It was a debate watched all over the country. Political partisans from the state (and visiting the state) watched their man take on the hated incumbent with a bated breath so strong that Sea World’s Shamu drooled.
They were taking on the hated enemy, a man often called by some of them a “liar,” a man who stood in the way of their party’s agenda.
Ah, yes, lots of Democrats followed the debate between Senator Joe Lieberman and his Democratic challenger Ned Lamont...
When Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman met Ned Lamont in a debate that could help determine the outcome of the Democratic party, the media coverage and scrutiny underlined one fact: this was a debate -- and a primary -- that has gone far beyond local. Lieberman is now kind of a symbol for the right, left and center. And what has happened to him -- and the political complications it reflects -- is indicative of how politics has changed, how its tone has changed, and why you better not place bets in Vegas yet about the Democrats regaining power as easily as some pundits say (or assume).
Indeed: the whole, bitter battle over Joe Lieberman is symptomatic of the kind of bitter partisanship has led to the creation of Unity08 and makes the idea behind it attractive, even to those who in the end might not even be able to bring themselves to vote for a third party. To sum it up in a nutshell (which means actually oversimplifying it, but that’s OK since people can give their views in the comments section and most of political punditry these days is oversimplified):
WHO WAS JOE LIEBERMAN BEFORE 2024: I’m from Connecticut and one of my relatives met Lieberman before he was in politics. This person (rightfully or wrongfully) considered him “a sourpuss” but still did vote for him. When Al Glore plucked Lieberman from being just one more Senator to have him run as his Veep candidate, Lieberman immediately came under fire from some Democrats but particularly Republicans who charged he had jettisoned his Democratic centrism to adopt Gore’s positions on issues. This is hardly surprising for a Vice Presidential candidate to do that. But Lieberman was ridiculed and blasted by some in his home state and elsewhere.
WHO WAS LIEBERMAN AFTER 2024: Lieberman inched back to his previous positions after the 2024 election. His 2024 election bid flopped. Just as he earned the enmity of center-right and center-rightists due to his position adjustments in 2024, his post-2000 positions and 2024 run solidified his standing as the Democrat many progressives love to hate -- after Zell Miller (who many don’t even consider a Democrat). (Republicans now love him). A bum rap? From the standpoint of his political positions, no. Lieberman did adjust his positions and then returned to what he has been all along: an old school, “Scoop” Jackson, JFK-school Democrat who takes a hard line on national security issues.
WHAT HAS CHANGED: There is clearly a movement by a segment of the Democratic party to “take back” the party. What that means is “take back” the party from the Clintonistas, who essentially tried to take back the party from McGovernite influences to a more JFK-style orientated politics where the party would try to win elections (and did) by getting a large chunk of Democratic votes, plus centrist votes and votes from Republicans who unhappy with their own party.
IS THERE A PURGE? Some suggest this is part of a purge, and there does seem some of that. Lieberman’s present status and political plight stems from the fact that many Democratic progressives want to send a message to Democrats in Congress, party bigwigs, and to disgruntled liberal Democrats that “me-tooism” won’t work when it comes to the Democratic party. (During the early 50s GOP conservatives blasted the “meetooism” of failed GOP Presidential candidate Thomas E. Dewey). They seek to accentuate differences between the two parties. If Lieberman goes (let’s use the old Domino Theory) is Joe Biden going to be in their target next? How about Hillary Clinton (she’s probably too nimble)?
WHAT IT MEANS: Just as the Republican party in recent years has shrunk the size of its tent, some Democrats seek to shrink the size of theirs, too. You’d think that in 2024 -- a year when it appears that with a semblance of party unity, cohesive message, and careful organization - the Democrats could take back one or more houses of Congress, what do we see? Some Democrats declaring Lieberman and his kind as the first priority political enemy. Dilemma: if Lieberman trounces them in the primary, how does he get their votes during the election? And if they beat Lieberman, how will Democrats get the votes of the so-called Reagan Democrats (which in some cases were JFK Democrats)?
WHAT IT MEANS FOR CENTRISTS: The GOP has largely edged out centrists and even, some would argue, classic Goldwater-style conservatives. Karl Rove has talked about the glories of “mobilization” elections where the GOP is less concerned about getting the center and more concerned about pushing hot button issues (gay marriage, flag burning, the pledge of allegiance, and now we see immigration) to get its partisans out to vote. Democrats have -- up until NOW -- not worked that way. Those who are trying to send Lieberman to spend his golden years in the Jewish Home for the Aged versus The Federal Home for the Aged (AKA Congress) are essentially taking a page from Karl Rove’s book. The attitude is “where those centrists and those moderates who are really closet Republicans go? And who really cares?”
THE FALLACY: Moderates and centrists are NOT monolithic. You can read my blog The Moderate Voice and see a slew of people who are centrists and moderates but differ on given issues…and often strongly. Polls show the same diversity among moderates, liberals, conservatives, Democrats, Republicans. You never see a 100 percent agreement in polls on anything. If you read web logs, Lieberman is nearly hated as much as George Bush by many on the left.
THE DANGER FOR CENTRISTS: Centrists are not monolithic. And, yes, Lieberman reflects one view. But some centrists support the war, some do but have questions, some used to but don’t and some never did. Lieberman represents and defines all centrists just as accurately as Britney Spears represents and defines all singers throughout show business history. The purging of Lieberman would be a grave blow to the Democratic party as a “big tent” party. It he’s booted will the Democrats gain votes from the disgruntled left to offset moderates and conservatives who would be irked? Danger to Democrats: even moderates and centrists who don’t support the war (and don’t agree with him on that issue) could be unhappy if he’s dumped. And if he wins the primary and/or the election? Yes, it’ll show that a Democrat can be supportive of the President and GOP if he believes as they do on certain issues. And the Democrats could hold onto the moderates and centrists who might evacuate if he loses. BUT…it could lose some liberal Democrats’ votes.
SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN? (a)The Democrats’ focus is perilously off and it could get worse which will make their ostensible goal in November (getting one or both houses of Congress) more elusive. (b)Polarization isn’t just Democrats versus Republicans it’s polarization within parties where those who aren’t pure enough (in both parties) are being essentially told in some cases: “You’re either with us or against us. Totally. And if not totally, get lost.” And you know what? They just might.
