In a way it’s about time this stuff started being said and I’m glad Kennedy is willing to say it. In another way it is a shame that it has to be Kennedy and that we have so few others who are willing to say this, say it loud, say it often and keep saying it until the media can no longer ignore it. When major media people like Chuck Roberts of CNN can call a candidate for political office this country “the al Qaeda candidate” (no matter the weasily way he put it, it’s about getting the phrase out there and have deniability because no one cares about how it was said, they just remember the phrase), then we obviously have a long way to go to get an honest press and the Democrats and progressives (not always the same thing) need to hammer relentlessly in order to get their drumbeat heard over the background noise.

Here’s key excerpts from Kennedy’s piece:

Vice presidents are notorious for serving as an administration’s chief attack dog, and time and again Dick Cheney has been unleashed to accuse anyone who is opposed to the Bush administration of aiding the terrorists. But this time he has gone too far.

The comments he made on the result of the Connecticut Democratic primary - that it might encourage “the al-Qaida types” who want to “break the will of the American people in terms of our ability to stay in the fight and complete the task” - are an attack not just on Democrats, but on democracy itself.

…

Cheney’s comments about the election were ugly and frightening. They show once again that he and his party will stop at nothing to wrap Republicans in the flag and to insinuate that anyone who votes against them is giving aid and comfort to the terrorists. It’s obvious that this administration lacks basic respect for our fundamental freedoms.

Cheney and his crowd are all for free and open elections - as long as they turn out their way. They are all for free speech - provided it supports the administration. They are all for the rule of law - as long as the law does not prevent them from doing whatever they want to do. When elections, speeches or laws are inconvenient, he does not hesitate to declare that they are helping the terrorists. I can think of no graver offense against our democracy.

Ned Lamont’s victory in Connecticut scares Cheney for one simple reason: It demonstrates that a free and independent people can and do hold public officials accountable for their words and deeds.

If the terrorists are indeed paying any attention to the Connecticut primary results, they must be worried.