For the past two days, one name stands out ahead of all the other candidates for US Senator on GroundUp’s Senate race poll, John Mertens. Mertens is chairman of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party that boldly displays the following notice on their blog site:
The Connecticut for Lieberman Party (CFL) rejects the fraud perpetrated on the members of this party and the citizens of Connecticut by Joe Lieberman when he used the creation of this party to get on the general election ballot in 2006. The CFL is an independent, anti-war, anti-corruption, pro-fiscal responsibility, pro-democracy party, that stands for individual liberties and real problem-solving in government. The CFL wants everyone to know that in the United States of America, voters are free to join any party they wish, and participate in the democratic process according to the laws of Connecticut and the United States.
It is interesting that a party that was created in order to ensure Joe Lieberman was on the ballot in the 2006 election (after losing the Democratic nominee to Ned Lamont) now publicly denounces the person that the party was formed for.
In February 2009, CFL adopted new rules and new leadership, moving them as far from Lieberman as they could. Mertens became the new chairman, his task of distancing CFL for Lieberman and exposing Lieberman for manipulating the system the way he did during the 2006 Senate race, was done well and to the satisfaction of CFL party members.
CFL was also looking forward to a cross-endorsement of Senator Dodd during the 2010 election. Some members had not counted on the direction that Mertens decided to take when he announced his own candidacy in September 2009. Mertens campaign puts a wrinkle in what CFL members had originally set out to do. CFL Chairman Jonathan Kantrowitz is not happy with the direction that Mertens is taking the party:
John’s mission with CFL was to expose the hypocrisy in Joe Lieberman’s running for the Senate … for a party that had no registered voters, no by-laws, and no officers. The whole thing was a sham, and John exposed it brilliantly.
Those of us most closely identified with CFL have hoped that CFL would be around long enough to endorse the Democrat running against Joe Lieberman in 2012, and in doing so, re-enforce the history of cynical manipulation of electoral rules that so typified Lieberman’s 2006 campaign.
In order to be on the 2012 ballot, the the Connecticut for Lieberman Party needs to garner at least 1% of the vote in the 2010 Senate race. The BEST way to accomplish that is for the CFL party to cross-endorse Chris Dodd. [....]
“This isn’t about Joe Lieberman. This is about turning this party into something real,” Mertens insisted. He claims the CFL offers an opportunity to change a political system festering with corruption and ineptitude.[....]
This is not the direction original CFL members wanted to go. Under Connecticut election law, any party whose statewide candidate draws 1 percent or more of the vote in one election automatically qualifies for a spot on the next statewide election ballot. CFL was looking for a way to get that 1 percent in 2010, allowing them to run an anti-Lieberman candidate against Lieberman in 2012 on the Connecticut For Lieberman line.
On his blog site, Mertens states that “I’m different. I do not want to be a career politician. I am not a Democrat or a Republican. I’m a Problem Solver. I want to force members of Congress to be responsible, and implement real solutions to real problems.”
Beginning his political career for Senate in opposition to what his party’s mission is and splitting the party seems to clash with his commentary about how different he is.
Sad but ironic that Mertens rises up out of Lieberman’s party only to spoil the pot for Senator Dodd.
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The GroundHog
hkrempel
neurochem1
aldon
theamontanez
jonpelto
I am not sure why the supporters of Chris Dodd feel entitled to the endorsement of CFL when this may not be the wishes of the majority of the members of the CFL. A lot of the criticism of John Mertens is coming from people who are no longer members of CFL, so their say in the decisions of the party reflects their low level of commitment to the membership. A party exists to empower the collective will of a group of people, not to patronize the enlarged sense of entitlement of a few people who want everything done their way, but don’t bother to marshall support from other members with whom they are supposed to be partners.
If you don’t like what Mertens is doing, then go find some new members who will back your opinion. Or leave the party. But either way, don’t complain because a guy got more votes than you did when you did no work to support your position. Mertens saw the opportunity, and took advantage. Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Former CFL members shouldn’t be crying on our shoulder because they didn’t get their way, Chris Dodd should be crying because that is who he has left for supporters.
Perhaps you are right but the info came from the CFL Vice Chairman. Check out his blog post at http://blog.ctnews.com/kantrowitz/2009/08/28/mertens-moves-cfl-in-the-wrong-direction/ — or follow the link as noted on the GroundUPCT blog post.
Here are the election of officers in both 2009 and 2008. The gentlemen you reference is not one of them:
http://ctforlieberman.blogspot.com/2009/02/results-of-february-12-2009-statewide.html
http://ctforlieberman.blogspot.com/2008/03/election-of-new-officers.html‘
We will send invitations to every member of the CFL to attend the 2010 statewide party caucus, at which every member has an equal vote in the nomination of candidates for office. Our party rules are on our website.
Best,
John Mertens
Chair of the CFL
Some factual corrections: I became chair of the CFL in early 2008, not 2009. The previous chair was Dr. John Orman. He asked me to become chair in late 2007, and supported what I’m doing. We have been the only chairs of the party since its formation in 2006.
I am working to build a movement for calm, intelligent, non-partisan problem-solving in government. I would hope that Senator Dodd would welcome such a voice in the race.
Sincerely,
John Mertens
P.S. Please visit my website:
http://www.Mertens2010.com
I present 30 detailed position statements and solutions to long term problems.
All my best,
John
Yeah, I don’t know why people are upset that an independent party is not endorsing a Democratic candidate. They should look up independent in the dictionary.
“connecticut for lieberman” “john orman”
20,900 Google hits
“connecticut for lieberman” “john mertens”
80 Google hits
That really says it all