Will elected Dems in CT sandbag Lamont?

We are coming down to crunch-time in this exciting Democratic Senatorial primary race in Connectiuct.  In addition to the excitment building to a fever pitch, all the big guns on the establishment side will be blazing in a final attempt to save their dear, entrenched Joe Lieberman.  Annecdotally, it sure appears the corporate media outlets throughout the state are doing their best to paint Ned Lamont in a less than favorable light, while highlighting Joementum acting Senatorial whenever they can.  But will it get even worse?  Will we see the establishment Dems in CT and beyond try to do to Ned Lamont what they did to Howard Dean in 2004?

Jane at FDL seems to think so:

Outsourcing Smear:  Rep. John Larson convened a secret meeting on Saturday attended by CT-AFL/CIO's John Olson (not-so-affectionately known locally as "Jimy Olson, Cub Labor Leader" for his diminutive stature) to go really, really sleazy and desperate on Ned Lamont.  Lieberman has evidently tapped local Democrats to come together on behalf of his "Kiss My Ring" party so the smear won't look like it's coming from him.

I feared this might happen.  Frankly, I'm surprised its taken this long.  But a month is an eternity in a race like this and we might be in for an ugly month.  It will be up to the grassroots and blogosphere in CT to fight back.  

One way I think we need to do this is to contact those who may be responsible and tell them we know what is going on and we don't like it.  Did this have an effect on Biden's missing the train?  Will it have an effect on Barbara Boxer's plans to campaign in CT?  I think it does and will continue to make a difference.  

Rep. Larson is my representative, and I am utterly disapointed to learn he may be involved.  I quicky fired off this letter today:

Dear Representative Larson,

As a resident of West Hartford and a constituent of yours, I am disappointed to learn of your support for Joe Lieberman in the upcoming Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat.  I am disappointed, but not surprised.  In fact, I do understand the tremendous pressure on you to support the current party incumbent, even though he has not been terribly loyal to Connecticut Democrats lately.  However, if what I am hearing is true that you are actively involved in planning sessions to orchestrate a smear campaign against Ned Lamont in the closing weeks of the campaign, I will go from disappointed to outright disgusted.  I will be straight forward with you - I fully support Ned Lamont's candidacy.  I think he would make a far better representative of the citizens of Connecticut in the U.S. Senate.  Furthermore, as evidenced by the excellent series of debates between our two fine gubernatorial candidates, a vigorous primary within the Democratic party can be informative and even inspiring.  Why Joe and, apparently, others do not recognize this fact is one of the biggest disappointments of this entire process.  Our democracy is at its best when people participate and our elected representatives engage the citizenry.  Joe appears to hide from the citizenry in a series of Bush-like invitation-only events.  He acts insulted that we even dare to question him.  Three-term incumbent or not, Joe is not royalty.  He must seek re-election and earn that support.  And we have every right to challenge him to the fullest to earn our support.  In closing, I would ask for your support for Ned Lamont both before and after the August 8th election.  I don't expect to get it, but what I do expect is that you will join me in celebrating this great exercise in democracy and not work behind closed doors to stifle it.

Sincerely...

I urge all CT residents to do the same.  Maybe write Senator Dodd as well pre-emptively, just to dissuade any thoughts he might have of getting more involved in this campaign.  Even out-of-staters can help here.  In addition to Joementum being such a lightening rod, I think part of the reason this race is getting so much attention here is because it is another important test case for people-powered democracy.  With each campaign we get better and stronger.  The lessons learned in CT this year translate across the country as we attempt to take back our government!