Damning with faint praise? Nelson = Better than Lieberman

Check out the below from one of DailyKos' most trusted contributors. It speaks well to Ben Nelson's crucial role in the Democratic Party. Sometimes, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Let's hope, fellow Democrats, that's not our case come Jan '07.

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What Lieberman Can Learn From Ben Nelson
by Armando
Sun Mar 13th, 2005 at 09:02:25 PST

On MTP, I watched Russert interview Senator Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) on the Social Security debate.

Obviously Nelson is not exactly someone I personally see eye to eye with on all the issues. In particular, Nelson's Yes vote for Alberto Gonzales as AG in the face of Gonzales' front and center role in the formulation of the Bush Administration's torture policy takes away any real support I can offer Nelson. It was inexcusable really. There were no compelling political, philosophical or policy reasons for that vote. Frankly, one can only conclude that Nelson doesn't have a problem with torture. And that vote is a moral stain he carries.

But when it comes to being an "independent" Democrat, Nelson's performance on MTP should be a lesson to Sen. Lieberman on how to do it. First and foremost, Nelson passed up every single opportunity, and Russert offered many, to criticize Democrats. Did not even nibble. Not one little bit. Sen. Lieberman, let that also be your prime directive - do NOT criticize your Democratic colleagues.

Nelson also did two other important things I thought. First, he emphasized the fact that he is representing Nebraskans when speaking on the issue, and that he sees himself as responding to their concerns. Thus, when Russert asked him about the letter from the 42 Democratic Senators rejecting Bush's plan to privatize Social Security, Nelson did not speak of what Democrats should do, rather he spoke of what Nebraskans want him to do. I find this an important difference from the Lieberman approach, which seems to require lecturing Democrats on what they should do instead of explaining what he is doing.

Second, while speaking ostensibly of keeping an open mind, Nelson spoke in a singleminded fashion on the need to address the solvency issue, treating Bush's private accounts proposal almost as a strange oddity. While he would not rule them out said Nelson, the plan would have to avoid adding to the solvency issue. Well, as we all know, Bush's privatization plan requires massive borrowing, severely worsening the solvency issue, while deeply cutting benefits. Let's face it, while Nelson mouths the words "keeping an open mind" - his focus on solvency pretty much closes his mind to Bush's proposal. While Nelson pretends not to know this, he of course does.

The most important thing Lieberman can learn from Nelson though is simply this - do NOT criticize Democrats. Do NOT carry water for Republicans. Watching Nelson on MTP provides an object lesson on how to be an "independent" Democrat without being a Republican tool. Please take it to heart Sen. Lieberman.

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