At the presser following today’s WalMart rally, Jane says that Joe Lieberman claimed to the press that he had returned the WalMart PAC money that he had previously received as a campaign donation in this past election cycle.
If that is so, it would require that a form be filled out and turned into the FEC regarding the change in status of the donation. And yet, there is no form that I have been able to find in the records saying that there was a return of monies of any kind.
So, I went to Maura of MyLeftNutmeg, who has been looking at this as well, to see if she’d been able to find anything that I might have missed. Just got off the phone with Maura, and she has found something intriguing:
Turns out the WalMart PAC and the FEC records show a donation TO the Lieberman campaign FROM the WalMart PAC. It’s dated 2/28/06 and was a donation in the amount of $1000.00 (See FEC information from WalMart PAC here.)
But the Lieberman Campaign never recorded that donation in their FEC filings. (See Lieberman Campaign FEC Info. here.) From Maura:
If you look at Joe Lieberman’s cycle summary page on the FEC web site…
Then click on the "Non-Party (PAC or other Committees)" link:
Scroll down on that page and you’ll see the contribution from Wal-Mart Stores PAC For Responsible Government. You’ll see the $1,000 listed there, but no refund listed there. There are other PACS on that page with negative numbers, presumably refunds.
Now back on the cycle summary page, click "FRIENDS OF JOE LIEBERMAN" toward the bottom.
On the next page, you can see the April Quarterly filing for 2006. Click the image link (the one with the numbers) or the PDF.
Joe’s PAC contributions start on page 283 and end on page 318 of this filing. They correspond with line 11C of the quarterly summary. His one return of a PAC contribution is detailed on page 389 (corresponds with line 20c on quarterly summary).
There are no other documented returns of PAC contributions, but the Wal Mart receipt is never detailed, either.
So, does this mean that the Lieberman campaign received the donation and returned the check without cashing it? And if so, why? Were they trying to avoid people finding out that the WalMart had donated to them in the first place? Well, that didn’t work…so why the subterfuge?
And, is this legal? Any FEC-knowledgable folks out there know the ins and outs of donation refusals and recording requirements, now’s the time to weigh in, because this just looks hinky to me. But I’m no election law specialist, so if we have someone who knows what they are talking about on election filings — or anyone that wants to do some more digging on this — I would love it.
Also, for those of you who have been thinking about going to Connecticut this weekend to volunteer for the final push, the Lamont Campaign has put together a resource page — office locations, travel directions, hotels, rental cars — everything you could possibly need to know. (Our own Siun worked her butt off on this — she’s up in CT volunteering, and doing a fabu job!)
UPDATE: Well, someone’s money is being put to use, anyway — look at the Lieberman flyer offering to pay people to knock on doors for his campaign. (via Lamontblog)
UPDATE #2: Just got this via e-mail from Maura:
I just searched all of Wal-Mart PACs reports:
And there’s NO RECORD of getting a refund from Friends of Joe Lieberman. Refunds from PACS or federal candidates are located on Line 16 of their summary reports. I found refunds from Menendez for Congress and one other committee, but NONE from Lieberman.
Plot thickens.
Are they going to claim Joe has the unchashed check in his back pocket and just forgot about it? Or it got lost in the mail?
So, no record of a refund from the Liberman campaign back to WalMart PAC? The plot thickens, indeed.
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fitz
Shoephone!
Lamont!
OOOHHH RAAAHHH, Go Jane, Go Ned, Go away Joe!
Hmm, that’s it? Joe says, “I returned it” and there is no press follow up? This is where Daou’s blog to media to pundit triangle must be impoved. We have the info — and the questions — to help journalists do their job better. There ought to be more coordination desired from their end.
Great work Christy and Maura! By the way, Looseheadprop knows a lot about this stuff — I hope she checks in soon (and to update us w/mittin’s status)
Joe is very principled in his lying.
check out Kos – http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..4247/70377 the College Republicans are coming to work for Joe, and he’s paying their food/lodging
nnnnnnoooooooooooooooo !
Steinfels and Smith can’t be this stupid — are they Lamont plants?
These FEC errors can’t be the work of professionals unless experienced people are intending to deceive — and got caught! Jeez, where have I heard about that kind of behavior in our political discourse?
Jane, I hope you’re not missing what they’re calling you over at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..26316.html
Christy, how’s the heat? How’re the housepainters? Still clothed? And have we heard from *ilson about the mailman’s cooldown?
================
Had Enough, Connecticut?
================
Am listening to NPR’s Talk of the Nation, and they just said Lieberman was coming on to talk about the CT race…
Thanks for the resource page. I’m going up Saturday and this will be very helpful.
And on the surface, it looks hinky to me also. I’m just an average citizen, not at familiar with the legal aspects.
Teddy at 7 — Jane’s on the road at the moment — between events. She said she’d phone in when she got to another stop and could update me on the doings in CT. I’ll let know know there’s a kerfuffle.
Christy, have you seen that awful graphic on Jane’s HufPo column today? Gotta get that thing DOWN pronto!
Washington Post has a long article up about Lamont:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01671.html
I was at the rally today (with a Lieberman ‘hearts’ Walmart sign, and an important looking older guy tried to convince me that Lieberman had returned the money.
Thanks for your work, guys.
P.S. Look for the sign on tonights news.
It’s a bad day for a problem, but that picture at HuffPo has got to go, and fast. Can’t anyone take it down? If it’s hosted on fdl, can’t someone here substitute a different file with the same name?
Here’s the number of people who are:
Federal Election Commission
999 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20463
800) 424-9530
(202) 694-1100
Christy, I agree with Lotus — that WAPO pic looks horrible. It is just a bridge too far and not really on point. Sorry, but it is offensive.
