Wall Street Journal Applauds Lieberman's Decision

Today's edition of the Wall Street Journal contains a nice contrast to both the opinion piece contained in yesterday's Journal-Inquirer (thanks to the Connecticut Local Politics Blog) as well as Sen. Hillary Clinton's recent statement that she will not "stand by her man." The op-ed begins:

"Joe Lieberman's announcement Monday that he'll run as an independent if he loses the Democratic nomination is a remarkable commentary on the mind of the Democratic Party these days. A three-term Senator who was on his party's national ticket in 2000 is in danger of being drummed out of respectable Democratic company.

Mr. Lieberman may still win his August 8 Connecticut primary against millionaire and antiwar Democrat Ned Lamont. But the Senator feels unsure enough that he has taken the political risk of saying he will begin to collect the 7,500 signatures he'd need to file as an independent if he loses. A political neophyte, Mr. Lamont has nonetheless been adopted by antiwar Democrats, who see the contest as a way to purge national security hawks from party ranks and are pouring money into the contest."

The piece concludes:

"Connecticut's Senate race may turn out to be the most important election of the year. If Democrats drive Mr. Lieberman from their ranks, they will be sending Americans a message that George Soros and MoveOn.org dominate their party. This is all the more reason to applaud Mr. Lieberman for declaring that he won't easily be pushed from the Senate, whatever party banner he has to wave."