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(Bridgeport-WTNH, Aug. 21, 2006 6:00 PM) _ One group claims Lieberman is trying to start a fake political party and another says Lieberman is a fake Democrat and should be kicked out of the Democratic party.
by Chief Political Correspondent Mark Davis
Joe Lieberman says he is a Democrat and always will be and that he's running in November as an Independent petitioning Democrat.
Some democrats in New Haven, where Lieberman lives and votes, say they want him kicked out of the party.
Joe Lieberman had another of his 'Cup of Joe with Joe' stops in Bridgeport today but while he was there a group of New Haven area residents was confronting the New Haven Democratic Registrar of Voters with a petition.
"We're here to ask that 'public law 9-61' be invoked and that Joe Lieberman be removed as a member of the democratic party," Henry Lowendorf, New Haven.
Registrar Sharon Ferrucci said she'd have to check the books.
The statute reads in part 'that evidence supporting discretionary erasure or exclusion includes being a candidate for office under the designation of another party or organization'.
Lieberman has formed his own party line called Connecticut for Lieberman.
"Kick him out of the party, he's running against the candidate that the Democratic party chose in a vote!"
"As a lawyer, I really, at least know that I should not offer legal opinions until some lawyer looks at that, I think it's a divisive move," says Lieberman.
And while he was on his tour of the New Colony diner in Bridgeport today, not everyone was receptive of his pitch that he wants to give all voters a chance to decide.
"That's a way of looking at it, another way is you being a sore loser," says Adam Mocciolo, Waterbury.
"Oh no no, in the end the public will decide," says Lieberman.
Ned Lamont's campaign declined to comment on the move to kick Lieberman out of the Democratic Party saying only that Lieberman should abide by the decision of primary voters.
"Why would they remove him? Because he broke away?"asks Jaramillo.
"Right," says Mark Davis.
"I don't know," says Frances Jaramillo, Bridgeport.
"I don't think he should be removed, I like him. I don't think he's fake like everyone else," says Jada Teixeira, Bridgeport.
Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz says Lieberman can easily prove his long standing as a Democrat if this comes to a Town Committee hearing in New Haven.
"We know of no case where a person has actually been removed from a party since this law was changed in 1997," says Bysiewicz.
The other complaint was made to the State Elections Enforcement Commission claiming that Lieberman is not starting a real political party and therefore should be removed from the ballot.
The Executive Director says that's not going to happen, that Lieberman has every legal right to petition his way on to the ballot.
The Secretary of the State says the legislature may change the law next year so that losers in a primary can't do what Joe Lieberman is doing, legally this time.
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=5308047