Live Fact Checking of the Lieberman-Lamont Debate

My internet got cut off halfway through, so I couldn't blog it anymore. Alas.

I'm going to live-blog as best as I can.  Please help in the comments.

Or go to the Lamont online debate headquarters.

Lieberman's opening statement: Wow, this guy is coming out angry, calling Ned a single issue candidate. Lieberman claims that he's opposed Bush on privatization on Social Security. And he's talking about how much he's done for the state and how much he's challenged George Bush.

Lamont: Giving his background, talking about him being a volunteer teacher, and building a business. He talks about how decisions in Washington are not helping ordinary Connecticut voters.

The first question has to do with Iraq. How can you ask Democrats to overlook the central issue of he race?

Lieberman: My position on Iraq has been clear. He's been critical of what the administration has done after the invastion. But we're there, and we have to let the Iraqis take over, not the terrorists. He has the guts to take an unpopular position. He claims that Lamont hasn't taken a consistent position on Iraq. When you're a Senator, you've got to make decisions.

Lamont: Senator Lieberman cheered on the President every step of the way. He says that he has Murtha's position, and our very visible military presence is fueling the insurgency. This war is not a single issue, it says so much about who we are.

Lieberman: Produces piece of paper that says that Lamont has adopted several different positions on Iraq. Do you support a specific withdrawal from Iraq.

Lamont: Absolutely.

Lieberman: He says that the sooner he get out of Iraq the better, but we can't leave too soon. If you want to allow the terrorists to take over, follow Lamont's policy.

Next question: Explain the difference between your position on Iraq. Lamont: Our best hope for success is to take the very American military face off this occupation, and start taking our troops home. At the end of the day, only the Iraqis can solve this.

Lieberman: Ned Lamont's got me confused. The situation in Iraq is a lot better than it was a year ago. Two thirds of the Iraqi military is now ready to lead the fight.

Would you support policies that Bush put forward even if it meant alienating Democrats, if you liked the policies?

Lamont: Of course. But Democrats need to stand up more effectively when we don't agree.

Lieberman: Washington has become rigidly and reflexively partisan, and I am one of the Senators who can reach across the aisle and get things done. It has helped deliver jobs for the sub base, and get more money, etc...

North Korea, what's your take? What dangers do N. Korea pose to the US?

Lieberman: Firing those missiles was provocative, but we should not overreact. The Bush administration has had an inconsistent approach to North Korea. We haven't tried to talk directly to Kim Jung Il, and we should (though not now).... This is not a crisis, it's a provocation. Tough diplomacy and economic sanction.

Lamont: The biggest threat to world peace is a rogue nation that can sell nuclear weapons to terrorists. North Korea fits that profile. We need to work with other countries to deal with the situation, it is the most dangerous situation we have in the world today.

What is the support for your campaign?

Lamont: Support is grassroots support, tens of thousands who want to see Democrats take a clear stance.

Lieberman: What being a Democrat means to me is what Kennedy in 1960 said. He quotes JFK's 'bear any burden' speech, and then says that Lamont is running a single issue campaign. I can do more for you and your families. Single issue candidate is applying a litmus test to me.

Lamont: It's so important that Democrats stand up and offer a constructive alternative, and that's what the party is.

Lieberman: He's spending a lot of his own money to disseminate lies about me. Points to Social Security and his opposition to privatization. He says he looked at it in the late 1990s, and thought it was a bad idea.

Tags: Connecticut, Joe Lieberman, Ned Lamont (all tags)

Comments

11 Comments

Re: Live Fact Checking of the Lieberman-Lamont Deb

Why is Lieberman leaning back so much?

by Bob Brigham 2006-07-06 03:47PM | 0 recs
by abc 2006-07-06 03:48PM | 0 recs
Impressions (1st part)

Lamont's best moment:
When Lieberman tried to put him on the defensive with the comment about his wealth. The only thing I would have added was Lamont could have put more of an emphasis on how Lieberman tries to have it both ways - "If Lamont was truly a radical lefty, would he have been such a successful capitalist. Opposing Bush doesn't mean you are a socialist. "

I loved  a lot of Lamont's points and for a first time debater, he is looking raw but authentic. Here is what else I would have wanted him to say

  1. Iraq the single war issue and how democrats should not hold it against lieberman. Lamont should ask Lieberman why Lieberman held it against other democrats and chided them for opposing Bush. He should ask Lieberman why he continued to chide people like Dean on single issues like the war.
  2. As far as war as a single issue, Lamont should tell Lieberman, I liked Lamont's take that the war is not just a single issue as it has an effect on other issues. What I would have also wanted to hear "Lieberman, it's not like they don't agree with me on the 90% of the issues either. I can provide them with ratification of the stuff they agree with you and me on, and in addition to that these are the issues they agree with me."
  3. Seniority and the endorsements Lieberman received from "liberal groups and unions": Lamont should have rebutted by saying "look mr lieberman, we know those endorsements you received was a result of the incumbent culture in DC.
  4. When Lieberman denigrated not only Lamont but his supporters "Mr Lieberman says he wants people to respects his views, yet he denounces the views of a certain sizable segment of democratic voters. I have never denigrated mr lieberman's supporters for their choice. So who is being more inclusive here?"

