libermancollins.jpgHowie has one heckuva good piece of news today:

Lieberman's fundraiser for Collins brought together lots of K-Street prostitutes who love him for his consistent willingness to sell out his constituents' most basic interests. Collins' campaign claims that Lieberman helped her raise between $120,000 and $150,000. Between MoveOn and half a dozen blogs raising money for progressive Congressman Tom Allen, Lieberman's efforts were not just countered, but turned upside down. Grassroots and netroots contributions to Tom Allen last week out-raised Lieberman and Collins by between $100,000 and $120,000.

Just having Lieberman at her fundraiser cost Collins a helluva lot more than he brought in for her campaign coffers. As Howie says, Lieberman has corporate cronies who are willing to fork over the payola, but by using Lieberman as her campaign ATM, Collins opened the floodgates on public disgust for the do-nothing duo. As Jane said to me in e-mail:

The simple truth is that Collins could have raised this money in a variety of ways but there is no way the netroots could have raised this money if it wasn't for Lieberman's involvement. For every TV ad or flyer Collins bankrolls as a result of this, Allen can counter with two. The negative consequences for Collins are huge.

She would have come out better if she had just written Lieberman a check and told him to stay home.

The irony is just too delicious.  Toxic Joe -- campaign liability for his pals.  Gee, who could have seen that coming?

You can donate to Tom Allen's campaign here -- do it for Toxic Joe.  (Sorry, couldn't help myself there...)