By Karen Ocamb

At times during the July 6 one-hour debate in Hartford, Conn. Sen. Joe Lieberman looked downright annoyed that well-financed upstart Ned Lamont was making the three-term incumbent fight for the Democratic nomination in the Aug. 8 primary. But Lamont has become the national darling of anti-Iraq war bloggers and Democrats craving candidates who “stand up to” President George W. Bush.

Lieberman, a staunch supporter of Bush’s war efforts, tried to distance himself from the president. "I know George Bush. I've worked against George Bush. I've even run against George Bush, but I'm not George Bush," Lieberman said, paraphrasing the late Sen. Lloyd Benson’s famous vice presidential debate line against GOP Sen. Dan Quayle. Lieberman also repeatedly used Ronald Reagan’s famous “There you go again” jab at Jimmy Carter.

Lamont, who announced he was not a “traditional politician,” was clearly nervous, though he also seemed angry and energized. "In Washington, we're making a lot of bad choices right now," Lamont said. "And Senator Lieberman, if you won't challenge President Bush and his failed agenda, I will.” When Lieberman rudely interrupted Lamont, the former Greenwich selectman and founder of a telecommunications network quipped, “This isn’t Fox News, sir.”

Lieberman’s Democratic loyalty was also questioned since he announced that he will run as an independent if he loses the primary. “I'm a Democrat with a 35-year record,” Lieberman said. “I voted with my Senate Democratic colleagues 90 percent of the time, and when I have disagreed, I have had the courage of my convictions to say so. That's who I am. That's who I have been.”

Lamont said Lieberman should “make up his mind. Are you a Democrat or are you an independent? If you're going to run as a Democrat, play by the rules, stick with the Democratic rules as I have ... Or if you want to be an independent, run as an independent, but you can't have it both ways.” (See debate transcript at www.washingtonpost.com.)

Lieberman also noted his support from the Human Rights Campaign, which “wouldn't have supported me over you if they didn't—be able to say that since the 1970s, I have been fighting to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation.” HRC confirmed that they support Lieberman because of his opposition to the federal marriage amendment and his strong voting record on LGBT issues (see www.HRC.org) and they will continue that support if he runs as an independent.

Other LGBT activists oppose Lieberman because of his strong support for Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative, including the right of religious organizations that receive federal tax dollars to discriminate against gays. Lieberman also opposes marriage equality. “I think marriage is and should be a special status conveyed by society that should be reserved for heterosexual marriage,” Lieberman told the New Haven Advocate Jan. 5, 2006.

Lamont endorses marriage equality. “I think if two people want to get married, let them get married,“ Lamont told blogger Pachacutec, posted on www.firedoglake.com May 26, 2006. “I strongly oppose the constitutional amendment that’s been bandied about every election cycle in Washington, D.C., outlawing the right of two people who are in love to get married.”

Longtime openly gay politico Rick Jacobs, whose couragecampaign.org has been pushing Lamont, says bloggers will play a significant role in the mid-term elections. “If you want to know the influence of the online community, ask Joe Lieberman,” Jacobs told IN. “Netroots and grassroots will have an enormous impact. The key is generating voter turnout from online activism.”