Edwards Was Right !!

[MzNov]

John Edwards is the only pres. candidate who travelled to CT to support Ned Lamont. At no time did he support LIEBERMAN, like Clinton, Obama, and all the other Dems who sneaked into CT....

:bounce: :bounce:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/12/16/163059/58/...


x-post: DU John Edwards Support Group

[smokey nj]

1. K&R!

[papau]

2. In the primary what currently elected person supported any challenge to an elected Dem?

[MzNov]

3. I don't think any of the Senate Dems supported Lamont, not even Dodd

until Joe got his whoopin. Not surprising, now or at the time. My biggest let down was watching Barbara Boxer in CT stumping for Joe Hole.

[papau]

5. I agree - in the primary all elected national Dems supported Joe, post primary only Obama still

supported Joe, despite Joe not being the winner of the Democratic nomination for the Senate.

[MzNov]

6. I think this article just shows though that Edwards wasn't going

with the Dem. pack, even then. He saw Ned Lamont as the better person to represent CT. He was right. Aww I miss Ned Lamont. I do think he'll be back.

:bounce:

[fujiyama]

11. Sorry you're wrong

I believe only one or two Dems supported Joe in the general election. Obama was not one of them.

[hfojvt]

14. I guess you are right, although Obama spoke for Joe before the primary

http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/10/26/lamont_gets_lift_from_obama_lieberman_campaigns_with_landrieu/

"The Illinois senator and potential 2008 presidential candidate sent an e-mail message to his Connecticut supporters urging them to rally behind Lamont's challenge to three-term Sen. Joe Lieberman."

[fujiyama]

15. Lamont had minimal support during the primaries among Dems in congress

I recall maybe one or two Dems endorsing him. I think Maxine Waters was one. I don't know of any others though I think there were a few more.

Politicians stick by their fellow incumbents in all but rare situations. I don't think we should hold it against Obama or Hillary for supporting him during the primaries.

But for those Dems that supported him in general election, they should face hell. I think Salazaar and a senator from AR did. Maybe Bob Kerrey as well. There were a few.

[papau]

18. True - others limited themselves to "I support the Dem nominee" type support, but Obama

in my memory did not even give out a "I support the Dem nominee" statement.

[papau]

17. Obama's trips to Conn were for Joe - he never issued any support for Lamont which post

primary Hillary and the others did - at least that is what I find in my records and my searches.

If you have an Obama saying anything in support of Lamont post primary I sure would appreciate the reference.

[hfojvt]

13. Wasn't Liebermann his Senate mentor?

So Obama had a close personal connection to the dickhead. I probably would have requested a different mentor. By 2005, it should have already been clear that Liebermann was not an asset to the Democratic party.

[fujiyama]

16. I do agree he should have chose a better mentor

but Obama has been known to want to want work with opposing party members. Personally I think it's somewhat naive. He probably fell into the trap of thinking Joe was "bipartisan".

[papau]

20. I do recall Obama buying into Lieberman's thoughts/friendship - but post primary I don't think

that should have mattered. The media did use the term "mentor" - but I do not know what that means in terms of doing favors for a junior senator in his first year.

[PATRICK]

25. Strom Thurmond was

Biden's mentor. Now that I understand the strong emotional reason was a personal one after his family's deadly accident it makes sense. The emotional connection often goes a bit far with Biden into perilous territory, but it does explain on a human level the strange relationship. Just what is the Lieberman connection? Does it have to do with being, necessarily, a conciliator in a divisive electorate? A moral watchdog and DLC centrist? I would like to hear of its nature and anything potentially redeeming explanations. It does not seem any stronger than his reserved attitude toward the Lamont campaign.

[ProSense]

7. John Kerry campaigned and raised funds for Lamont

More here, here and here.

In fact, Lamont later joined Kerry's efforts to target Roadblock Republicans in the Senate.

[Little Star]

4. TYVM!

[IndyOp]

8. Obama & Bill Clinton endorsed LIEberman. Hillary hoped he was the Dem nominee.

Obama Endorses Lieberman for Senate
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2006/04/02/164/90446

The New York Times reports that Joe Lieberman did not command the attention or respect of his audience at a fundraising event in Connecticut Thursday night.

