Do posts advocating Lieberman running as an Independent violate DU rules?

Thoughts? I say yes, because it violates the rule against advocating non-Democratic candidates, it's just in a hypothetical sense. But the sheer offensiveness of the position should make it disallowed.

Because advocating that Lieberman run on the Independent ticket is done from the perspective that its in the best interest of the Democratic Party for him to do so. Especially since Ned Lamont appears to be a progressive Democrat who would better represent the interests of Democrats in CT.

I took it to mean "would support Lieberman if he ran as an independent" - which I think would break DU rules. You seem to take it as "would rather Lieberman didn't run as the Democrat (so we get a better Democrat)".

If that's the case, they'd probably be in better company at IndependentUnderground.

man from party membership. Why even let the Dems in his state have a primary then. Just force feed him authoritarian style and get it over with.

As such I'd say it would be against the rules.

Skinner wrote a piece saying Schumer and the DSCC seem about to break one of the basic rules of DU by advocating the Independent run. That really is the bottom line here - once there's a single Democratic candidate for somewhere, you don't advocate someone else over them, even if they have policies a lot here like. So you couldn't support Nader over Democrats, and you shouldn't support Lieberman over an official Democratic candidate - though people are still allowed to say they want Lieberman as the Democrtaic candidate (not that I'd predict a lot of agreement for that here).

whether DU is the democratic party right-or-wrong,or whether it is an advocate for democracy in general wherein any qualified candidate can be welcome for critique and/or advocacy.

I'm not a Lieberman fan and I don't appreciate his manipulation of the democratic leadership by threatening (threat only) to run as an independent and split the vote.

However, I would appreciate the spirit of all voices being welcome, again, with the knowledge and expectation of criticism where warranted. Even DINOs.

If the post advocates actually voting for Lieberman as an independent, then clearly it violates the rules.

But if the post simply advocates letting him run so that a vote can be cast for a more palatable Democrat then I don't see a problem.

I think not and I think the answer is that we work within the party here.

....does not violate DU rules because the democratic convention hasn't been held yet. The written and unwritten rules at DU say we can talk/debate whatever candidates we want- yes even the neocons:puke: - until after the Democratic National Convention. At that point we get behind whoever is the Democratic Candidate.

So, if you don't like Lieberman then don't reply to any threads/polls/etc on Lieberman. And please - even though I don't personally care for Lieberman's politics - I don't want anyone telling me who and what I can debate.

DU is the latest of the "free speech" protectors - so let's keep it that way.

:rant:

NT

DU rules say:

Democratic Underground may not be used for political, partisan, or advocacy activity by supporters of any political party or candidate other than the Democratic Party or Democratic candidates.

We have the same type of contest going on in the 9th Congressional race in Massachusetts - incumbent Lynch vs. progressive Democrat Phil Dunkelbarger. Lamont is a Democratic candidate, so I'm guessing the Lamont/Lieberman contest is fair game.

I'm under the impression that folks are starting to push for progressive Democrats. By most measures, the Lieberman / Lynch stance on the issues do not warrant continued support. Neither champion our cause nor our values. (Well, as least mine.)

I'd lean toward "yes" but not yet.

Democratic Underground may not be used for political, partisan, or advocacy activity by supporters of any political party or candidate other than the Democratic Party or Democratic candidates. Supporters of certain other political parties may use Democratic Underground for limited partisan activities in political races where there is no Democratic Party candidate.

Once there's a "Democratic candidate" in that race DU shouldn't be used to advocate for any third-party candidate. I guess that would be after the August primary.

constriction of ideas and input.

Hence, the less effective DU is overall. The more you exclude other people's viewpoints is the moment you blind yourself to reality, IMO.

I support, volunteer for, and contribute to Ned Lamont but I think it is important to debate with pro-Lieberman Dems at this point. If Lamont wins the primary and Lieberman goes Independent, that's a different story. We do have folks here arguing that we should keep Lieberman as an INdependent if necessary because we want him to caucus with the Democrats. I don't think much of that argument but I like having all these ideas out on the DU table so their merits can be discussed. It's healthy, IMHO, at this point in the debate. AFter the primary, we'll see...

...but since Lieberman is not an independed candidate, I think the admins' position would be "no."

For the record, I want Lamont to win. I simply support the DSCC and Chuck Schumer's decision to back Lieberman. I do believe that supporting the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) both fall within the rules of Democratic Underground.

you never actually supported Lieberman becoming an independent, just apologized for others doing so.

Coulda fooled me.

:eyes:

Obviously only Mr. Skinner and Co. can decide the matter, and should it arise after the primary results are in, a policy will doubtless be determined and communicated, and the Moderators will enforce it, whatever it may be.

In a circumstance where the national Party organs are backing one candidate and a state Party organization is backing another candidate, it would seem supporters of both candidates would be able to make a reasonable case they were backing a Democratic candidate. Such a circumstance would be different from one in which the winner of a primary enjoyed the backing of all levels of the Party organization, and a disgruntled loser chose to make an independent run, relying on his own personal machine only: in that case, the matter would be quite clear, and fit cleanly into our standard rules.

It is certainly my hope Sen. Schumer, should Sen. Lieberman fail in the primary, will back the choice of the Democratic voters of Connecticut for election to the Senate. That is the right thing for him to do. Indeed, if he fails in the primary election, Sen. Lieberman should do the right thing, and congratulate Mr. Lamont, declare his complete support for the victor's candidacy, and do everything in his power, which still would be considerable, to secure Mr. Lamont's victory in the general election.

Nuff said

If DU allows people to do so, they will be breaking their own rule.

You are supposed to email the admins.

well this has been up all day...

maybe they're asleep at the switch