It’s Joementum, GOP-style:
It’s been the subject of whispered conversations among top Republican officials for the past month. Now, U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, R-4th District, has let slip the secret: GOP officials have discussed cross-endorsing Democratic Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman this fall.
In an interview today with the editorial board of The Advocate of Stamford, Shays said he intends to vote for Lieberman and is encouraging a Republican endorsement of the three-term senator. [...]
The remark was not immediately reported by The Advocate, but it set off a flurry of calls among Republicans who have been gauging support for the idea among GOP candidates, including Gov. M. Jodi Rell and U.S. Reps. Rob Simmons, R-2nd District, and Nancy L. Johnson, R-5th District.
One GOP operative who was aware of the discussions said premature public disclosure of the possible cross-endorsement probably would kill the idea. That seems to be case.
By Tuesday evening, spokesmen for top Republicans publicly distanced themselves from the possibility of backing Lieberman, who faces a Democratic primary over his support of President Bush and the war in Iraq. [...]
“Their position on the war can’t be closer,” said Michael Sohn, who is Shays’ campaign manager. “They both voted to go into Iraq, and they both support staying until the job is done.” [...]
“We’re not surprised that there are people within the Republican Party that would think about endorsing Joe. He clearly is George Bush’s favorite Democrat,” said Tom Swan, Lamont’s campaign manager.
Yep,
Anytime the Repus are on the ropes, old “stab ‘em in the back” Joe can be counted on to slash the throat out of any proposal that smacks of honesty.
Why vote Democrat in Conn ?
Time to bring the mole in from the cold and claim him as their own, just as they did when Zell Miller lost his usefulness undercover in the Democratic Party.