Use an intermediary to get the links of the records to the press. Let them see it for themselves and they will be pissed if he lied.
Reporters are human and do not like being lied to.
BTW, this seems like a major screw up by Lieberman’s people. You can’t just stamp Return to Sender on an enevelope and wash your hands of it.
I’m sort of surprised HuffPo put that photo up, to tell you the truth.
Well, darkblack just weighed in on the last thread.
I’m a huge Lamont fan, and committed Democrat. I think too much is being made of a $1000 donation from walmart. walmart has been critical in keeping inflation low in the US, and has been unfairly targeted by labor activists.
Ouch. My brain hurts from trying to remember how this worked. I know that there was a ton of paperwork involved to comply with FEC. I was never a treasurer of a campaign, but I helped treasury committees log some contributions if things were either really busy for them (sign of a good campaign) or really slow (sign of a baaaaaad campaign). Man, that was 26 years ago, and I definitely didn’t deal with PAC level contributions, just the Average Joes.
I seem to recall that every donation had to be recorded–who, when received, etc. Even if denied or returned for NSF. I didn’t work on any that didn’t record it all.
Or maybe I just worked on some campaigns that were unusually meticulous (*cough* HONEST *cough*) about the money issue.
the cute letter-carrier delivered the mail today early without my usually-alert pitbabies letting me know … I was so looking forward to helping that uniformed man beat the heat today …
OK, that picture at Huffpo was uploaded from FDL — any way to replace/retrieve/TREX? This will undermine Jane’s work a lot.
I’ll bet a hundred bucks Jane did not know that archived graphic was being used today.
I just looked at the HuffPo post, which is great except for that image. I notice it is hosted at FDL . . . my advice would be to replace it ASAP.
about the $1000 from WalMart that Joe said he didnt get — sounds like somebody has got him explaining that despite all the talk, no, he does not fuck goats!
EPU’d. And chiming in on a speedy ixnay on the aphicgray.
***
Hey all from Russia. Logging in from the roof of my hotel, 10pm and the sun has not yet set, even though it’s August and not White Nights.
TRex I sent you a little something for the team :) from the Scottish lassie. I know you will use it frugally to help the good guys win.
Two of the four sick babies in the ICU got better and were discharged to the ward. That left space to do two operations: yippee! One was a regular newborn, the other weighed 1.5 pounds, not a misprint. The heart was the size of a grape.
Thirteen year old Boris is slightly better today, still very sick but better is an improvement over the other options. Still ask for your prayers and positive energy–thanks.
Perhaps Lieberman used the Wal-Mart donation to help remodel Katherine Harris’ house, and that’s why it never got entered in his FEC filings…
There’s about to be a blackout in my town so I can’t be on for the rest of the afternoon, but if you look at WalMartPAC’s disclosures, there are NO records of refunds from Friends of Joe Lieberman as far as I can see. Could some of you double-check my research while I have no power?
Here’s the link to WalMart PAC’s filings:
http://images.nictusa.com/cgi-…..?C00093054
Refunds from federal candidates should be on Line 16 of their reports. They sent out the contribution in February. I see no record of refunds from Lieberman in any months up to their last (july) filing. I do see refunds from other candidates like Menendez for Senate, but not Lieberman.
Thanks for all the sleuthing going on in the FDL community! I knew I loved reading Trixie Belden (the poor girls’ Nancy Drew) for something!
:-)
Jenny from the Blog @ 19
My two cents on the HuffPo image:
It doesn’t matter what Lieberman has done or not done.
To hand your opponent a loaded gun pointed at your heart is just a mistake.
Doesn’t matter why.
This isn’t about running from controversy.
This is about getting Ned Lamont elected.
Focus!
I have some experience with FEC financing — in my opinion, if the LieberAccountants did not cash (deposit) the check but returned it intact to WalMart, it would not have to be reported. If it were cashed but then returned, it would have to appear on the books. If WalMart got the uncashed check back intact, it should have been so reported on their report.
Right now, there’s a $1000 WalMart check floating around, publicly unaccounted for…
I’m finding the knee-jerk reaction to the picture of Lieberman in blackface with Bill Clinton very interesting. I thought it was on point with Lieberman’s recent action with the flyer implying that Lamont is a racist and/or race opportunist. Had it been used with that post I think the ironic graphic commentary would have been clear. Perhaps the reaction is due to the fact that it didn’t fit with the post it was paired with. Context is everything.
puppethead @ 27
or Alligator Bag’s face, in which case WalMart was, in all fairness, due their $1000 back, after all….
immanentize @ 23
This will undermine Ned Lamont’s work!
*ilson, Christy, I am begging you both — can you do something about the Huffpo image? Either through technology or persuasion. This really is no good.
I think everyone should call Joe’s guy and sign up to work these last few days, and get lodging and pay from Joe’s campaign funds, but when you go out to canvass, play Stephen Colbert and support Joe in such a way that voters will vote for Lamont.
Is that too Rovian? Methinksnot.
DemFromPhilly at 11:19:
So you don’t have a problem with a candidate appearing at a rally against Wal-Mart labor practices while taking contributions from them? If you think they’ve been “unfairly targeted” then obviously you wouldn’t have a problem with the contribution, but do you have a problem with the rally appearance?
It’s not the money, it’s the hypocrisy, and whether you can trust a candidate who says he supports your cause not to stab you in the back once the election is over.
Blackface brings up unbelievable amounts of racist baggage, even worse than tar baby references. While darkblack may have an artistic justification for it, it’s an abject failure. The picture is the point of discussion and not what Jane wrote. The picture is supposed to support the writing, not overshadow it.
With all apologies to Darkblack, satire is a wonderful thing, but in political campaigns satire can be thrown back at the creator.
