Westport News
http://www.westport-news.com/opinion/ci_4237879Lieberman for Lieberman
Staff Reports
You've got to have sympathy for Joe Lieberman. He went from being one of the most respected politicians in the land and, in some people's minds, the duly elected vice president of the United States, to losing a primary to a political unknown. Wow.
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First, Lieberman is such an unabashed hawk that he's more simpatico with President Bush and company than he is with his own party. In fact, most Republicans will probably vote for Lieberman since their own candidate languishes in single digits in the polls. Many Republicans are actually glad that Lieberman is running as an independent.
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Second, some people are upset that Lieberman has hedged his bets in the last two elections and appears willing to do whatever it takes to maintain or advance his position. When he ran for vice president, he kept his seat in the Senate. That annoyed some people but it wasn't a big deal. Now, after losing his own party's primary, he has ignored pleas from a number of high-ranking Democrats to abide by the results of the primary. Instead, he has formed his own party, has the necessary signatures and appears determined to run. These activities have tarnished his image.
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It is inappropriate for him to ignore the wishes of his party while, at the same time, maintaining his party membership. The people who walked into the office of Sharon Ferrucci, the New Haven Democratic Registrar of Voters, and demanded that Lieberman's name be taken off the Democratic Party rolls were making a valid point. According to an Associated Press report, "The request could lead to a hearing in which Lieberman would have to argue that he still adheres to the party's principles."
John Orman, a professor of politics at Fairfield University has gone a step further. He has filed a complaint with the state Elections and Enforcement Commission asserting that Lieberman's name should not appear on the ballot in November.
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"Mr. Lieberman's phony party, 'Connecticut for Lieberman,' violates the spirit and intent of our state laws covering third-party development. This law was never intended to allow defeated majority party candidates to run again after they have been defeated," Orman said in his opinion piece.