NETROOTS OUT-RAISED LIEBERMAN IN THE MAINE SENATE CAMPAIGN

The winner

This morning Congressional Quarterly published a story about the dueling fundraisers in Maine's contentious race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by rubber stamp Republican and fake moderate Susan Collins. Collins, whose voting record mimics that of Joe Lieberman on important issues from Iraq to the confirmation of extreme right judicial activists, has made a career of talking one way and voting another. She is the first of what is expected to be several endorsements of rubber stamp Republicans by Lieberman who owes his continued presence in the Senate to the strenuous efforts of Bush, Cheney and Rove after he was defeated in last year's Democratic primary.

Lieberman's fundraiser for Collins brought together lots of K-Street prostitutes who love him for his consistent willingness to sell out his constituents' most basic interests. Collins' campaign claims that Lieberman helped her raise between $120,000 and $150,000. Between MoveOn and half a dozen blogs raising money for progressive Congressman Tom Allen, Lieberman's efforts were not just countered, but turned upside down. Grassroots and netroots contributions to Tom Allen last week out-raised Lieberman and Collins by between $100,000 and $120,000.

At Blue America, the fundraising arm of Firedoglake, Crooks & Liars, Digby and DWT, the announcement of Lieberman's fundraiser for Collins saw the 50 donors explode into 187. Blue America has brought in over $5,800 for Allen so far and intends to watch closely what sorts of activities Collins and Lieberman engage in between now and the 2008 election. Although Lieberman's assistance for Collins comes in big chunks from lobbyists and corporate management, the average online donation for Tom is $34. Many people donate $5 and $10 and these contributions add up quickly to counter the Insider impact on buying off representative government.


UPDATE: WHO ELSE WILL LIEBERMAN ENDORSE?

As my pal Jane pointed out this morning, "Collins could have raised this money in a variety of ways but there is no way the netroots could have raised this money if it wasn't for Lieberman's involvement. For every TV ad or flyer Collins bankrolls as a result of this, Allen can counter with two. The negative consequences for Collins are huge. She would have come out better if she had just written Lieberman a check and told him to stay home." Gee, I'm hoping he endorses his pal Sununu next.