Read up on this from the Republican Party/RSNC regarding Steve Gilliards attempt at satire.
(Snip)
Steele Is Still Waiting For An Apology After The DSCC Linked To The Offensive Blog Portraying Him In Minstrel Makeup. “Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a Republican trying to become the state’s first African-American senator, is demanding an apology from Sen. Charles Schumer – over an Internet link to a blog that includes racially based attacks on Steele. The blog, run by Steve Gilliard, who is himself black, portrays Steele in minstrel blackface and calls him ‘Simple Sambo.’” (Deborah Orin, “Chuck ‘Sorry’ Sought Over ‘Sambo’ Slur,” The New York Post, November 4, 2005)
(End)
The issue will change from Joe Lieberman to Ned Lamont and Jane Hamsher and “racist imagery”.
Remember the 11th hour Francine Busby issue when she was misconstrued as advocating that “immigrants” should vote. That was a minor flap used to club Busby in the final hours.
http://www.nrsc.org/newsdesk/document.aspx?ID=1232
-GSD
witchywoman — this isn’t about free speech, it is about electing Ned Lamont.
When that graphic is grabbed by the Lieberman campaign to smear Ned Lamont as a racist, there will be no mention of the context in which it was posted.
Dangerous stuff. And never good at the very last minute in any election. Not enough time for damage control.
Right now, there’s a $1000 WalMart check floating around, publicly unaccounted for…
Or maybe $1000 of unaccounted for WalMart money floating around Joe Lieberman’s campaign, with only a few tensy weensy strings attached.
If so, this will the blood in the water moment the media has been waiting for . . .
. . . and your little dog, too @ 32
Of course little dog — you are so right — and notice how I conflated the two? I will not be the only one….
The Huffington Post graphic urgently needs to go. No white person can do images like that. Indeed, I don’t think even Gilliard could do that.
fwiw, I have already tried to poke around in the machinery of FDL but I do not have sufficient powers to deal with that troublesome graphic lurking like an HIV virus somewhere …
witchywoman @ 31
This is not about understanding art or irony.
This is about getting Ned elected.
Nothing more, and nothing less.
Ned has run a flawless campaign. He doesn’t need this.
lotus at 11 — I have absolutely no control over whatever is on HuffPo. I don’t post there, so I wouldn’t even know how to begin to do anything with a post on the site. Aside from the fact that it isn’t MY post…I told Teddy above I’d let Jane know that folks had issues when I talk with her next — she’s on the road between events at the moment — and I’m afraid that is the best I can do from here.
It would take 2 seconds to change that picture. All someone has to do is upload a new one (or a blank) to the fdl site with the same name as the one at HuffPO.
2 seconds. Jane and Ned will thank you later.
The image is hosted at firedoglake, admins should be able to delete it.
Alterman is on Franken lecturing us that we are being cannibalistic.
I was curious about the picture, so I looked, and boy, was I horrified. Please, take that picture down now! What are you guys trying to do – destroy your own good work????
This is the link to the image at HuffPO.
http://www.firedoglake.com/wp-…..7f8a3.jpg.
If you replace the original with another, it will change at HuffPo.
Sorry to be so terse, but someone needs to take action!!!!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 44
The picture is actually on the FDL server, not the HuffPo server. When you load the HuffPo page it links to the image on the FDL site in the uploads/2006/08 directory. All you have to do is nuke the local jpg or replace it.
I totally think it would be a good idea to point out that Lieberman’s campaign is paying for lodging, food and transportation for out-of-state college Republicans to help with his primary – talk about out of touch with his base! There goes all his talk about being a ‘real Democrat’ and ‘not being GWB’
Remember the daring raid yesterday against Baalbek? Well it turns out that the 5 Hezbollah fighters captured were “low level” if that. One was a 60 year old grocer. Two others worked in construction. You have to wonder if one was picked up simply because of a sick sense of humor. Hussein Nasrallah has the same name as the head of Hezbollah although they are not related in anyway.
Well was the raid worth it? Israel’s military chief Halutz seemed to be putting the best face on it. As reported in Haaretz:
“None of those seized were high-ranking Hezbollah officials, however, as the IDF had hoped. Halutz said Wednesday that the soldiers had not aimed to take any individuals in particular, but rather to demonstrate that the IDF could reach any part of Lebanon.”
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/745276.html
This is an example of yet another Israeli “surgical” strike gone awry. Among the collateral damage:
“A missile hit the house of the village’s [Al Jamaliyeh] mayor, Hussein Jamaleddin, instantly killing his son, brother, and five other relatives.”
Snip
“A family of seven — a mother, father and their five children — were killed in another air raid on an area near Al Jamaliyeh, witnesses said. A van driver was killed when another missile struck nearby.”
http://www.usatoday.com/news/w…..htm?csp=24
But hey, at least the IDF got to show that it can rain meaningless destruction anywhere in Lebanon. Meanwhile another mindless rain was also falling. 215 rockets were fired into Israel. It was the heaviest bombardment to date.
Religion and ideology have nothing to do with this. It’s about testosterone.
pleasepleaseplease. Can Jamie get it done?
RIGHT NOW:
NPR Talk of the nation is taking calls right now to Joe Lieberman. He will be a guest.
You can call in and ask questions!
hoping something can be done quickly about replacing the graphic. blackface imagery is radioactive territory. this can really hurt. especially on the day when al sharpton and jesse jackson are making public appearances for the lamont campaign. would be awful if they were asked to respond to this.
DemFromPhilly @ 19
Wow. Did we all just fall off the truck? A Wal-Mart supporter who thinks we’ll buy that self-proclaimed progressive Democrat stuff.
