JOE LIEBERMAN URGES VOTE FOR McCAIN

September 03, 2008
By Fred Lucas, Staff Writer
JOE LIEBERMAN URGES VOTE FOR McCAIN



Sen. Joseph Lieberman urges Democrats to support his good friend Republican Sen. John McCain for president. (AP Photo)St. Paul (CNSNews.com) – Speaking to the 2008 Republican National Convention Tuesday, Independent Democrat Sen. Joe Lieberman said that only Republican Sen. John McCain can reform Washington and bridge the partisan divide.

“Being a Democrat or a Republican is important. But it is nowhere near as important as being an American,” Lieberman told an approving crowd.

In 2000, Lieberman was Al Gore’s running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket. In 2004, he came up short in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, then ended up endorsing Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.).

Lieberman lost the 2006 Democratic Senate primary in Connecticut because of liberal outrage over his support for the Iraq war. He kept his Senate seat, however, by running as an independent and winning broad Republican support. Lieberman still caucuses with Senate Democrats and he calls himself an independent Democrat.

“Both presidential candidates this year talk about changing the culture of Washington, about breaking through the partisan gridlock and special interests that are poisoning our politics,” Lieberman told Republicans Tuesday night. “But only one of them has actually done it. Only one leader has shown the courage and the capability to rise above the smallness of our politics to get big things done for our country and our people.”

Lieberman has been as much a thorn in the side of the Democratic Party because of his support for the Bush administration’s war on terror as McCain has often been to the Republican Party for his support of campaign finance reform and environmental regulations.

“My Democratic friends know all about John’s record of independence and accomplishment,” Lieberman said. “Maybe that’s why some of them are spending so much time and so much money trying to convince voters that John McCain is someone else. I’m here, as a Democrat myself, to tell you -- don’t be fooled.”

Lieberman mentioned that McCain -- not “just another go-along politician” -- has taken on corrupt Republican lobbyists, big corporations that were cheating the American people, and powerful congressional colleagues who waste taxpayer money. “As a matter of fact, if John McCain is just another partisan Republican, then I'm Michael Moore’s favorite Democrat,” he joked.

Several news outlets reported that Lieberman had been on McCain’s short list for vice presidential candidates. However, many prominent conservatives warned McCain that choosing the liberal Lieberman could alienate the GOP’s conservative base.

Still, some delegates at the convention said they were happy to have Lieberman speak at the gathering.

“Republican put him over the top in Connecticut,” Johnnie Morgan, a delegate from Los Angeles, Calif., told CNSNews.com. “The reason is that he was at least receptive to Republican policies and Republican ideas.”

While Morgan thinks Lieberman would not have been a good choice for vice president, he believes McCain might name him to a Cabinet position. “We can trust McCain to make the best decision, given that situation,” Morgan said.

North Carolina delegate James Proctor compared Lieberman’s speech to the Republican Convention to Democratic Sen. Zell Miller’s speech to Republicans at the 2004 convention. “The other side has deserted him (Lieberman) so he came here,” Proctor said. “The Democrats are out of touch.”

Lieberman teamed with McCain on global warming legislation in the Senate and also co-sponsored a 1998 bill with McCain that made it official U.S. policy to bring about regime change in Iraq. The latter bill was signed into law by President Clinton.

On Tuesday night, Lieberman brought up some issues that are not particularly popular with Republicans.

“I have personally seen John, over and over again, bring people together from both parties to tackle our toughest problems we face -- to reform our campaign finance, lobbying and ethics laws, to create the 9/11 Commission and pass its critical national security reforms, and to end the partisan paralysis over judicial confirmations,” Lieberman said.

Lieberman did not attack Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, but he did question his experience to take on issues such as the economy, energy independence and the war on terror.

“Sen. Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead,” Lieberman said. “But eloquence is no substitute for a record -- not in these tough times.”

Lieberman appealed to his fellow Democrats to discard party loyalty in November for the good of the country.

“So tonight, I ask you whether you are an Independent, a Reagan Democrat or a Clinton Democrat, or just a Democrat: This year, when you vote for President, vote for the person you believe is best for the country, not for the party you happen to belong to,” Lieberman said.