City Won't Un-"Democrat" Joe (Lieberman)

[sabra]

http://www.newhavenindependent.org/archives/2006/08/city_wont_undem.php

City Won't Un-"Democrat" Joe

The city won't allow Sen. Joe Lieberman to be stripped of his Democratic party affiliation, announced Democratic Registrar of Voters Sharon Ferrucci (pictured) Thursday.

Earlier this week, local activists filled Ferrucci's office asking her to start the process that would allow the local Democratic Party to expell Joe now that he's pursuing a third-party reelection bid against the Democratic-endorsed candidate, Ned Lamont.

Ferrucci shied away from using the authority given her by a little-known state law. "While Section 9-60 of the Connecticut General Statutes provides a process for excluding or expelling a voter’s name from the list of registered voters in the Democratic Party, such authority, in my opinion, should be rarely and cautiously exercised.

"The Democratic Party is founded upon principles of inclusion and diversity of opinion, and the promotion of debate. In that spirit, I do not intend to summon anyone enrolled in my party to defend the good faith and bona fide nature of their affiliation with the Democratic Party," said Ferrucci in a written statement.

[redqueen]

1. Is she mental?

He's running *against* the Democrat who won the primary!

[Canuckistanian]

2. Diversity of opinion?

You've got to be joking.

[ixion]

3. sounds like she's bucking for a spot on the DLC

just my two cents.

[atreides1]

4. "...should be rarely and cautiously exercised."

Should that rare occasion include campaigning with Republicans while acting as an Independent?

The woman was afraid, that's the bottom line. People like this should not be in positions where tough decisions are required to be made. Well if her position is an elected one she may very well be out of a job soon.

[CollegeDUer]

5. Yes, but Joe isn't running under the Democrat label

So why can't he be expelled?

[William769]

6. Isn't her position a elected one?

[BootinUp]

7. Now this is a spineless Dem.

HE'S RUNNING AGAINST YOUR PARTY FOOL

[Bretttido]

8. We couldn't do that...

18-year incumbent democrats losing primaries then running 3rd party campaigns happens all the time.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[onehandle]

10. It would have been a petty act anyway.

This is the kind of thing that Rove wants us engaged in.

It makes us look petty and political.

[Nikki Stone 1]

11. I think you're right

Good call

[Zhade]

14. b*s* is hovering at 30% - FUCK ROVE!

And fuck political cowardice that whines about what Rove might do!

It's not petty to strip someone out of the party who lost the fucking primary and is running against the party's candidate!

[Richard Steele]

16. I disagree that following the rules is petty and political.

The notion that RULES are only to be observed for
petty political reasons is EXACTLY the Rovian mindset.

I have the crazy liberal opinion that rules are supposed
to apply equally to everyone, whether it's convenient or not.

Lieberman has started his own private opposition party;
removing him from the Dem membership rolls should be
automatic.

[formercia]

12. He lost the primary

so, he still listed as a Democrat. he can't be listed on the ballot since he lost the primary.

[Zhade]

13. HE. IS. NO. LONGER. A. DEMOCRAT.

If he ever was more than in name, he is no longer - he LOST the primary and IS NOT THE DEMOCRAT RUNNING IN CT!

[Richard Steele]

15. Not to mention loudly and publicly FOUNDING a new, SEPERATE party.

Unless there's some provision for MULTIPLE party membership
in that law, this "decision" is just flat-out WRONG.

[Rex]

17. How can Joe lose the Dem primary and still run as a Dem?

So being the Independent candidate, means you are the Democratic candidate maybe? Just like Joe to have his cake and eat it.

[Biernuts]

18. Lieberman to Stay on Democratic Rolls (Washington Post)

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Sen. Joe Lieberman won't have to fight to stay in the Democratic Party, after all.

The Democratic registrar in Lieberman's hometown of New Haven rejected a petition by peace activists to strike Lieberman from the party rolls on Thursday.


"The Democratic Party is founded upon principles of inclusion and diversity of opinion and the promotion of debate," Ferrucci said. "I do not intend to summon anyone enrolled in my party to defend the good faith and bona fide nature of their affiliation with the Democratic Party."


Full Article at
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/25/AR2006082500481.html>

[JackBeck]

19. He's running as an Independent, you idiot.

He has left the Party, Ferrucci.

[liberalmuse]

20. I don't remember both Lamant and Lieberman winning.

Shit, this is just unreal. Someone needs a civics lesson on how the voting process is supposed to work in this country. I'm sick of stupid Americans!

[Wwagsthedog]

21. Does this mean the New Haven "Democrats" left the party? nt

[damntexdem]

22. What the law says is irrelevant.

The registrar will instead follow a personal bias that plays to the rightwing's advantage.

[Biernuts]

23. The WP Article says the law "allows", not "requires"

It therefore gives the party leadership the discretion to act or not as they judge appropriate.

Any doubt in your mind that she is not acting alone, but with the guidance of the state party bosses? (Otherwise, she'd be the "former" registrar)