Sorry, but that’s like putting together Pat Robertson and Anton LaVey.
puppethead @ 52
Hey, folks — FOCUS!!!
The graphic is unhelpful, but the story of the day is Joe Lieberman and the Where is Walmart’s campaign donation?
One thing is a mistake by an overzealous volunteer — mea culpas will mitigate the damage.
The other is a HUGE story — Joe Lieberman takes cash from Walmart, and cannot account for it on the day he chooses to denounce Walmart.
Can Joe say there are no other WalMart donations we don’t know about? Donations given by managers, and Walton family members?
ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTTAAAAACCCKKK!!!!!!
Also, a short cut would be to find the image on the fdl server in the images folder and just delete it! Then there will be no image at huffpo.
Uh… Jane and Darkblack are making Drudge’s front page right now…
LIEBERMAN IN BLACKFACE AT HUFFINGTON BLOG…
http://www.drudgereport.com
-monk
Gang — it is JANE’s post. Not mine. And I’m not yanking anything without talking to Jane about it. So you are all just going to have to wait until Jane gets somewhere that she can talk, capice?
An image is only hosted on one place. It is not duplicated at huffpo. It “calls” it up from the FDL server. The original is in the file of images . It is easy to find in wordpress files in your server files. Just delete it for now, please!!!!!
Back to Wal-Mart – their PAC chairperson certainly should know whether (1) the check was ever cashed, and (2) if it was cashed, whether they have a record of receiving a refund.
On the HuffPo front – the whole thing makes me queasy. I understand darkblack’s rationale, but nothing that is out there at this point should need that much explantion in order to put people at ease. At this stage, everything is res ipsa loquitur.
Lieberman on Talk of the Nation by phone now.
I agree ck, but one shouldn’t create obvious openings for counterattacks at the same moment we attack. This is what focus looks like — taking care of all the stupid details at once. I wish LHP and Mary were here. They are so articulate at times like this.
Christy,
Would ” Hinky HoJoe” qualify as new coinage here at FDL?
…or would it be considered feeble political discourse?
Larry
Christy — I understand that you don’t want to step on any toes, but the image can always be put back up again if Jane really wants it there.
Monk @ 60
We capice, Christy. With our heads spinning. I just hope she’ll check in soon, though the damage is already done, according to monk.
Jonathan Alter is a middle-of-the-road boob. His advice boils down to “don’t rock the boat.”
In my experience, freaking out doesn’t actually help a situation *g*. It does fan whatever flames there may be though, so let us keep the conversation on topic despite our worries?
Anyone for toast?
Christy,
Jane would want this down now. Make a judgment call on her behalf and please do it now.
Dru @ 70
Yes, please, I’ll have mine with valium.
Doanmindifido, Dru. Who we toasting?
I like toast.
Just take it down, write a post apologizing on Janes behalf. Don’t. Be. An. Idiot.
Well, at least now Drudge will be able to gloat that he caused Huffpo to change its image — if it ever is….
*ilson:
I think that floating check scenario is exactly why most of the campaigns I worked on recorded everything they received, even if they refused it–just to prevent any chance that the money wasn’t going where it was supposed to.
But also like I said, I worked on a lot of idealistic campaigns. We couldn’t have one whisper of anything hinky about the money, because the media would have pounced on it. They really don’t like do-gooder campaigns, you know.
Surely, Immanentize- yellow or blue?
timewarp:
What are you so worried about? Chill.
Drudge is giving free publicity. People are going to read the article which makes Lieberman look like the loser that he is.
Monk @ 61
I’ll bet it will be on Hardball tonight, too.
I am just sick about this.
Good grief, I can’t believe there’s even an argument about that damn picture. Take it down! It’s toxic.
Christy, with all due respect, not doing anything with Jane out of reach is also a making a decision. If fast action is taken, this can blow over with mea culpas. I am thinking a Mel Gibson hornets nest could come out of this. And especially not good with Jackson and Sharpton in CT campaigning!
Christy,
Sometimes you just have to make a judgment call. You need to take it down immediately. Jane can restore it if she wants to, although I would bet anything that she will choose to keep it off the website.
Make the call, make it now, delete the post.
they won’t read the article. the image is over playing the words.
Since nobody seems to have stated the bloody obvious, I will. The Lieberman campaign got the Wal-Mart check but decided to hold onto it and not report it until they could see how the winds blew. Maybe they forgot about it, or maybe they held it to see if he was going to win nomination easily, and cash it then. If not, they’d hold it until after the primary. But WalMart reported it.
I want to guys to know that if stupid, insensitive, stupid graphic damages the campaign in any way, this blog and Jane will never recover. You will take the blame, and deservedly so.
The image should be removed and a disclaimer and apology posted ASAP. Jane may also need to back away from the campaign.
This is too important.
puppethead @ 71
He says Democrats need to act more like Republicans and support Lieberman no matter what. Horseshit. Any Republican who acted against the party the way Lieberman has as a Democrat would be gone in one election cycle. Hagel, Snowe, Specter, Shays, they all fall in line when push comes to shove. Alter in a typical Establishmentarian with a severe case of Beltway opthalrectalitis.
Dru @ 78
I am old fashioned — I like the blue ones with the “V” cut in the middle. I once had a friend in Texas who went down to Mexico and bought a BNCH of those. She put them on one of those elasticy strings and made a necklace — just like the banana candy kind. Very pretty and so useful!
It’s officially a DRUDGE pic now so killing it here won’t kill it there…
http://www.drudgereport.com/lieberman.jpg
Asking Joe about whether he signed the letter.
Does not support deadlines for troop withdrawals. Goes back to Bosnia and rationale for troop withdrawals.
Congress should not be directing generals in the field.
