NYT: Lieberman Uses Rival’s Wealth as Issue in Connecticut Race

[DeepModem Mom]

Lieberman Uses Rival’s Wealth as Issue in Race
By ALISON LEIGH COWAN
Published: August 3, 2006

STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 2 — His great-grandfather was J. P. Morgan’s right-hand man and partner. His great-uncle ran the American Civil Liberties Union. The main undergraduate library at Harvard bears the family’s name. So does an earth science observatory at Columbia University and a dormitory at Smith College.

Now, as Ned Lamont campaigns to unseat United States Senator Joseph I. Lieberman in next week’s Democratic primary, his wealth and family pedigree have become an issue in one of this year’s most closely watched election campaigns.

Facing his first serious challenge in 18 years as a senator, Mr. Lieberman has sought to brand Mr. Lamont as a wealthy dilettante who is trying to buy his way into office, and who is out of touch with ordinary Americans....But an examination of Mr. Lamont’s wealth and his business career shows that while he clearly benefited from his family’s wealth and connections, he has also made his own mark. In 1984, after working for a few years in the fledging cable industry, he started a telecommunications company that now provides cable and high-speed data services to 135 colleges around the country.

The company, Lamont Digital Systems, is privately owned and does not disclose its financial statements. But company insiders and analysts say it is worth $100 million to $150 million....(H)is wife, Ann Huntress Lamont, has built a career as a highly regarded venture capitalist specializing in health care and information technology for the financial services industry. She probably earns millions a year, people familiar with her business said. In the second quarter of 2006, the firm, Oak Investment Partners, raised the largest venture capital fund ever, $2.5 billion, according to the National Venture Capital Association....

***

Mr. Lamont prefers not to talk about his background. “I’ve been blessed,” he will say, but beyond that he can turn testy. When asked about a scholarship he created at Harvard so a Bridgeport student could attend free, he bristled. “I haven’t really talked about that, have I?” he replied....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/03/nyregion/03lamont.htm...

[KingFlorez]

1. That's it, Joe

We don't need any more rich elitist in the Senate.

[napi21]

2. Is that Mr. Poverty Joe?

That's quite funny that one millionair is slamming the other for being wealthy! HA!

[cliss]

11. Dontcha love it?

I read that Mr.Lamont is worth around $300 million bucks.

But I've also read --

That Holy Joe is worth the SAME AMOUNT!!

Come on Joe. You can do better than that...

[LincolnMcGrath]

3. That dirty secretive bastard!

"he created at Harvard so a Bridgeport student could attend free"

He should be 'gitmo-ed' for that commie crap alone.

[marmar]

4. Is it just me, or is Krazy Uncle Joe sounding desperate?

Poor, poverty-stricken Joe Lieberman.

[AtomicKitten]

14. or maybe desperate Joe is sounding crazy

n/t

[Hippo_Tron]

5. Reminds me of Bush criticizing Kerry for being rich

[evlbstrd]

6. Anybody familiar with the concept of Noblesse Oblige?

"His great-uncle ran the American Civil Liberties Union. The main undergraduate library at Harvard bears the family’s name. So does an earth science observatory at Columbia University and a dormitory at Smith College."

There are wealthy people who give back to the less fortunate. Horrors!

[Erika]

8. Not exactly a GOP trait

If they've got the money, it's theirs.

[evlbstrd]

12. My brother is one of them.

Nothing Noblesse or Oblige about him.

[Mabus]

9. Run for the hills!

That was my reaction too. It looks like Lamonts forebearers have been looking out for the best interests of their fellow men for some time. And Lieberman doesn't think this is good?

[evlbstrd]

15. I don't have any hills!

There's the farm in southern Missouri my brother bought so our dad could live there, but the house burned down and he and my stepmom are living with bro in Bentonville, AR. The fucker didn't insure the property for enough to rebuild.
Dammit, we were gonna make it our compound. Stupid republican fuck.

edit for spelling, dammit.
And my laptop has cooled considerably since the rain moved in.

[Mabus]

16. If need be I'll head to the Hollow

I went out on the front porch for a while earlier this evening. Ah, it was heaven. It cool and everything smelled fresh.

It may have cooled down but the dogs are still freaking a little when it thunders.

On edit: I didn't know I was replying to you! I don't pay a lot of attention to who the posters are.

[evlbstrd]

17. S'okay.

It's attention.

[Mabus]

18. It's what happens when I'm watching TV and posting at the same time

You know me, I'm so easily confused.

[kenny blankenship]

7. didn't Lieberman PRAISE Cheney for his $$$ ?

during the vice-presidential debate?
I have to ask non-rhetorically because although I'm sure it was reported that Joe did praise Cheney for making millions, I didn't watch their debate.

[jaysunb]

10. Dear Joe

Not in my entire lifetime ( 63 years ) have I seen any poor man win a seat in the US Senate....and that includes you.
Please, cut the shit , and start making some promises that you can't and don't intend to deliver on.

[AlamoDemoc]

13. Joe is using his wealth against us once again

He's using our Democratic elected senators to campaign for him.

[KT2000]

19. Is that even an issue

that would get much traction in CT?
Aren't there quite a few wealthy people there?
I seems like kind of a lame arrow for Lieberman to throw considering his suporters.

[no_hypocrisy]

20. Nice try, Joe. Now get desperate and try this: Ned Lamont's uncle

was (gasp!) a Humanist and a founding officer of the American Civil Liberties Union. You only have 4-5 days left Joe. Can't be a gentleman. You want to stay a senator, right? HOW MUCH do you want to win that primary, Joe? C'mon. You remember the First Rule of Politics: THERE ARE NO RULES!

[Azathoth]

21. A Yale millionaire accusing a Harvard millionaire of being elitist