MyDD :: Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont

Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont

by Matt Stoller, Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 09:23:49 PM EST

This is pretty good for Lamont. The AP is out, and it's a nice lede:

U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, facing his first primary challenge in his 18-year Senate career, sought to distance himself from the Bush administration tonight in the only scheduled debate with Democratic primary challenger Ned Lamont.

The debate, on WVIT-TV, paired off Connecticut's junior senator with a stronger than expected challenger who has made Lieberman's support for the Iraq war the centerpiece of his campaign.

Lieberman, 64, who is running for a fourth-term, is facing an Aug. 8 primary battle. Just six years after being his party's nominee for the vice presidency, Lieberman has fallen into disfavor among some Democrats for his perceived closeness to President Bush.

"Ned Lamont seems just to be running against me based on my stand on one issue, Iraq, and he is distorting who I am and what I've done," Lieberman said in his opening statement.

"I know George Bush. I've worked against George Bush. I've even run against George Bush. But Ned, I'm not George Bush," Lieberman said. "So why don't you stop running against him and have the courage and honesty to run against me and the facts of my record."

Lieberman said he has opposed Bush on most of the major policy initiatives of his administration, from tax cuts for the rich to privatizing Social Security.

Good stuff.

Update: The Reuters piece is even better.

Tags: Ned Lamont, Joe Lieberman, Connecticut (all tags)

Permalink :: 12 Comments :: Post a Comment

Is it really that great a lede? (none / 0)

It repeats the myth that this is all about the war, and it gives more credence to Lieberman's allegations that he's "opposed" Bush than he deserves.

It's not bad to Lamont. But it's hardly a ringing thumbs-up.

Just thought of a campaign ad: Contrast Lieberman's vicious, rude bullying and interrupting of Lamont with his obsequiousness to Dick Cheney in 2000. Wonder if that would work...

by Master Jack on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 09:29:31 PM EST

Re: Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont (none / 0)

The review is in fact favorable for Lamont. Although Lamont was not provided with the opportunity to discuss his entire agenda, the reporter managed to discuss Lamont's positions on civil liberties, trade agreements and education. Hostile and vituperative as ever, Lieberman effectively kept Lamont from discussing his platform. Thankfully, the reporter ignored this and aired the platform Lamont was unable to articulate.

Joe's hostility betokens his deep fear that he will lose this primary.

by illinois062006 on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 09:31:28 PM EST

It does get better... (none / 0)

...the deeper you read. That is true. But the lede was kind of blah. Just OK.

That said, Lamont let a few hanging curveballs slide right by him, especially on Social Security. He did OK, for a rookie, held his own -- but man, he could have destroyed Joe with better preparation...

by Master Jack on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 09:38:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont (none / 0)

In retrospect, what Lieberman was trying to do in the first 15 minutes, and what he and his campaign therefore must have concluded was the best line of attack, was that Lamont was inconsistent in his position on the war.
How weak was that?
And Lamont knocked it out of the park, to which Lieberman could only reply that this was Lamont's sixth or seventh position on the issue.
What primary or general election voter would care about that, when Lamont responded that we should begin withdrawals within 6 months, and have them all out within in a year?
I've said it before--Lieberman is an AWFUL politician. It's a shame that, until now, only the Republicans (and the 2004 presidential candidates) have had a chance to run against the weakest national candidate of the last half-century.

by Ron Thompson on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 10:28:36 PM EST

Re: Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont (none / 0)

Actually, Lieberman's a pretty good politician. He has to be, to get elected despite being such a smarmy, duplicitious jackass. He's just an awful officeholder.

by Master Jack on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 10:32:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont (none / 0)

Any time one candidate has to spend his time distancing himself from his own record, it's good for the other candidate.

With Democrats Lieberman goes for the jugular. With Republicans he goes for the lips.

by Sitkah on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 10:30:40 PM EST

It's sort of like watching a car wreck. (none / 0)

the best quote is near the end

New Jersey politics and news

by John DE on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 11:06:54 PM EST

Lieberman ... still a douchebag (none / 0)

I hate to say it, but I really don't oppose Lieberman on the issues. He's closer to me than a lot of you guys are.

I have always opposed Lieberman for one reason: he's a douchebag.

If only Joe Biden runs for Senate in 2008... then we could wipe out multiple douchebags... But, he'll run for Prez only. Too bad.

Who else should we line up on the douchebag express?

by jcjcjc on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 11:22:52 PM EST

Re: Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont (none / 0)

Ned held on for a rookie.
Joe hammered like an OLD pro ("there you go again" jeez louise Ronnie Reggae tired lines).
Are Connecticut voters ready for fresh legs?
Does vision maker trump pork provider?
Did I detect some JFK accents coming out of Lamont?

DSCC, Boxer, Salazar, Biden: Let the voters of Connecticut decide. Stay out.

Go Ned.
Thanks for the memories, Joe.

by Ex on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 11:23:18 PM EST

Re: Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont (none / 0)

The Rueters lede is good, too:

HARTFORD, Connecticut (Reuters) - Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000, took a hammering over his support for the Iraq war on Thursday in a debate with an antiwar rival whose race for the Senate is seen as a battle for the heart of the Democratic Party.

Lieberman, who announced on Monday he would run for re-election as an independent if he loses his party's August primary, appeared on the defensive for much of the debate against Democratic rival Ned Lamont, a self-financed neophyte.

``Senator Lieberman if you won't challenge President Bush and his failed agenda, I will,'' said Lamont, who has been embraced by antiwar Democrats and leftist bloggers for criticizing Lieberman's willingness to support President George W. Bush on the war and other issues.

``Senator Lieberman cheered the President every step of the way when he stood have been asking the tough questions,'' said Lamont, who made millions in the cable TV business. ``It's time for us to change course. It's time for us to start bringing our troops home.''

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washingto n/politics-lieberman.html

by DeborahL on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 11:28:49 PM EST

Re: Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont (none / 0)

Nice catch!

by Matt Stoller on Thu Jul 06, 2006 at 11:48:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Post-Debate News Coverage Good for Lamont (none / 0)

This was a debate for the democratic primary and yet Joe seemed to be at the wrong event, making almost minimal effort to appeal to democratic voters. He could easily have said that he understood the anti-war case but in this instance ...... (sounding reasonable while disagreeing)

He'll be losing support among democrats at a frightening rate right now, so I'm really struggling to understand why he decides to go aggressive against a soft-spoken guy like Ned.

Lieberman is behaving as though he owns this seat in perpetuity; the voters are hardly going to be impressed.

by kundalini on Fri Jul 07, 2006 at 10:47:05 AM EST

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