Anger from the left blogosphere – he’s not an inflammatory person, believes in civil discourse, that’s been his manner on Iraq, now talking about his progressive voting record.
Said Clinton told him it was nutty for Dems to be attacking each other.
Ned Lamont jeapordizing the Senate seat as well as the House seats.
Question: shouldn’t Dems be calling for a cease fire in Lebanon. Answer: on matters of policy shouldn’t be partisan. Believes in the current policy – UN enforcement and peacekeepers. Calling it another battlefront in the war on terror – victory there leads to victories in other places (my comment – NFW).
Question: Lieberman supporter. Agrees with Ned Lamont on some things but doesn’t think he has enough depth on foreign policy. Answer: his experience v. Joe’s – that’s the choice. Committed to protecting American security. Elections are about the future – more than one issue.
cocogirl @ 80
Up until now, that Joe meme of how much hatred is coming from Lamont’s side has had absolutely nothing to back it up and was laughable.
All that is changed, now.
cocogirl @ 79
I am worried about Ned Lamont’s campaign. The “free” publicity will not be good publicity.
This. Is. NOT. Good. For Ned Lamont or the people of CT or for America for that matter.
Guess how many people are reading about Joe Lieberman taking Wal-Mart money?
Guess how many people are seeing the Ned Lamont campaign being tied to “rabid leftwing bloggers” who are “racially insensitive”?
(Snip)
VISITS TO DRUDGE 8/02/06
013,839,885 IN PAST 24 HOURS
325,409,916 IN PAST 31 DAYS
3,526,325,881 IN PAST YEAR
-GSD
I like darkblack’s image and I hope it achieves its purpose.
Is anyone helping Maura with her task during the storm? I’m not equipped to do so, but I hope someone is.
Christy, this is your blog with Jane. I support your decision. You know what’s right here, and you have my complete confidence.
CHS @ 63… I totally agree with you christy.
Now is the time to start formulating a plan to respond to this and turn lemons into lemonade. An apology, a well worded mea culpa… something.
But that graphic has to go.
I just made this ned vs joe graphic for Jane a couple nights ago, it’s fresh and unused:
ned vs joe
Do keep in mind that it is standard operating procedure for the GOP to find anything—anything—with which to create faux outrage and derail their opponents. This picture was an easy thing for them to use, but it would be something else. Overreacting will make the GOP slime work better. Stop talking about this stupid mistake and keep to the issues.
I is like Busby, Lamont has been a Cinderella candidate. The Press loves to show Cindarella’s dirty undies. And show again and again and again.
The picture so fits into the “out-of-touch rabid lamb vicious hate monger” meme that everyone will front it for days.
Do what Mel Gibson did — apologize fast and often. I agree with EllenG — depending on what happens in the next news cycle, this may have really hurt Jane’s ability to be with the campaign.
Update on the post just added — turns out that WalMart PAC hasn’t recorded any return of their donation either. Hmmmm….
More Lieberman:
Question – how does he win over the undecideds? Answer: talking about the bus tour. Aims to focus on Joe, not anger at Bush. Encouraging large turnout.
NED ON NOW!!!
Question: why is election close? Answer: that’s what people tell him. Turnout is important. Do we want to change course and invest in America again.
Washington not reserved for career politicians. Started and ran his own business – lots of real-world experience.
Message to establishment on Iraq? More than just Iraq – health care, energy, environment. How we work with the rest of the world.
Joe’s Independent Run a mistake? Ned hearing a lot from people about Joe wanting it both ways.
Funding if Ned wins – will DSCC sit out. Ned thinks Dems will come together and support the primarty winner.
“It’s 95 degrees – and politically, it’s not cooling off!”
End of interview
one small blessing is that Arianna will be taking the static over at HuffPo…
LJ/Aquaria @ 82
Exactly. I can’t believe it stayed up there after the first FDLer noticed it.
I think I’m going to puke.
I’m not an American.. so I’m not familar enough with the historical background on why this image is causing people to fret so much on here (though I am sure it will be explained to me).
I would state however as I did on the last thread that I think DarkBlack should at the very least go over to the HuffPo thread and explain his reasons for using the photo (I’m presuming Darkblack is also African-American which is why he posted this photo to display his strong feelings on the topic).
. . . and your little dog, too @ 103
Gotta agree here.
Look. We are all human and we make mistakes. I am not blaming Jane or Christy or anyone. What I am saying that when a mistake is made, it is always best to act fast to minimize the damage.
Not talking about a problem doesn’t make it go away. Smart strategy is to identify a problem and address or neutralize it stat.
John Kerry didn’t talk about the goddamn Swiftboat shit and it helped to destroy him. Destroy his campaign.
This is all so unnecessary.
-GSD
Monk, I like your graphic, but why is Ned’s plane pointing down? It should be pointing upwards.
Anyway, this comment thread disproves the meme that dangerous lefty bloggers and their brainless follows always march in lockstep!
Nasty comments over at Huffpo about the picture. Does not look like anyone is reading the post.
I am really afraid this will be the Busby miss translation blown up ….. it can then be used in November by the ReThug or Leiberman too….
No comments posted on HuffPo, or at least not mine. Prolly swamped, eh, Arianna? Drudgebots everywhere. heh heh.
Jim @
106
I have to agree. I don’t want the image to become a red herring to distract Lieberman’s smoldering campaign.
Republicans are such whiners !
There is comment moderation at HuffPo. Obviously none are getting through becuase none are positive.
I don’t even know what point the picture is trying to make?
The Lieberman campaign got the Wal-Mart check but decided to hold onto it and not report it until they could see how the winds blew. Maybe they forgot about it, or maybe they held it to see if he was going to win nomination easily, and cash it then. If not, they’d hold it until after the primary.
