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Ned Lamont: A Senate Candidate from CT
November 1, 2006






In an article entitled, "A Son of Privilege Takes His Baby Steps on the
Political Proving Ground," the New York Times presents an overview
of Ned Lamont, the Connecticut Democrat who beat Senator Joseph
Lieberman in the state’s Democratic primary. In part this campaign
attracted enormous national attention because just six years ago
Senator Lieberman was at the pinnacle of national politics and elected
office when he ran for Vice President alongside Al Gore. The article
states:

While Mr. Lamont’s arrival on the political scene is often portrayed as
a last-minute, spontaneous protest over foreign policy, he in many
ways has been preparing for this moment for a long time. Raised in a
well-connected family where politics was discussed at dinner and
schooled in the nation’s training grounds for power, he has been
flirting with the possibilities of major public office for at least the past
decade.

Read a Similar Article!!


Discussion-Starters:

  • Ask your child(ren) what the following words mean: "senator,"
    "blog," and "candidate." You might also invite your child(ren) to
    spell each of these words. The article explains that Lamont’s
    candidacy was initially supported by left wing bloggers. This
    Wikipedia article contains more information about blogs.

  • Ask your child(ren) what three characteristics they consider
    most important in somebody who wants to be a community
    leader, or a member of the United States Senate. Should they be
    good listeners, smart, decisive, etc.? Encourage them to
    support their ideas thoughtfully. What do you consider to be
    the three most important characteristics of somebody who
    wants to be a community leader? Share your thoughts.

  • Mr. Lamont was a member of the prestigious Round Hill
    Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut until three months
    into the campaign. The club has a reputation of being exclusive,
    strongly discouraging individuals belonging to ethnic and racial
    minority groups from belonging. Ask your child(ren) if they
    think that the country club or another club to which an
    individual belongs should impact whether or not somebody
    votes for them? What if a brilliant candidate who was very
    qualified for office but also happened to belong to the Ku Klux
    Klan, or another racist organization, was running? At what
    point should organizational affiliation prevent somebody from
    holding a public office? What do you think?

  • Mr. Lamont is running for the United States Senate in
    Connecticut. Ask your child(ren) if it’s important for
    somebody who does not live in Connecticut to know about
    Lamont. Why might/might not it be important? If it’s not
    important is there any point in discussing the questions
    presented in today’s Discussion-Starters.com? Encourage your
    child(ren) to support their ideas. What do you think? Why?
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