But then Gerstein posed "a question" for Lamont.
How could he expect to convince "moderate Democrats, Republicans, and most importantly, unaffiliated voters" that he "would be anything other than a rigid partisan rubber stamp in the Senate," the Lieberman spokesman asked, "when the only proof of his independence he can show is that he is slightly to the right of socialist Bernie Sanders on fiscal policy?"
"Why should anyone outside the Sharpton/Kos wing of the Democratic Party believe Ned Lamont will represent their views in Washington?" he added.
Gerstein had associated Lamont with three figures on the left: Sanders, the self-described socialist congressman from Vermont who caucuses with the House Democrats; the Rev. Al Sharpton, the New York civil rights advocate and former Democratic presidential candidate; and Markos Moulitsas Zuniga, founder of Daily Kos, one of the liberals' most popular political weblogs.
The Lieberman aide's e-mail came the same day the Waterbury Republican-American editorialized about "Ned's true colors," describing the candidate's great-grandfather, Thomas W. Lamont, as not only chairman of J.P. Morgan but "the sugar daddy for the American Communist Party," and his uncle, Corliss Lamont, as "an unapologetic Stalinist and atheist."
The newspaper also suggested that Lamont has "surrounded himself with people who may be characterized fairly as dedicated socialists and borderline communists," and noted that "race hustlers Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton" had stumped for his victory.
Good Lord! Calling Ned Lamont a communist because of his great-grandfather is like calling Joe Lieberman a drug dealer because his father sold liquor.
DangerStein tried the propagandist's time-honored ploy of deniability vis a vis the Rep-Am smear, but it's clear as the smarmy smile on Joe's face that this is all part of a well-coordinated campaign of character assasination.
This race is going to get very, very, very dirty. And the shame will be entirely Joseph "Mr. Honor and Integrity" Lieberman's.
What a sad, sad end to a political career that was once marked with hints of greatness.
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