Nope, FEC law is very strict. I think it is something like 5 days from the time you receive a donation to when you can report it. You can’t just hold on to a donation, you return it, or report it.
I am in tears now.
How could anybody let this happen to Ned’s campaign? He doesn’t deserve this. The people of CT and the USA don’t deserve this.
Please do something about this now.
Surely Jane has a cell phone?
katymine @ 111
UGLY thought about November…. Another reason to get some damage control plotted quick.
depending on what happens in the next news cycle, this may have really hurt Jane’s ability to be with the campaign.
Part of that potential damage will be the result of any postings here that send the wrong/negative message. The article is good. More people will read it and the image will carry that message to more people. Damage control begins with having the good sense to not create any at the start. I can interpret that image in a way that is less negative than most of the opposition voiced so far has. Maybe not my first choice, but not a disaster to panic over. The image shows a pandering Joe Lieberman in a way that many people can understand without the baggage of racist intent. Shocking? Yes, but not necessarily bad.
Huffpo comments…..
“Shocking? Yes, but not necessarily bad.”
Why take the chance?
Don’t do this to Ned.
Jane is not running for office. Ned Lamont is. The graphic is a problem, but it is Jane’s problem.
Still ought to come down.
Alice Marshall @ 122
Drudge, Tweety, et al will make it Ned’s problem.
There is no upside to this.
I won’t say what other political disaster that picture reminded me of. I can’t. That disaster is like the MacBeth of political campaign images, and just saying it will bring bad karma.
Anyway, conservatives can do outrageous bullshit and get away with it, but any–ANY–slip, or even perceived slip, by progressives will be blown WAAAAAY out of proportion. This is the way things are for now. Until we get the narrative going our way again, we have to be more careful, because progressives get more mines in their path to trip over.
Maxine Waters is way cool !
I suppose it’s too late to ask that we restrict discussion of “The Picture” to the last thread?
We all know what the Wurlitzer is going to do here.
Because we know that nuance and good intent is what has ruled the electorate in America for the last 6 years. Not simplicity of imagery and demagoguery.
Egads.
Perhaps we can get a Ned endorsement from Mel Gibson too.
-GSD
FYI, my friends in two different newsrooms just got emails tipping them off to the Huffpo image and drudge Report.
The electronic media is run by conservatives. FoxNews invents a scandal, Tim Russert picks up on it and says things like “people are questioning…” “there’s a lot of talk about…”
I am in tears now.
Calm down. Get away from blogosphere. If you are in CT, make some phone calls, you will feel less helpless. Also, if you do some voter contact work you will realize that most people don’t read blogs.
This is a problem for Jane, one she will overcome. This is a minor nick for Lamont, something that can be overcome with continued focus on the campaign.
Oh, for hell’s sakes people. I just spoke to Jane. I don’t know what she is going to do — but the bitching at me has to stop because I cannot cut off a pix attached to HuffPo. Sorry, I know some of you are upset or pissed or whatever, but I’m doing the best that I can while managing the blog by myself today, dealing with my house painters, my nervous barking dog and a billion other things. It’s the best that I can do at the moment…
“Jane is not running for office. Ned Lamont is. The graphic is a problem, but it is Jane’s problem.”
I wish that this was so. But it is not. Jane = Bloggers. Bloggers = Ned.
DemFromPhilly @
20
Wow, that is such a tranparent falsehood or utter naivete that it just boggles the brainpan.
Christy,
I would consider dumping this thread. Just sayin.
Hang in there, Christy!
OK, I admit, I care about how this will impact Jane. I know, she’s a big girl and all and we will ALWAYS have her back….
But many many people at RedState and other rightwingy blogs have been looking for any and every excuse to cut her up for her great work around Ben Domenech. The sick thing about right wing bloggers is that they have powerful parents with money and contacts and can amplify small mistakes into very large deals very quickly.
Everyone should expect some righteous condemnation from our allies in the leftosphere as well. It will help set us apart from the lock-step right.
The image is no longer up at huffpo.
Christy, I wouldn’t take everyone’s angst personally… it’s not directed at you.
People/supporters of FDL and Lamont are genuinely concerned.
Everyone is operating with the best intentions.
-Monk
Alice Marshall @ 131
This isn’t about who reads blogs. This will be all over the MSM.
the pic is gone at HuffPo …
LAMEST CONGRESS.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/…..index.html
Lou Dobbs calls Congress on the rug for despicable, mis-leading/mis-representation of the best interests of working men/women in the US of A.
Be interesting to find out how/whom voted from both sides of the aisle.
DISGUSTING.. we need a new party and new life in the Government.. we are owned by the corrupt corporations and the corrupted government that sits today!
Jane should be far, far smarter than this. But I really don’t see why folks here are overreacting. There is good context behind the picture.
But Jane has to address it. Explain the full context, and move on.
“The image is no longer up at huffpo.”
But DRUDGE ’saved’ the pic. We’ll see what happens.
Christy, I am so glad to hear you got in touch with Jane. I am sorry if you feel you are the target, because you are not. This is real, heartfelt, passionate concern you are reading (at least from me) and I am sorry if it has come across as bitching.
Waiting for the TRexing to begin…
I would NOT dump this thread (though dumping the pic is something that should happen). If anything it is proof of our differing opinions, no lockstep here, and in case it becomes an issue for Ned it also shows where the responsibility lies.
TeddySanFran @ 96
I agree!
Immanentize #90- sounds lovely; I’d like a three strand blue one with yellow accents!
Christy, you’re my hero.
Yea gawds! We Dems surely are the party of public hand-wringing. Always playing our doubts in public doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. I’d dump these comments, too. Everyone is leaving Repub fodder at this point.
