An open letter to
U.S. Representative John B. Larson

Dear John,

We appreciate your dilemma. On most issues your position is closer to Ned Lamont’s than to Joe Lieberman’s. That not only includes Iraq, but also domestic issues such as health care, free trade, education, civil liberties, judicial appointments, separation of church and state, preserving American jobs, and more. While Senator Lieberman has supported many Democratic issues over the years, the 10% where he has supported the Republicans are of a highly significant nature, and go to the core of Democratic beliefs.

Thus, in terms of principles, the logic of your beliefs would lead you to embrace Ned Lamont’s candidacy. Yet, for some reason you do not or cannot bring yourself to do so. In this instance there is a higher priority underlying your motivation. We can only attribute it to the power of incumbency.

Remember when Senator Lieberman ran for Vice President with Al Gore in 2000 and he decided to simultaneously run for his U.S. Senate seat? John Rowland was governor and would have appointed a Republican to fill the vacant seat had the Gore-Lieberman team been successful. Joe was hedging his bets and placed self above party. His motivation was only too transparent. Once again we have more hedging with Lieberman refusing to accept the results of the August 8th primary if the vote doesn’t go his way. So much for his loyalty and principles! We do note your “disappointment” of Lieberman’s willingness to toss the party aside if he loses the primary. What we haven’t yet heard on your part is that you will support the primary winner, as other Democratic leaders have agreed to do.

It is stated in the current polls that in a three way race Lieberman would win hands down, but who knows? We can only assume that a Lamont victory in the primary would result in an unequivocal Party endorsement and mobilization for the nominated candidate. The base would insist on it and would hold the Party leadership to account. Such support, in turn would translate into other endorsements among interest groups within the Democratic constituency. So the mythology that a three way race results in a Lieberman win is, in reality, much more doubtful than common wisdom would dictate.

However, there’s a more fundamental issue at stake; namely, whether the Party establishment is willing to give credence to its base and not simply take it for granted on the assumption that it has nowhere else to go. By circling the wagons in the name of incumbency when we have a candidate who is much more akin to the grass root beliefs of the Party, you and your cohorts are exhibiting a profound arrogance that seeks to ignore what “we the people” have identified as important. If your goal is to further alienate your base, then go ahead, continue to support Joe. John, you’ve been such a courageous supporter of John Murtha. We can’t understand why you are enthusiastically stumping for Lieberman when he continues to support this immoral war and immoral President, then has the gall to scold us for being against it.

Question: Is the power of incumbency and alleged “loyalty” so great that at least in this case you are willing to sacrifice your OWN principles in your support of Lieberman? Have you become that mired in such stodgy Party thinking that, notwithstanding your political courage in many other areas, something prevents you from stepping out for truth and principle based on your core values?

Under another circumstance it could have been you leading the challenge against Lieberman, putting principle ahead of Party loyalty. You could have been a contender and a mighty one at that. Yet for whatever set of “play it safe” reasons you chose not pick up that mantel. To his vast credit, Ned Lamont did. If you cannot bring yourself to support him even as Ned and you are exceedingly close on the major issues of the day without contradiction, at the very least you can get out of the way—that is, until August 8th when we will then need and expect your support to assure a Lamont victory in November.

John, this is your base. The soul and future of the Democratic Party hangs in the balance.

Sincerely,

George Demetrion
Pam Bergren
Dan Durso