Opinion: Lieberman disappoints once-staunch ally

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These are hard times for the Democratic Leadership Council.

The group, which played a major role in the ascension of Bill Clinton in national politics, has seen itself and its centrist posture marginalized in party circles. This past summer, none of the Democratic presidential contenders -- even those desperate for attention -- could be bothered to attend the DLC’s annual convention. Today came another indignity: Joe Lieberman, the group’s chairman from the mid-1990s through the 2000 election, endorsed a Republican for president (as had been predicted over the weekend).

The DLC stood stoutly by Lieberman’s side during his contentious primary battle in 2006. But in the wake of the Connecticut senator’s decision to back John McCain’s White House candidacy, the DLC’s founder and guiding force responded with a simple statement of regret.

‘I am very saddened by Senator Lieberman’s choice, and profoundly disagree with it,’ wrote Al From. ‘We need to elect a Democratic president in 2008.’

-- Don Frederick