Regarding the donation, it may have simply been returned in the second quarter which filing may not be up yet because as most returns go they’re usually filed at the end of the month following the quarter’s month end.
take a deep breath everyone..it is 95 outside, it is Wednesday August 2..how many people who vote will really notice/care about this grain of sand (THE PICTURE) in the vast dune of campaign info-blare..just get your people to the poles next week and do the basics well..good luck next week.
for what its worth, I have been swatting the trollerie scurrying over here to gloat …
To quote Mr. Spock;
“Fascinating”.
. . . and your little dog, too @ 140
Not if Jane gets on her keyboard wind writes up a heartfelt mea culpa and makes it clear that the Lamont campaign had nothing to do with it.
If that happens, a story will instantly become a non-story.
Christy — for the record, I was not nor am I angry. Just very concerned. Genuinely so.
thank you *ilson; it must be extra swampish today!
SharonW — the 2nd quarterly reports at the FEC are already filed and posted online…
Christy, you’re not the target. We’ve just been down this road so many times before. We know what’s going to happen, and we’re concerned. That’s all.
Cocogirl: It doesn’t MATTER about the context with the other side. They don’t CARE about context. Only how they can exploit something with the barest whiff of scandal. I wish that wasn’t the case. But it is. This is what the progressive side faces in the current political environment.
paul @ 153
True…true…(he typed hopefully)
..but we are now and for the foreseeable future held to a higher standard by the MSM, and we have to remember that and play accordingly.
boadicea @ 135
So one cannot be pro-Walmart, and still be a Democrat. correct?
For the record, I am pro-choice, care about the environment, universal health care etc. Having said that, I don’t really care about labor unions. If you don’t like Walmart, don’t work there, and don’t shop there. (nobody is putting a gun to your head).
*ilson46201 @ 152
Bless you, *ilson; and you, too, Christy.
The anxiety you heard was from love of Ned (and all he stands fo) and from love of FDL . . . at least from me.
It’s a DRUDE problem now cause his link doesn’t include the pic as advertised! LOL
!
*ilson-
You are a GOD!
Christy,
Hang in there, you’re doing a great job!
Actually, the image is up on the HuffPo’s page of old Jane comments. Better get that one down, too.
I’m surprised Jane doesn’t leave her cell phone “on”.
Another post got etherized:
Christy, I am so glad you got in touch with Jane and I know you are doing the work of four people every day. Please do not take what I (or others) have written as an attack — it was for me just plain passionate, very real concern. If it sounded like bitching I am really sorry. I never want to be another problem for you.
If there are BlunderBusses barrelling along at 90mph, I’m just as glad Jane’s phone’s off.
*g*
DemPhilly, haaahahaaaa. That’s hysterical. Thanks for contributing.
Praying you are right.
I have to agree, Walmart’s stuff is, like, gross anyway, it’s much cooler if you shop at like PierOne or Crate’n’Barrell, or even Target for a goof or whatever. And….work at WalMart? Shaaaaa! get an internship or go back to grad school. Or if your parents have a pool or something cool, move back home for the summer. Nobody is putting a gun to your head.
Cozumel @ 161
Ha ha ha. I wonder if any of those golden boys know how to get screen shots?
I spoke to soon. It’s back..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..26316.html
I don’t think a ‘mea culpa’ is necessarily necessary, just an explanation, ’cause the whole thing made little sense to me.
Jim 170,
You are so on the money!
Click on the button on the post that reads
“Read all posts by Jane Hamsher” and there that picture is again, screaming at you, “Nooooooooo!”
rat bastahd @ 148
agreed. this thread also shows the instant recognition that the image was not appropriate. [sorry, db. edgy satire with race as content is a near impossible needle to thread].
i doubt drudge et al. will let this go. i’m hoping the story that the Lieberman campaign is paying [food/lodging] for college republicans to campaign for him will take top honors today… and beyond.
*ilson46201 @ 156
Ah, and no mention there either? Okay, sounds odd then. You don’t think he could have just returned it in July when this meeting was arranged? Nah, Joe do something a little slimey…not possible. :)
new thread
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..-a-relief/
Though I agree that the picture should be taken down, I think folks can calm down a bit. Hell, Joe Lieberman hasn’t answered for that damn flier, has he? I know people are looking for anything to “get” Ned on, but this will not be it. He had nothing to do with that picture.
It’s like Byron York the other day saying us lefties are anti-semetic because of ONE DIARIST at Kos. In the age of the internet, the politician CAN NOT be held responsible for what supporter say on the internet.
This is not to say that the right will not make an issue of this. But guess what, the right HAS NOTHING to do with this primary, Democrats do.
Attempting to channel Punaise:
ne nourriez pas les trolls
*ilson46201 @ 22
Do those dogs often work against your best interests like that, *?
I’m constantly amazed at the contrary behavior folks tolerate in their animals.
Picture is back up at Huffpo.
Christy, from day one that I heard Jane’s interview on the Charles Goyettes radio show here in Phoenix, I have been here at FDL. Over and over again, I think all of you do a heroic job.
Great research, wonderful snark and adding the guest posters and broading the community has been so great. Because we are part of the community, we do what members of a community do, look out for each other, take care of our fellow person.
Now in that spirit, sit down for a minute, put your feet up and have a glass of ice tea and know that many places in the country is warmer than it is in Phoenix today(99 in the shade) and know that we care.
Why is it back?!!!!
I just don’t understand these tubes.
Um, trying to keep this over here on this thread, but why do I still see the image at both Huff and Drudge? I’ve refreshed Huff a dozen times and it’s still there.
I hadn’t previously been to the Drudge and it’s there also upon refreshing.
