Republicans spin Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman's loss to challenger Ned Lamont

John Branch cartoon
Express-News cartoonist

By Ken Mehlman
Republican National Committe Chairman

In politics, there are turning points that can define a political party for decades to come. Yesterday's defeat of Senator Joe Lieberman in the Democrat primary in Connecticut is such a moment.

Because he stood for a strong national defense and victory in Iraq, Joe Lieberman was successfully targeted for defeat.

For a political party to reject a respected Senator who just six years ago was its candidate for Vice President is virtually without precedent. It speaks volumes about the new Democrat Party: if you stand for a strong defense and victory in the War on Terror, you have no place in the party and you must be purged.

Get the facts about what this means about the decline of the Democrat Party - from leadership that would "pay any price, bear any burden" to defend freedom to leaders who want to cut and run from the War on Terror, and surrender other tools needed to keep America safe.

The message from Connecticut is clear, and Ned Lamont isn't alone. He is joined by Rep. John Murtha, architect of the Democrats' position on Iraq and the man who wants to be the next House Majority Leader, who claims America is more dangerous than Iran and North Korea and says, "We've become the enemy." And by Howard Dean, who calls the idea of victory in Iraq "just plain wrong."

With 90 days to go before the election, National Democrat leaders have made their choice in favor of defeatism, isolationism, and blaming America first. Where do you stand?

Editor's note: The Republicans are touting Senator Lieberman's loss as a weapon to use against the Democratic Party.This message cannot go unanswered. We must fight back. Lieberman has also filed to run as an independent.