Anyway, Lamont looked a little nervous at times, and had a tendency to look towards his right side a lot, but that is very understandable because of his laack of experience speaking in this format. Otherwise, he is kicking Lieberman's ass.

by Pravin 2006-07-06 03:54PM | 0 recs
Re: Live Fact Checking
substance - lamont?
style- a draw?
by bruh21 2006-07-06 04:17PM | 0 recs
Re: Live Fact Checking of the Lieberman-Lamont Deb

On style, not substance, Lieberman was the overwhelming winner in my humble opinion.  That opinion was the same as viewers during the broadcast on MSNBC according to the trailer.

Keith Olberman had a wry comment that Lamont with his $90M should have been able to afford a decent tie.  The comments on his show would have indicated Lamont won.

Again in my opinion Lamont looked the teenager challenging the wise old teacher.  Nevermind that Lieberman was lying through his teeth and using rhetorical style ala Karl Rove.

Of course the winner is played out over time.

by terryhallinan 2006-07-06 04:44PM | 0 recs
Re: Live Fact Checking of the Lieberman-Lamont Deb

At first I was worried about Lamont's style. But Lieberman came off as overly sanctimonious as the debate went on. Lieberman wasa more polished, but he had the body language of a flustered Bill Bennett on Meet the Press.

Lieberman looke very petty and this has nothing to do with my dislike of Lieberman.

by Pravin 2006-07-06 05:22PM | 0 recs
Re: Live Fact Checking of the Lieberman-Lamont Deb

You are right.  I telephoned my mother and asked her to watch the debate.  She found Joe whiny, combative, hostile and vile.

by illinois062006 2006-07-06 05:24PM | 0 recs
Re: Live Fact Checking of the Lieberman-Lamont Deb

"I telephoned my mother and asked her to watch the debate.  She found Joe whiny, combative, hostile and vile."

Could your mother be a liberal by any chance?  :-)

Joe may be hooked on substance rather than style but for the moment I was not the only observer seeing Lamont as losing the debate and I am hardly any friend of Lieberman.  I detest the hypocrite.  

More bjective observers may indeed see Lieberman as overly aggressive and defensive.  Sure hope so.

by terryhallinan 2006-07-06 06:17PM | 0 recs
Re: Live Fact Checking of the Lieberman-Lamont Deb

That is why I asked my mother to watch, for I know I would rate Lieberman unfairly.

My mother was an Olympia Snowe Republican, but she supported Howard Dean in 2004.  She leans Democratic, but she also voted for Perot in 1996.

by illinois062006 2006-07-06 06:26PM | 0 recs
Re: Live Fact Checking of the Lieberman-Lamont Deb

"My mother was an Olympia Snowe Republican, but she supported Howard Dean in 2004.  She leans Democratic, but she also voted for Perot in 1996."

Good for your mother.

This aging Vietnam veteran voted for Kerry only because of the Swiftboaters.  There was little to like about the man.  I had not voted for a major party candidate for president for decades and even then only reluctantly.  To my way of thinking, Kerry is just another corrupt hack conservative.

Lamont is a real breath of fresh air from what I can tell.  Oddly perhaps, I think much the same of a very different Jim Webb.  I bet you can make the connection. :-)

Again I hope the comments about Lamont's appeal to the Great Unwashed are right on.  I am a very poor judge of the matter.  Long ago I was bemused by the waves of enthusiasm for JFK's vapid sloganeering.

by terryhallinan 2006-07-07 02:02AM | 0 recs
Re: Live Fact Checking of the Lieberman-Lamont Deb

Yes, good for my mother, who I adore.  1996 was her first American election.

But more to the point, she felt Lamont did not have the opportunity to discuss his platform, as Lieberman, who she despises, constantly interrupted her.  Lieberman appeared desperate to her, but Lamont seemed a bit young and naive.  She prefers Lamont, but she did say she would vote for him only because Lieberman appeared very arrogant.

by illinois062006 2006-07-07 09:26AM | 0 recs

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