Maybe Jane made the decision to keep it up and explain later?
*ilson46201 @
22
Well, if you’re on a part of the route that’s close to the scan point, your chances of providing some, er, relief are a bit higher. Especially the one for the lunch break…
I’m staying on this thread too. I’m pretty freaked out, and can’t seem to concentrate on the other thread. I wish there were some resolution.
I hope you’re right immanetize. I really do.
Okay, now it’s gone from Drudge anyway.
Here’s hoping Mel keeps sucking up MSM airtime.
Or should I say, ” ‘ere!” My treat. :)
SharonW @ 190
I just checked, it’s there.
http://www.drudgereport.com/
I’m guessing that since the graphic is hosted on FDL’s servers, the rush of Drudge directed wingnut views at HuffPo explains not only the image periodically not appearing there, but also the trouble I’ve had getting in here in the last hour.
immanentize – That’s what I’m thinking, (that maybe Jane’s made the decision to keep the graphic), and I trust her judgement calls.
timewarp @ 189
I would understand why she would do that now — when it got into Drudge circulation, the issue couldn’t be disappeared. It might even make th eproblem worse. No matter what, it will have to be addressed — perhaps Jane will write: “I fully support the message of this image, but it was the wrong image for this post, now here is my post that goes with that image ….”
That way, there can be no complaint that something is being swept under the rug and Jane will have another, perhaps a more widely read, crack at Lieberman and the Inside-the-beltway Democratic Incumbancy Machine.
Drudge is a total idiot. I guess he didn’t realize that Jane’s article slammed Lieberman bigtime.
He’s taken down the pic now. I guess Lieberman’s folks called him up because they were worried about Jane’s slam dunk piece on HoJo.
It’s gone again!!! Perhaps she tried to take it down and it didn’t quite work the first time around.
What might help is to relocate the image to the end of the piece, where it might have more context for those who might have actually read it.
Just hope this is not the Sunday that Timmeh gets a hankerin’ for biscuits and decides to give Joe the benefit of incumbency. Ned should, at a minimum, have read Jane’s piece and be prepared to direct the discussion to the substance, and see if Joe can respond.
This wasn’t an “I-approved-this-message” campaign piece, and Ned has nothing, really to apologize for.
could have used this harmless lieberman pic
heh
Still here, though….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-hamsher/
I have mixed feelings about the picture. It is definitely what my father would refer to as “strong stuff” – which he says usually in reference to some art or literature that deals with very difficult themes. In particular, I remember him saying that about an art book that (in some pictures) contained humorous but (ahem) explicit drawings. Also, about JG Ballard. In both cases, Dad felt obliged to recognize the difficulty and harshness of the work without discounting the larger or artistic issues raised by the work.
I believe this picture is in a similar category. The fact of historic blackface performance and the associated societal structures and issues, generate an entirely appropriate visceral horror in many people. The dehumanization of an entire group of people is nothing to be taken lightly or mocked.
Because of this, most people make it a practice never to invoke or depict blackface. performance. I was going to say there is another side of this coin – which is that the historic practice of blackface performance and the society that created it should never be forgotten. In fact, though, there is a third issue. The horror of blackface performance, jim crow laws, and the abysmal treatment of black americans by their own country and countrymen is not solely an issue for black people. It is relevant to all humans and all societies. Just as any genocidal movements are relevant to all humans, not just the targeted group. What was done to one group yesterday, may be done to another group tomorrow.
One way to keep individuals and societies armed against the horrors that society is capable of is to permit the meaning (and evolution of the meaning) of historical events to grow and continue to evolve within society. Blackface perfomance happened, it was a fact, but now it means something. It means degradation. It means betrayal. It is a mirror held up to a distorted and poisoned perception of one group of people by another.
I don’t know if I entirely agree that the actions of Senator Lieberman amount to a betrayal of his supposed allies. I don’t know if his relationship to the Democratic party is one of fleeting convenience, just a veneer covering other alliances or mere power-hunger. I don’t know if his votes with regard to affirmative action and women’s issues, taken in contrast with his rhetoric, amounts to a proclamation that he is only interested in black folks and women as bodies to be condescended to at voting time.
If it does, then depicting him in blackface is a way to put that across, especially because it is such strong stuff.
Thank god the image is gone from HuffPo.
I couldn’t even read Jane’s post, the picture was so blood-chillingly vile and, what’s worse, substantively pointless. The racist potrayal is utterly without metaphorical or satirical merit. It has no discursive value; its sole purpose is to mock, shock, and offend by plunging a dagger into one of the most hurtful wounds in the American psyche and soul.
I’ve been commenting for days that it’s a mistake to overplay the racial angle in this race. Now my concern has come to life in a rather awful way.
After spending the past few days making hundreds of phone calls to CT voters from the Lamont campaign office, this is a depressing development.
I’ll be attending two Lamont events tonight featuring Revs. Jackson and Sharpton in Bridgeport and New Haven; I’ll poke around and try to do some damage assessment.
Peace.
JWR – 127
“I suppose it’s too late to ask that we restrict discussion of “The Picture” to the last thread?”
How I admire and share your optimistic nature!
Been manically scanning posts & comments for the past several days in between unusually heavy work schedules and resigned I’ll never get completely caught up anytime soon with the essential FDL.
Yet allow this old newspaper brat to counsel calm and deep breathing for fellow firepups who are quite alarmed by the graphic on Jane’s Huff post. Drudge and his like minded trolls will continue their smear campaign and FDL can handle and survive and grow and triumph just as Ted Lamont and his campaign demonstrate day in and day out.
I’m just saying in Jane and Christy I trust.
Anne Holliday – I’m just saying in Jane and Christy I trust.
‘Nuff said.