Monday, September 04, 2006

Trouble in Newtown?

Joe Lieberman marched in Newtown today in a parade that was largely peaceful.

Largely. The Courant says the following:
There were no boos from the crowd for either Lieberman and Lamont Monday, and supporters for each cheered lustily as their candidate passed. There was a minor scuffle between a Lieberman supporter and a Lamont backer and police were called in, but no charges were filed. (AP)

However, some blog sources say that the incident got a bit ugly:
The ugliest moment came when during this same press conference one of the Liebergoons attacked a man holding a Lamont sign while the same man was holding an infant child probably no older than six months. The Liebergoons ripped up part of the Lamont sign. Liebergoons attacked another man holding up a Lamont sign during the same conference. I can accurately report, having witnessed these events, that several of Lieberman's goons initiated physical contact with Lamont supporters but NO Lamont supporter did that to a Lieberman supporter.

Joe was standing there and the cameras were rolling when Joe's goons attacked two Lamont supporters. Had Joe any decency he would have told his staffers to knock it off but JOe continued on in his press conference.

No way to verify just how accurate this report is. Can anyone who was there verify?

But it seems to have passed pretty peacefully, otherwise.

Source
"Lieberman marches alone as former allies surround Lamont." Associated press 4 September, 2006.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was at the parade and across the street from where Lieberman was holding his press conference. He (along with his wife and some supporters who had marched with him) was surrounded by reporters at the end of the parade route in front of the new yellow building at the corner of Queen and Church Streets. This occurred after he finished walking the parade route. I did not see every second of the incident, but I did see a couple of Lamont supporters crowd into the press conference and try to move closer into the area within which Lieberman was standing. Lieberman's supporters took exception to this and tried to push them back. After that there was a minor skirmish; but not nearly as hostile as has been reported. In fact, I think cooler heads did prevail. I certainly do not consider a ripped lawn sign to be a sign of a significant skirmish.

As to the characterization that Lieberman's people "attacked" Lamont supporters, I think that is inaccurate, overstated and very biased.

In my opinion, fault lies with both parties. Lamont's supporters should have respected Lieberman's press conference and not tried to "crowd in" as a candidate should have his space. Moreover, I'm sure Lamont had a press conference and Lieberman's people did not crowd in on it. At the same time, Lieberman's people could have tried to get the Lamont people to back up in a less confrontational manner (perhaps they did but I did not see it).

BTW, I have no dog in this fight.

Anonymous said...

Please, consider the source!

The guy dresses up as George Bush and follows Lieberman around with various signs - get a life. But, even he admits on MLN that Lieberman was a gentleman to him.

But here is his report on Kos, where he sums it up by saying: "All in all it was a bad day for Joe Lieberman as his supporters were few in numbers, the behavior of some of his marchers despicable, and Lamont was pure class and well liked by the crowd."

This guy obviously has never been to the Newtown Parade and knows squat about the town. It doesn't matter how many outsiders you bring to march with you; true "supporters" are the ones watching the parade who will be voting for you. Newtown is a Republican leaning town - Bush won in 2000 & 2004. Lieberman had many more "supporters" amongst the crowd and he will defeat Lamont in town easily.

Anonymous said...

I was at the parade as well. I saw the Lamont supporter in question and he definatley looked like he was eager for a fight. However, he did not try to interrupt Joe's press conference vocally and did indeed have a baby in his arms. The Lamont supporterd didn't need to be there, but this is the first time I've seen a Lamont supporter anywhere near a Lieberman press conference, though the same cannot be said vice versa.

I remember seeing a few Lieberman people tailing Lamont at the end as well.

All in all, fault on both sides.

Authentic Connecticut Republican said...

TrueBlueCT said...
What amazes me is how quickly CT R's have abandoned one of their own in favor of the turncoat.

Just goes to show we were right when we insisted Lieberman wasn't a reliable Dem.



Bunk.


Lieberman is a liberal and we know it.

That said, we don't much care seeing as he's also a hawk and so are most Republicans.

Alan's support wasn't strong to begin with if you recall; but at least he wasn't Paul Streitz so we nominated him.

Most of us would prefer Alan to Leiberman; however Lamont scares the dickens out of us so most of us will wind up voting for Joe as a block to Lamont.

Authentic Connecticut Republican said...

I gotta give you credit Chris; you're a nicer guy than I am.
Yet the Lamontistas want to complain anyway I see.

In 1982 after Rome/Labriola played around with the rules at the GOP convention and walked out with it (over Dick Bozzuto) I had Lew Rome march in the Southington Apple Harvest parade behind horses. About half way through he decided he'd be better off in a car.

I had him so deep in the parade there was no way he could cut & run to his next event that day.


Ah.....it still warms my heart when I think about it...........

Anonymous said...

This is from the Danbury News Times article today regarding the parade and the supposed scuffle at the end. My guess is that this is an accurate depiction of what occurred:

"At the end of the parade -- as Lieberman held a small news conference -- there was a small spate of ill will.

Dan Barrett, of Hamden, insisted on holding up a Lamont sign amid the remaining covey of Lieberman supporters. Patti Loughman, of Newtown, sitting nearby, thought that was ill-mannered and told Barrett so, repeatedly. The two exchanged words, then Barrett told Loughman to "Shut up."

At that point, Loughman's husband, Pat, reached in to grab Barrett's sign and there was a flurry of shoving and grabbing. Because Barrett was carrying his child as well as a Lamont sign, his wife, Lauren, cried out to protect the baby and was in tears afterward. The scuffle broke up when Newtown police intervened."This is what happens to Lamont signs when you're around Lieberman people," said Barrett, holding his badly-torn cardboard rectangle."What's he doing carrying a baby in a place like that anyway?" Patti Loughman said. "That's what I told him. What a whack job."

Anonymous said...

I was at the parade as well. I saw the Lamont supporter in question and he definatley looked like he was eager for a fight. However, he did not try to interrupt Joe's press conference vocally and did indeed have a baby in his arms. The Lamont supporterd didn't need to be there, but this is the first time I've seen a Lamont supporter anywhere near a Lieberman press conference, though the same cannot be said vice versa.

Ahhh, yes a baby in his arms. Trying to provoke the opponent while holding a baby. Right from the Hamas/Hezbollah handbook.