

[CTD]

64. Are there any Lamont/Lieberman poll numbers newer than 8/22?

I can't find any poll numbers more recent than 8/22 on the Lamont/Lieberman race. As of that poll, Lamont, while still slightly behind, had closed to within the margin of error. I have to think that, by now, he should have a small lead. Or, at least, I'd be *really* happy if he did.

Anyone?

[Gloria]

78. Poll cited today in Political Wire--Lamont way behind, but

it's a Republican poll and there's no info on the sample....

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2006/09/06/in_connecticut_poll_finds_lamont_way_behind.html

September 06, 2006
In Connecticut, Poll Finds Lamont Way Behind
A new Public Opinion Strategies (R) poll finds Ned Lamont (D) trailing Sen. Joe Lieberman (I), 51% to 35%, in the Connecticut U.S. Senate race. Republican Alan Schlesinger receives 4% of the vote, while 10% remain undecided.

Key finding: When asked which candidate is running a negative campaign, 40% say Lamont compared to 19% for Lieberman.

[Bob K]

66. Joe Loserman

Unvarnished cry baby. I'm glad this once whitehouse hopeful has been bared for what he really is. And it isn't a "Democrat". :shrug:

[bvar22]

67. Thethread title shouldn't be "Past tense".

"GOP secretly channeled millions to Lieberman"

More appropriately, it should read: "GOP secretly channeling millions to Lieberman"

This should not be a shock to members of DU.
I'm just curious why the GOP cut out the middle men, the DLC.
OR
Why the owners of the Republican Party (Corporate CEOs and the Liesure RICH Class) didn't fund Loserman directly.
They've been buying Democrats directly for years.


Support REAL Democrats:

http://www.pdamerica.org/

"In recent polls by the Pew Research Group, the Opinion Research Corporation, the Wall Street Journal, and CBS News, the American majority has made clear how it feels. Look at how the majority feels about some of the issues that you'd think would be gospel to a real Democratic party:

1. 65 percent (of ALL Americans, Democrats AND Republicans) say the government should guarantee health insurance for everyone -- even if it means raising taxes.

2. 86 percent favor raising the minimum wage (including 79 percent of selfdescribed "social conservatives").

3. 60 percent favor repealing either all of Bush's tax cuts or at least those cuts that went to the rich.

4. 66 percent would reduce the deficit not by cutting domestic spending but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes.

5. 77 percent believe the country should do "whatever it takes" to protect the environment.

6. 87 percent think big oil corporations are gouging consumers, and 80 percent (including 76 percent of Republicans) would support a windfall profits tax on the oil giants if the revenues went for more research on alternative fuels.

7. 69 percent agree that corporate offshoring of jobs is bad for the U.S. economy (78 percent of "disaffected" voters think this), and only 22% believe offshoring is good because "it keeps costs down."


http://alternet.org/wiretap/29788/

8. Over 60% oppose the War on the Iraqi People.

9. 92% support TRANSPARENT, VERIFIABLE elections!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x446445


The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[MisterP]

68. I just can't help but think how vitriolic party 'loyalists' will be

if he Diebolds his way in and then demands to be a Dem again; the closer a Dem is to *, to louder they defend him against wicked Greens and Michael Moore and that horrible outspoken, uppity Cynthia McKinney

[Zhade]

69. KICK

Reminder: DUers may not advocate for lieberman, ESPECIALLY after this!

[goforit]

70. Joe's bought and paid for and he WILL LOOSE!!!!

Roll up your sleeves Connecticut!!! THIS IS A BATTLE!!!!

[mhatrw]

71. Say it ain't so, Joe!

[nashville_brook]

72. via INSIGHT magazine... wow... they are getting BOLD; out in the open

that's a rightwing moonie pub, no?

what an odd story for them.

[NotGivingUp]

74. wow! i just can't wait to see it on the news tonight! all pure scumbags.

[gordontron]

75. argh

:puke:lieberman:puke:

[texpatriot2004]

76. In other words, they bought Lieberman, they own him and he

sold out to * and his cronies.

[Patsy Stone]

77. They left out the word "slush".

"The RNC has raised $70 million, with a special fund designated to help keep its congressional majority."

[humbled_opinion]

80. This guy is scum

We must do everything in our power to bring him down. I have already donated to Lamont Campaign. I really hope Bill Clinton goes to CT and rallies for him. Clinton really helped JK out in 04 especially in Philly at the concert it was magic.

[Supersedeas]

83. oddly the cable news pundits missed the significance of Pubbies ignoring

their own candidate to support a Dem.

Irony into a Media memory hole.

[Raine]

84. They don't miss a bet

they have their dirty fingers in every pie. x(

[NorthernSpy]

85. this is typical behavior for the sort of person Joe Lieberman is

Oh, what a surprise this is not.

The only drawback with tolerating the endless parade of dishonest, disloyal self-seekers who want to use our party for their own advancement is that they lie. And they aren't loyal to us or our values. And they care only about themselves. Aside from that, they're great to have around. They add so much.

/:sarcasm:



Seriously: what the hell did Lieberman ever do that might have allowed us to reasonably conclude that he was really on our side?

Nothing.

Good riddance. And may the rest of his DLC ilk follow him out the door.