Jim Dean's letter from DFA to Beltway Democrats re Lieberman

[madfloridian]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/6/15/115827/634

Democracy for America's Open Letter to the Beltway Democrats
by Jim Dean
Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 11:58:27 AM EDT

"Joe Lieberman hasn't confirmed that he's planning to run as an Independent, but everybody's been talking, from the blogosphere to the DSCC. The DSCC's mission is to elect Democrats to the Senate. Yet in this case, they would prefer to back an incumbent who leaves the party, instead of a principled progressive who's proud to be a Democrat.

Primaries are healthy for the party, and Democrats in Connecticut will decide their nominee on August 8. The winner should receive the full support of all Democrats. We need to stand together in November.
Please join me and ask the Beltway Democrats, including Joe Lieberman and Chuck Schumer, to do the same:

www.democracyforamerica.com/standtogether

Here is the open letter from Jim:

Open Letter to Beltway Democrats

I am disappointed that Senator Lieberman has refused to rule out leaving the Democratic Party to run for re-election as an Independent.

I plan to support the winner of the Democratic primary for Senate in August because I believe that Democrats need to stand together in November. All Democrats, both inside and outside the Beltway, must do the same. We can't afford to divide ourselves -- too much is at stake.

I hope you will join DFA, Ned Lamont, and thousands of other grassroots Democrats by pledging to fully support the winner of the Democratic primary on August 8th.

Respectfully,
Jim

Jim Dean
Chair, Democracy for America

To sign:
www.democracyforamerica.com/standtogether

[Cha]

1. Somebody predicted

this would come from Jim Dean. Very well stated, Jim Dean, thank you!

[IndyOp]

2. K&R - A great complement to Skinner's post...

To Senator Schumer and the DSCC: Do Not Abandon Loyal Democrats

:bounce:

[Larkspur]

3. Thank you Jim Dean

Now we need Howard to restate what he said in the past that the DNC will support the Dem primary winner on August 8.

[madfloridian]

4. Here's what he said at the TAP breakfast..

"Walter Shapiro: I’m shocked to have been part of a situation where two policy questions were asked back-to-back, and I’m about to try to eliminate this dangerous trend.

Dean: As you know Walter, I kind of like policy questions.

Shapiro: I know, I know. You mentioned a fellow by the name of Joe Lieberman as an outlier. To what extent is the Democratic National Committee doing things to make Lieberman abide by the results of the Connecticut primary, and to quash efforts, talk on his part to run as an independent?

Dean: We’re not doing … we don’t get involved in primary races, period. We just don’t.

Shapiro: But what about candidates who leave open the door if they lose the primary, they will leave the party?

Dean: We don’t get involved in that, either. That’s all matters for the … we’re going to support the Democrat, of course, who wins -- whoever wins is the Democratic nominee. But we don’t get involved in that, I haven’t made any phone calls about that, we don’t … the only role that we play in primaries is to try to keep the discussion civil, because we know there’s going to be a winner and we want the winner to win. But we have not, since I’ve been at the DNC, encouraged anybody, discouraged anybody -- we don’t push people out of races either. That’s something I feel strongly about. I think the Democratic Party has to work as a democracy, so we just don’t get involved at all, not at all."

http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=11436

[Cha]

5. Thanks for this statement

by Howard Dean, mad.

"But we have not, since I’ve been at the DNC, encouraged anybody, discouraged anybody -- we don’t push people out of races either. That’s something I feel strongly about. I think the Democratic Party has to work as a democracy, so we just don’t get involved at all, not at all."

What a concept..let the People decide!

[madfloridian]

6. Most welcome.

They firmly believe in primaries. I see what's happening in Florida where our state chair is going along with Rahm in handpicking candidates. It worries me.

[madfloridian]

7. Night kick

:kick: