On Monday, March 13 at 4 p.m. Ned Lamont will announces his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in Connecticut in the historic setting of the Old Statehouse in Hartford.
Lamont's candidacy occurs amidst a groundswell from progressive forces over positions taken by his opponent, incumbent Senator Joseph Lieberman, whose resume includes serving as running mate to then Vice President Al Gore in the 2000 presidential race.
After analyzing the issues I wholeheartedly endorse the candidacy of Ned Lamont and believe that it holds not only the best course for propagating progressive ideals in the twenty-first century, but has been rendered necessary under evolving political circumstances. Taking this position puts me in a far different context than when I began my citizen participation in Los Angeles.
Having grown up in a Union household with my father a lifelong member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and being active in the then thriving Democratic Party grassroots club movement, my inclination has been to support incumbents, believing that to alter this pattern was to play into the hands of the Republicans, who then as now sought to spark division within Democratic ranks.
Circumstances have dramatically changed since then. To support Senator Lieberman for re-election in one of the nation's most traditionally progressive states, one that has given us such important names as William Benton, Chester Bowles and Abraham Ribicoff, is a vote for continuity of the Bush Lite agenda to which the incumbent has subscribed.
With the mainstream media leading the way, there has been a tragic blurring of ideological differences at the key moment in American history when a solid progressive agenda needs to be presented.
This need occurs in the face of an aggressive right wing Republican assault resulting in launching a war on blatant misrepresentations of fact and a trampling over constitutional liberties under the guise of fighting terrorism.
In addition, tax cuts targeted to benefit America's wealthiest citizens have driven America to the highest debt point in the history of the planet while cutting benefits from the nation's neediest and most vulnerable citizens.
This is a time for anything other than politics as usual, which the Lieberman candidacy represents with his staunch support of the Bush Administration's Iraq policy and criticism of anti-establishment Democratic voices such as Howard Dean.
An ideological line must be drawn in the sand and Ned Lamont realizes this essential fact, stepping forth at this critical moment to challenge an entrenched, well financed incumbent.
Ned Lamont's candidacy is in sync with progressive thought while Senator Lieberman pursues a dangerous "me too" Bush Lite philosophy. Lamont is worthy of your vote and support. He stands shoulder to shoulder with Americans seeking an end to the bloody continuing quagmire in Iraq.
One important point needs be made in conclusion. The mainstream media can be expected to go to work belittling Lamont's candidacy as that of a Don Quixote smashing against imaginary windmills.
Progressives with a sense of history realize that such a media strategy would have an important historical precedent. In 1968 the same point was made when Senator Eugene McCarthy launched what media insiders in the main classified as a hopeless quixotic quest when he ran against President Lyndon Johnson in the New Hampshire Primary with the Vietnam War as his key issue.
When the smoke cleared a sitting president had been toppled. With a cohesive effort the opportunity exists to supplant a United States Senator and send a message beyond the scope of the election itself that progressivism is back and will no longer accept the diet of Bush Lite promoted by the mainstream media and wealthy corporate interests.