Three times on Thursday night, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman asked the crowd of 1,700 for quiet during his remarks at the state Democrats' annual Jefferson Jackson Bailey fund-raising dinner. "Shhh," he told the guests. But rather than interrupting him with applause, many were ignoring him, having struck up conversations after finishing their chicken. The inattentiveness -- as well as the scattered boos amid the supportive calls of "Joe" that welcomed Mr. Lieberman to the podium -- convinced some that the three-term senator, criticized for months because of his continued support for the war in Iraq, may be vulnerable in the primary challenge he faces.

Who came to his rescue? Sen. Barak Obama, with a ringing endorsement.

"I know that some in the party have differences with Joe," Senator Obama said, all but silencing the crowd. "I'm going to go ahead and say it. It's the elephant in the room. And Joe and I don't agree on everything. But what I know is, Joe Lieberman's a man with a good heart, with a keen intellect, who cares about the working families of America." Then, with applause beginning to build, he finished the thought: "I am absolutely certain that Connecticut's going to have the good sense to send Joe Lieberman back to the United States Senate." That time, people cheered loudly.


Bill Clinton defends Lieberman's Iraq stance
http://www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2006/07/14/bill_clinton_defends_liebermans_iraq_stance_1152922213/

July 14, 2006

HARTFORD, Conn. --Former President Bill Clinton is sticking up for U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman and his support of the Iraq war.

Clinton, who spoke at an Aspen Institute conference last week, questioned why Democrats in Connecticut are focusing on ousting a fellow Democrat, Lieberman.

Lieberman faces a stronger-than-expected Aug. 8 primary challenge by Greenwich millionaire businessman Ned Lamont, who has criticized Lieberman for his support of the war and his perceived closeness with Republicans and President Bush.

"If we allow our differences over what to do now in Iraq to divide us instead of focusing on replacing Republicans in Congress; that's the nuttiest strategy I ever heard in my life," Clinton told the nonprofit cultural organization. <snip>

Clinton questioned efforts of some Democrats to impose a fixed timetable for removing U.S. troops from Iraq -- something Lieberman opposes. "Why send a signal to the people that are trying to keep Iraq divided and tear it up when we're gonna go," he asked.


Sen. Clinton Hedges Lieberman Support
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/04/AR2006070400736.html

Associated Press
Wednesday, July 5, 2006; Page A02

ALBANY, N.Y., July 4 -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), a longtime supporter of Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, said Tuesday that she will not back the Connecticut Democrat's bid for reelection if he loses their party's primary.

"I've known Joe Lieberman for more than 30 years. I have been pleased to support him in his campaign for reelection, and hope that he is our party's nominee," the former first lady said in a statement issued by aides.

"But I want to be clear that I will support the nominee chosen by Connecticut Democrats in their primary," Clinton added. "I believe in the Democratic Party, and I believe we must honor the decisions made by Democratic primary voters." <snip>

Lieberman spokeswoman Marion Steinfels said the three-term senator is "totally focused on winning the Democratic primary."

"Senator Clinton and President Clinton have both been supporters of Senator Lieberman for many, many years. He greatly values her friendship and her support in the primary," Steinfels said. "The support is part of the reason he's working so hard, with a single-minded focus to win the Democratic primary."

[papau]

21. Incumbents are almost always endorsed by each other (Maxine being the only Lamont supporter that

comes to mind pre primary victory).

post primary, not supporting the nominee is unusual

[IndyOp]

22. John Kerry endorsed and raised money for Ned Lamont. (n/t)

[papau]

23. Kerry in the primary??? - I did not know that - and he's my Senator - I

am forgetting a lot these days - thanks for the info.

[femrap]

9. Thank you for reminding

me of that. That settles it then.

[onehandle]

10. Yep. nt

[SalmonChantedEvening]

12. K&R For MsN and John Edwards!

:loveya: :yourock:

[cali]

19. So what? It was easy for him to do. He wasn't a sitting Senator.

It's not comparable unless you know what he would have done as a Senator.

[Czolgosz]

24. kick

[RiverStone]

26. Edwards is the most electable Dem for pres!

Across party lines.
Across geographic regions.
Across socio-economic groups.