Sunday, July 16, 2006
Hi-Sen: Stopping the Next Lieberman Before He Enters the Senate
Hawaii isn’t exactly a conservative state. Sure, HI has a Republican Governor, but so does Massachusetts. Liberals comfortably serve the state well with little fear of sloganeering like those facing the “L” word in southern states used to get.
So how is it that proud conservative Congressman Ed Case has any traction at all? Why does he think he has a shot to challenge a fellow Democrat in this year’s primary for Senate?
Every new thing I learn about Ed Case proves to me that he is the classic American DINO - a Democrat in Name Only. He’s essentially created the reverse of the Lamont/Lieberman primary in CT by challenging Senator Akaka. Here’s the Case against Ed Case:
Ed Case endorsed Joe Lieberman for President in the Hawaii primary of 2004. Lieberman dropped out before the Hawaii primary even took place, so then Case did switch his endorsement to Kerry. Members of Congress, should they choose to, automatically get a vote at the Convention towards their party’s nomination for President. It’s not uncalled for that a member will endorse one candidate for president over the other, despite the fact that they are not a super-early primary state. But campaigning for Joe Lieberman in Hawaii? Doesn’t jive to me.
Ed Case is a proud DLC’er, just like Joe Lieberman. Despite the DLC distancing themselves from him in this Chris Bowers post, Case is a member of the New Democrat Caucus on the Hill, the official caucus for DLC-supporting Democrats in Congress.
Ed Case is trying to appeal to Republicans in his primary for Senate, just as Joe Lieberman did in New Hampshire in his primary for President. Ed Case called Senator Dan Akaka an extremist for simply being a liberal, despite the fact that he is a voice of reason and represents the voters of Hawaii well. He is trying to appeal to Republican voters, who can choose whichever ballot they want on Primary day. He is hoping many republicans will pick up a Democratic ballot and vote for him. The active primary to replace him in the House might complicate that, as might the fact that there is a more viable Republican candidate for Senate now in Jerry Coffee. However, Ed Case cannot win a primary if only Democrats vote in it. He can only win if Republicans pull that D ballot and vote for his DINO self. Joe Lieberman was hoping for the same trend on Election Day in New Hampshire, where the independent-minded voters could choose either the D or the R ballot for the Presidential Primary. Did not work out so well for him, though.
Ed Case has significantly differing views on Iraq, rubberstamping Bush’s war in Iraq every chance he has had, just like Joe Lieberman. and
Ed Case, like Joe Lieberman, has quite conservative National Journal ratings for a Democrat representing a more liberal state. (See here and here.)
Contrast all I say about Ed Case with this, the text of Senator Akaka’s new TV Advertisement, which you can watch on his website:
I believe the progressive blog world would be doing a great thing if they took a strong stand for Akaka, and stand strong against this challenge from a DINO like Ed Case. We cannot let him beat a good incumbent like Akaka, especially if Lamont wins. If Lamont wins, yet Case does as well, then they will cancel each other’s votes out just as Lieberman and Akaka have, meaning no net gains for progressives. I think it helps the karma for taking on an incumbent (even a bad one) by supporting a good one who has his own primary challenge. The law of universal averages.
You can support Dan Akaka here, and here.
So how is it that proud conservative Congressman Ed Case has any traction at all? Why does he think he has a shot to challenge a fellow Democrat in this year’s primary for Senate?
Every new thing I learn about Ed Case proves to me that he is the classic American DINO - a Democrat in Name Only. He’s essentially created the reverse of the Lamont/Lieberman primary in CT by challenging Senator Akaka. Here’s the Case against Ed Case:
Ed Case endorsed Joe Lieberman for President in the Hawaii primary of 2004. Lieberman dropped out before the Hawaii primary even took place, so then Case did switch his endorsement to Kerry. Members of Congress, should they choose to, automatically get a vote at the Convention towards their party’s nomination for President. It’s not uncalled for that a member will endorse one candidate for president over the other, despite the fact that they are not a super-early primary state. But campaigning for Joe Lieberman in Hawaii? Doesn’t jive to me.
Ed Case is a proud DLC’er, just like Joe Lieberman. Despite the DLC distancing themselves from him in this Chris Bowers post, Case is a member of the New Democrat Caucus on the Hill, the official caucus for DLC-supporting Democrats in Congress.
Ed Case is trying to appeal to Republicans in his primary for Senate, just as Joe Lieberman did in New Hampshire in his primary for President. Ed Case called Senator Dan Akaka an extremist for simply being a liberal, despite the fact that he is a voice of reason and represents the voters of Hawaii well. He is trying to appeal to Republican voters, who can choose whichever ballot they want on Primary day. He is hoping many republicans will pick up a Democratic ballot and vote for him. The active primary to replace him in the House might complicate that, as might the fact that there is a more viable Republican candidate for Senate now in Jerry Coffee. However, Ed Case cannot win a primary if only Democrats vote in it. He can only win if Republicans pull that D ballot and vote for his DINO self. Joe Lieberman was hoping for the same trend on Election Day in New Hampshire, where the independent-minded voters could choose either the D or the R ballot for the Presidential Primary. Did not work out so well for him, though.
Ed Case has significantly differing views on Iraq, rubberstamping Bush’s war in Iraq every chance he has had, just like Joe Lieberman. and
Ed Case, like Joe Lieberman, has quite conservative National Journal ratings for a Democrat representing a more liberal state. (See here and here.)
Contrast all I say about Ed Case with this, the text of Senator Akaka’s new TV Advertisement, which you can watch on his website:
This is no time for the faint-hearted, no time for the inexperienced, because this Republican White House has thrown down the gauntlet. It is highly appropriate that we remind Hawaii's voters what this war has cost our families. It is highly appropriate to ask, even in hindsight, whether this war was just and warranted. It is highly appropriate to demand of this administration a strategy and timetable for peace and how we intend to ensure a stable and Democratic government in Iraq. That’s why I need your support. That's why I need your vote.
I believe the progressive blog world would be doing a great thing if they took a strong stand for Akaka, and stand strong against this challenge from a DINO like Ed Case. We cannot let him beat a good incumbent like Akaka, especially if Lamont wins. If Lamont wins, yet Case does as well, then they will cancel each other’s votes out just as Lieberman and Akaka have, meaning no net gains for progressives. I think it helps the karma for taking on an incumbent (even a bad one) by supporting a good one who has his own primary challenge. The law of universal averages.
You can support Dan Akaka here, and here.
