Democrats' Lieberman Letter: Apologize
Connecticut Democrats want Sen. Joe Lieberman to apologize to President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden for comments he made during the campaign criticizing both men and questioning their ability to govern.
The request was made in a Jan. 16 letter from Nancy DiNardo, chairwoman of the state party, on behalf of the Democratic State Central Committee.
"We hope and expect that you will work constructively with the new Democratic president and Congress, and will give your full and active support to the Democratic agenda to help enact the policies and reforms so badly needed to get America headed in the right direction," she wrote.
Some top Connecticut Democrats, angry with Lieberman over his public support of Republican Sen. John McCain for president, originally wanted the state party to censure the senator. But after much debate, they decided DiNardo should write Lieberman a letter outlining their concerns.
The one-page letter chastises the longtime Democrat, who won re-election in 2006 as an independent after losing the Democratic primary, for speaking at the Republican National Convention on behalf of McCain.
It says Lieberman's appearance undermined the efforts of Democratic candidates in Connecticut and across the country.
Lieberman, the Democrats' nominee for vice president in 2000, plans to respond to DiNardo's letter. It was unclear whether he'll issue an apology.
"Sen. Lieberman believes that this is not the time to look backward, but rather to unite behind the leadership of our new president to address the challenges facing Connecticut and our nation," said Marshall Wittmann, a Lieberman spokesman.
"Sen. Lieberman agrees with what President Obama so eloquently stated [Tuesday] that we must put an end to the politics of recrimination -- now is the time for unity, not for division," he said.
Lieberman and DiNardo met privately late last month, shortly after the state central committee agreed to send him the letter. DiNardo had called the meeting "very thoughtful and productive."
The state Democrats' letter also criticizes Lieberman for supporting controversial pastor John Hagee, a Texas evangelical preacher who has referred to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and called it a "false cult system."
"Your support of Republican candidates and of the views of Rev. John Hagee sent a message that you supported the failed policies of the past and supported views that are considered at best anti-Catholic and anti-gay," according to the letter. "These allegiances represent a fundamental deviation from the values that our candidates and supporters of the Democratic Party hold dear."
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AP | SUSAN HAIGH | January 23, 2009 07:26 PM