LIEBERMAN BASHERS - EMBRACING THEIR INNER NADERITE

Jeff Hauser, acting upon the self-destructive instincts that plague the Dems, continues his ad hominem attacks on Joe Lieberman (D-CT). The latest round of Lieber-bashing is based on Lieberman's foolish support for loosening accounting regulation. In retrospect, this decision, coming out of the "New Democrat" handbook of taking pro-business positions was a major mistake and demonstrates that in the current climate there is no where left for Dems to triangulate on regulatory issues. Hauser, however, has a visceral dislike of Lieberman that simply can not be explained by his policy positions. It is Lieberman's public religiosity and his willingness to seek common ground with cultural conservatives on issues such as media violence and church-state relations. The record, however, shows that Lieberman (unlike other nominal Dems such as Breaux & Miller) has been rock solid on core Democratic issues.

(Note: Interest-group ratings range from 0 (never vote the groups' position) to 100 (always vote the groups' position)).

Economic Issues: For all of Hauser's accusations that Lieberman is a pro-business sell-out, his ratings from the business lobbying groups is quite low. He scores range from 8 to 11 for the Business-Industry PAC. He scores higher for the Chamber of Commerce (43-60), but is still quite moderate. Organized labor, on the other hand was much happier with Lieberman's voting record, giving him scores ranging from 80 to 93. On the critical issue of taxation, Lieberman refuses to pander to the fundamentalist tax-cutters, who gives him scores below 10.

Social Issues: NETWORK, the National Catholic Social Justice Lobby gave Lieberman scores ranging from 78 to 82. In the past term, Lieberman's voting record has received a 100 from the Children's Defense Fund and the League of Conservation Voters. The NRA gives Lieberman an F for his solid support of gun control.

Cultural Issues: It is in this area, that Lieberman is considered to be the most conservative. However, on the two critical issues of abortion and gay rights, he stakes out distinctly liberal stances. He receives a 100 from both NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and 100 from the Human Rights Campaign. The Christian Coalition gives him scores from 9 to 15, and the Family Research Council presents him with a big 0. So where does Lieberman's cultural conservative reputation come from? From his breaks with the ACLU , who give him scores from 25-57 over the past number of years.

Joe Lieberman, far from being drummed out of the Democratic party, should be embraced as one its most visionary leaders. Lieberman combines a non-dogmatic liberalism on economic and social issues, with a sensible centrism on cultural issues (for real family values, as opposed to anti-gay and anti-feminist positions that masquerade as "family values"), and a much-needed idealistic hawkish position on foreign affairs. Liberals that demonize Lieberman, might as well go all the way to Naderism - ensuring the continued irrelevance of liberalism in American politics.