Mike Pernick is a friend of mine (both in real life and on Facebook), but I have to disagree with his article.
Ned Lamont is good for the Democratic Party.
We do agree on one thing: this year, Connecticut is a battleground state. On November 7, in addition to electing Ned Lamont, Connecticut Democrats have the chance to elect three new Democrats to the House of Representatives.
That’s 20% of what we need to take back control of Congress and finally put a check on George Bush’s presidential power. You’d better believe George Bush knows that too, which is why he’s coming to Connecticut this Monday, September 25 frantically raising money for his beleaguered pro-war Republicans.
Mike Pernick says Lamont is hurting Democratic chances.
He couldn’t be more wrong.
On the contrary, the Lamont/Lieberman fight over the war has gotten Connecticut’s voters and college students in particular, focused on politics and mobilized like we’ve never been before.
When progressive voters turn out to the polls on November 7, they’re going to go there to vote for Ned Lamont. But that’s not all who they’re going to vote for.
They’re going to vote for progressive Democrats up and down the ticket, and that’s going to make the difference in helping Democrats win back control of Congress. The bottom line is that prominent progressives like Ned Lamont boost voter turnout, and help Democrats.
And these Democrats are different. Unlike ex-Democrat Joe Lieberman, not one of the three new Democrats running for Congress in Connecticut supports George Bush’s failed policies in Iraq the way Joe Lieberman has. Not one supports George Bush’s extremist judicial nominees or state intervention in the Terri Schiavo case, both of which Lieberman has.
Joe Courtney, Diane Farrell and Chris Murphy are proud progressives, who are happily standing alongside Ned Lamont.
We’re not used to having important elections here in Connecticut. But this year we have plenty. We shouldn’t have to apologize for that. For once we have the power, by voting and volunteering, to veto the President’s radical agenda. We need to do our part.
Two of the Congressional Districts—Chris Murphy’s 5th District which starts in Meriden and Joe Courtney’s 2nd District, which starts in Haddam, only one town down Route 9—are less than five miles from campus.
Many in the Wesleyan community are already taking charge in this. Keith Schumann ’09 has been organizing Lamont support on campus. Jesse Young ’06, is a field director for Chris Murphy. Rachel Koteen ’00 and Charles Monaco ’00 are staffers for Lamont.
On November 7, Democrats, including Ned Lamont, will win big in Connecticut, but it’s going to be close and they need the help of Wesleyan students. Please vote, and please consider volunteering.
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