Lawless: Langevin to follow Lieberman

Campaign workers and supporters of Democratic congressional candidate Jennifer L. Lawless stood at a busy Providence intersection yesterday holding signs that had the name "Lieberman" crossed out and exclaimed: "Langevin next!"

Sixteen people stationed themselves on Memorial Boulevard near Route 95 as Lawless sought to draw a parallel to Ned Lamont's victory over Sen. Joe Lieberman in Tuesday's high-profile Democratic primary in Connecticut.

Lawless, who is challenging Rep. James R. Langevin in a Sept. 12 Democratic primary, issued a news release saying, "Last night, Senator Lieberman learned the hard way the cost of siding with Republicans instead of everyday Americans. On Sept. 12th, Jim Langevin will learn the same lesson."

"Connecticut Democrats just registered an undeniable opinion that being an incumbent and personally likable won't save you if you aren't willing to fight back against the agenda of President Bush and the Republican Congress," Lawless said. "Rhode Island Democrats are ready to register the same opinion."

Lawless, who trailed Langevin by 58 percent to 14 percent in a Brown University poll in February, noted Lieberman led Lamont by 68 percent to 13 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll in February.

This article appeared on August 10, 2006, in the Providence Journal.


Also in the News...

Lawless buoyed by Leiberman loss, says Langevin is next

After Senator Joseph Lieberman’s loss in the Democratic primary on Tuesday to Ned Lamont, Rhode Island Democratic Congressional candidate Jennifer Lawless is chanting, “Jim Langevin is next.”

“Connecticut Democrats just registered an undeniable opinion that being an incumbent and personally likable won’t save you if you aren’t willing to fight back against the agenda of George Bush and the Republican Congress. Rhode Island Democrats are ready to register the same opinion,” said Lawless in a statement.

Lawless has been critical of Langevin in the past, claiming he votes with Congressional Republicans 60 percent of the time.

“[Langevin] voted 27 times against a woman’s right to choose; he won’t hold President Bush accountable for having no plan to win or leave in Iraq; he voted to arrest terminally ill cancer patients for using medical marijuana; and he voted for President Bush’s assault on our privacy by renewing the Patriot Act,” Lawless said.

Lawless claims that “[she will] fight back where Langevin hasn’t.”

When asked about her thoughts on running against an incumbent by the Providence Phoenix in late July she said, “It was more daunting than I probably thought it was going to be, but I expected a hard fight.”

She recently noted, however, that she is more enthusiastic and confident about the election.

Adam Deitch, Lawless’ campaign manager said yesterday, “Jen knows she can win the race.”

He spoke on Langevin’s voting record, also.

“Langevin has voted to support the war effort and keep American soldiers in Iraq,” said Deitch.

When questioned about Langevin’s recent statement openly calling for the resignation of United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Deitch maintained the fact that Langevin has been an adamant supporter of the Bush administration’s war agenda.

Lawless’ campaign considers Lieberman’s loss in the Democratic primary election a beacon of hope for her own election.

“Lieberman and Langevin are very similar … they both vote the same way, with Republicans,” said Deitch.

With the defeat of an incumbent that hits close to home, Lawless says she hopes this is a sign of things to come.

“On Sept. 12, I am going to make the same kind of political history as Ned Lamont. I’m going to provide new and better leadership for the people of Rhode Island, and James Langevin is going to face the same fate as Joe Lieberman,” she said.

Langevin’s press secretary Joy Fox responded saying: “We’re not worried at all. The Lieberman campaign and the Langevin campaign are not similar … [they’re] completely unrelated.”

Although the Lawless campaign was singing a different tune, Fox continued, “Our campaign is built on anti-war sentiment…one of the congressman’s proudest votes was when he voted against the war in Iraq.”

“It’s wishful thinking on her part. We’re not really concerned about Lieberman’s loss,” Fox said.

“Jim voted against the war but also voted to make sure the troops are properly armed and protected; he was never on board the original agenda,” Fox concluded.

This article, written by Joe Capuano, appeared on August 10, 2006, in the Warwick Beacon.



CAMPAIGN RELEASE

Lamont Victory Fuels Lawless’ Enthusiasm, Puts Langevin on Notice
“Tonight, Senator Lieberman learned the cost of siding with Republicans instead of everyday Americans. Jim Langevin’s next,” says Lawless.

WARWICK, RI – Jennifer Lawless, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District, this evening released the following statement regarding Ned Lamont’s victory in Connecticut’s Democratic Senate primary.

“Tonight, Senator Lieberman learned the hard way the cost of siding with Republicans instead of everyday Americans. On September 12th, Jim Langevin will learn the same lesson.

“Connecticut Democrats just registered an undeniable opinion that being an incumbent and personally likable won’t save you if you aren’t willing to fight back against the agenda of President Bush and the Republican Congress. Rhode Island Democrats are ready to register the same opinion.

“I believe that when Rhode Island Democrats understand that Langevin votes with Congressional Republicans nearly 60% of the time, that he’s voted 27 times against a woman’s right to choose, that he won’t hold President Bush accountable for having no plan to win or leave in Iraq, that he voted to arrest terminally ill cancer patients for using medical marijuana, and that he voted for President Bush’s assault on our privacy by renewing the Patriot Act, I’m going to make the same kind of political history as Ned Lamont.

“Whether it’s Connecticut or Rhode Island, Democrats are ready for change. And whether it’s the Republican economic agenda, Iraq, privacy, or a woman’s right to choose, I’ll fight back where Jim Langevin hasn’t.”

Lawless also noted that a February 16, 2006 Quinnipiac poll showing Lieberman beating Lamont 68% - 13% turned out not to be an accurate prediction of the campaign’s final result.

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