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Posted on 11/02/2009 8:25:34 AM PST by rabscuttle385
Senator Lieberman’s threat to filibuster the health-care bill isn’t a betrayal of the Democratic Party, says Meghan McCain—it’s a sign of courage. And we need more of it.
BY MEGHAN MCCAIN
A few weeks ago, I gave a speech at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and one of the questions I was asked was: Aside from your father, who are your favorite senators and politicians?
Without hesitation, I said that I admire South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and Connecticut’s Joe Lieberman. Now before my fellow Republicans start panicking at my fondness for two independent, moderate, and dare I say maverick senators, let me state that it’s no secret I have an aversion to partisan politics and extremism—on both sides of the aisle.
Recently there has been talk of a “moderate bloodletting” within the GOP, but I think it is very clear that this attrition is happening to both parties. And the extreme, vitriolic reaction by so many Democrats to Senator Lieberman’s announcement last week that he would join a Republican filibuster if a public option was included in the final health-care bill is yet another example of how this is not just a Republican problem. Everyone from Paul Begala to Stephen Colbert immediately started dogpiling on the senator. God forbid any politician from either side dares reach across party lines and refuses to placate the partisan faithful.
The older generation needs to understand that my generation does not respond well to anger, hate, and personal attacks. We are a generation of communicators, and to us, actions speak louder than loud words. Perpetuating negativity will only result in the tuning out of another generation of voters, and we simply can’t afford that. I find it especially ironic that most of those who criticize Senator Lieberman more often than not have never run for elected office. But as the old saying goes, those that can’t do, criticize.
Let’s face it, it’s easy to preach to the converted and many people have mastered the art of the negative sound bite. If I want to hear the liberal bias, I will turn on MSNBC. If I want to hear conservative dogma, I will turn on Fox. But where do people go to listen to the Joe Liebermans of the world? Where can we hear voices that dare to cross party lines, think outside the box, and say what they truly believe? If this country wants to simply be a place of extreme partisan politics, I think we are well on our way. If people like Senator Lieberman are treated with such disrespect for daring to be true to their political beliefs, there will really be no hope for independent thinkers of my generation to be inspired to join the political process.
And for the record, Senator Lieberman is now an even greater source of inspiration and comfort to me in politics.
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Why are we supposed to care what that idiot says?
... keep right on listening to the voices in my own head, the way Daddy does!
Joe Lieberman is not a Democrat. He got kicked out of the Party by the Rat Machine. He defying the Democrat leadership and got re-elected anyway. He sides with the Party on many votes but he is not OF the Party anymore.
He doesn't "cross party lines" because he's an independent.
No one is listening to you . . . since when did you become some sort of measuring stick on the GOP? Go back home to AZ and take your Daddy with you.
Please, PUH-LEASE tell me why ANYTHING this fat, future Chik-Fil-A “kow”, has to say that will EVER be of ANY consequence?
No Meghan, those who can’t just live off their parents’ money and complain...a lot.
Meghan McWho??
Figures that Meghan McLame would be in love with Lindsay Graham.
Want to take bets on when will this fatty do a lesbian kiss for more attention?
Maybe start a pool, akin to the Superbowl.
Some yaehoos need to leave her physical characteristics out of it. Is this a 6th Grade classroom? Do they like to sound like DemocRATs? Maybe some posters should go over to moveon where they specialize in that degraded stuff.
I know how hard my maid work!!
she and her worthless liberal father should stfu and register as dims... or better yet COMMIES!
LLS
Fat, bleached blondes with average IQ’s are so fascinating. I could listen to them all day.
I don't know Meghan, seems your generation went overwhelmingly for Barry 'Ceaser' Soetoro in 2008. Just sayin'
“Figures that Meghan McLame would be in love with Lindsay Graham.”
What’s not to love ... he’s a gay liberal.
Wow, this woman is stupid.
Because she speaks for a lot of people who inhabit the political center. She's quite correct about the fact that the extremes of both parties are marginalizing themselves by their antics.
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