Joe's Priorities

[Bob Geiger]

There is a major bill coming through the Senate that will cut the minimum wage for millions of waiters and waitresses and give a massive estate tax cut to the richest families. Joe Lieberman says he fights for working families. Look at how ardently he's fighting this bill, compared to other Democrats.

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) seems to care about it:




Ted Kennedy (D-MA) thinks it's important enough to talk about:



Dianne Feinstein(D-CA) has a lot to say about the provision that would actually cut the pay of people in seven states:



And here's the press release section of Joe Lieberman's official Senate web site:



Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Wait, maybe he mentions this important issue on his campaign site:



Nope, not there either.

Of course, Joe's as wrong as he can be on the Iraq war. He's wrong on the scheme to privatize Social Security too.

And when it comes to something like this, that should be a slam-dunk for all Democrats, the silence from Joe Lieberman is deafening.

You can reach Bob Geiger at [e-mail].

[n2doc]

1. Come January He'll be working at a different job

Probably a lobbyist, but still less damaging to the US.

[TheVirginian]

2. This is a really pathetic attack.

Honestly, you're just making things up now. The true barometer of Lieberman's position on this bill will be his vote, which will most likely be a "no", with as much force and effect as Ted Kennedy's vote.

But, just for good measure, find Russ Feingold's statement on his website:

http://feingold.senate.gov/news/press_date.html

There is none. I guess we should work to kick him out of office, too.

http://wyden.senate.gov/

Nothing about it on Ron Wyden's website. What a Republican rat bastard. Let's run him out on a rail.

http://www.johnkerry.com/index.html
http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/cfm/press-statement.cfm

I don't see any mention on either of John Kerry's websites. Clearly, John Kerry is working against our values and priorities.


Honestly, there is enough that the liberal base can disagree with about Joe Lieberman. Making things up is an unneccesary and unfortunate step.

[Bob Geiger]

3. That would be true if....

The Democratic credentials of Feingold, Kerry and Wyden were in question as much as Joe Lieberman's are. He's running in a Democratic primary and trying to run as a progressive and yet is saying nothing about this hideous legislation. I simply compared him to other Democrats who are speaking up loudly about it. That's hardly making stuff up.

[TheVirginian]

4. Yes, it is.

You're using the lack of his mention on his website as an example of how non-progressive he is, and worse, why he deserves to be kicked out of office. Using that same criterion, Russ Feingold, Ron Wyden, and John Kerry deserve the same. And this is all in spite of the fact that Lieberman is likely to vote "no" on the measure.

The biggest reason why the Democratic credentials of Joe Lieberman are in question are because of bullshit smear tactics like this. Joe Lieberman supports the war in Iraq. That's about as far as the real differences between Lieberman and the rest of the party extend. Especially when you look at Lieberman's voting record, his rating from liberal issue groups, and compare those to about a dozen Democratic senators who vote with the GOP far, far more often than Joe Lieberman.

But in this obsessive vein of trashing Joe Lieberman in order to justify the negativity he recieves, bullshit like this creeps up. First, it was the irresponsibile TPM Cafe story that flat-out lied about Lieberman considering running as a Republican. Now its this, attacking Joe Lieberman because he doesn't mention a piece of legislaton on his website, but giving other Senators a pass for no reason? How much more vapid can these attacks get?

[Bob Geiger]

6. Joe still supports the Iraq war...

Despite all evidence that shows it's another Vietnam, despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans think we should not have gone and want the troops home and despite the fact that he knows he has effectively ruined himself in the Democratic party. That's all that needs to be said.

He has the blood of almost 2,600 soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis on his hands and he's a solid partner in the Bush administration ruining our country.

It's the defining issue of this election year and of 2008 and he's on the wrong, *wrong* side.

So he's fair game. Period. End of story.

And end of my commenting on my own post.

[TheVirginian]

7. Apparently that's not all that needs to be said.

Because you still see the need to invent reasons for people to be pissed off about Joe Lieberman.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Joe's number 1 priority it...JOE. n/t