Sen. Lieberman will throw his support behind McCain, a senior GOP source tells CNN.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned Independent, will endorse Republican Sen. John McCain for president, officials close to both Lieberman and McCain familiar with the plan tell CNN.
Lieberman is planning to announce his support for McCain at an early Monday morning event in New Hampshire, but the campaign is keeping a close eye on a winter storm that could force it to be rescheduled.
The McCain campaign declined to comment on the source's account, and would not confirm it.
An aide to Lieberman tells CNN he decided to endorse McCain because he considers him "the most capable to be commander in chief on day one of his administration, and the most capable of uniting the country so that we can prevail against Islamic extremism."
The Lieberman aide insists the senator does not see this as a "commentary on or an endorsement of the Republican party, only the person."
Lieberman had not planned to endorse anyone until after the primary season, but McCain asked Lieberman for his endorsement a few days after the two men returned from a Thanksgiving trip to Iraq together, and Lieberman decided to do it, according to the same Lieberman aide.
Lieberman will continue to caucus with the Democrats.
Like McCain, Lieberman has been a vocal supporter of the Iraq war. For Lieberman, it is an issue that caused him to split with his own political party after losing the Democratic Senate primary in 2006. Lieberman refused to back down, and won reelection as an Independent.
Lieberman was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000.
Lieberman's Democratic colleagues welcomed him back to the Senate, and he is the 51st vote that gives Democrats a razor thin majority in the 100 member chamber. Lieberman chairs the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, and he still attends weekly Democratic strategy meetings.
"I have the greatest respect for Joe, but I simply have to disagree with his decision to endorse Senator McCain," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in a statement to CNN.
Lieberman's office called Reid's office Sunday to inform the Democratic leader of his decision to endorse a Republican.
A longtime Lieberman adviser described it as a "hangover" from the 2006 campaign when Democrats, including Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, and other longtime friends declared they could and would not support his reelection bid after he lost the primary. Instead, they backed the Democratic nominee Ned Lamont.
This endorsement could help emphasize McCain's national security standing, show he is able to work across party lines, and perhaps help persuade independent voters in New Hampshire to support his presidential bid.
– CNN's John King and Dana Bash
From CNN Politics
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SHOCK AND AWE. Joe "ChickenHawk" Lieberman backs John "TurkeyHawk" McCain. /sarcasm
Both support global war, both support amnesty, both support destroying this country. I can't believe people even report on McCain anymore ... why do you continue to hang on to obvious dead nobodies who are going nowhere? We're tired of hearing about it. CNN is terrible.
Please America, choose wisely. Search today on Google for TeaParty07.
rumor has it Lieberman wants to marry a daughter of Bush.
Lieberman is just sad. This endorsement is his pathetic on-going attempt to stay relevant. His first attempt at relevancy was to break away from the Democratic party. He's right up there with McCain as someone who will do anything to get some ink. Is it me or does every sentence out his mouth sound like a whine.
He is the best qualified person of either party!
Neocon Trash
Hillary and Bill must be loving this! Didn't they support him in CT? Hey Dem's, in case you still aren't clued in yet .... Lieberman is not your ally. Why are you treating him as such? Why is Liebermann attending Democratic strategy meetings?
Traitor.
Who cares what that Republican suck-up, Democratic turn-coat, whining, hypocrite thinks? I can't believe anyone would court his endorsement. Poor John McCain, a decent, sincere
congressman.
Happy to know someone has come to their senses. I am for McCain or Alan Keys. Those others of both parties are gutless wonders;.. I would not nor cannot trust the rest of them to protect this Nation.
I actually believe it will sway many independents. Sen. Lieberman is one of the few if only "liberals" in Washington D.C. who actually understands the danger we face in terrorism. He also is one of the few who has not played politics with the Iraq War.
The return of Zig Zag Zell...
All these signs of life by McCain are essentially bad news for Barack Obama, who needs the independents of NH to vote for him rather than in the Republican field.
I have always been a Democrat I will be making an exception in the next Presidential election. McCain knows the political ins and outs. As my kids would say he "Rocks". Keep up the endorsements! Congratulations!
No surprise here. Whoever will keep us at permanant war with the Islamic world, and NOT just catch bin Laden and try him as a criminal (so we can end this madness), would be agreeable to Lieberman.
Actually Guiliani would be just as good of a fit for Lieberman's quest but he knows McCain better personally and would get rewarded with a cabinet job.
Liberman is a weasel.
Joe is an embarassment to the Democratic Party and to himself if he were capable of disinterested introspection. He has sold his soul on the premise that the war–which has the support of far less than a majority of all people of both parties–will somehow turn out to be the right thing to have done even if it has been done based on lies, deceptions and a misguided and ultimately superficial neo-con ideology.
After January 2009, we will not need Joe and as for me, I hope he then shows his true color–RED. And as I think each day, "Better Dead Than Red."
I am sooooooo glad that he is supporting McCain. It saves my party the embarrassament of what to with his endorsement. If Dems remain control when this is all over, they should figure out what to do with that coveted & important chairmanship they allowed him to have over Democrats.
Lieberman is not a member of the United States Congress. He looks out more for his beloved Israel than the American voters and taxpayers.
Joementum has not been a Democrat in years. He lied to his constituents in order to get re-elected and now he is simply following a pattern he set long ago. Joe, you've got this term before Connecticut voters dump you and McCain is not winning, so no cabinet seats either.
If I remember correctly, after he lost the primary, Lieberman said something to the effect of "I think the voters of Connecticut were flirting with the other guy for a bit, trying to send me a message. Let me say, I got your message". Did you really get the message Joe? Considering you seem to still behave as a Republican in everything but name, I doubt it.
What a POS this guy is! People of New Hampshire ought to be ashamed! Unbelievable!
Lieberman is a useless pile of dong. Why is this news, he is a turncoat.
This guy is the greediest guy. He lost his VP chances with Kerry, changed party line after he could not be the democratic nomination in the senate race, he won the senate seat by low margin, and now he is sucking up to McCain so that he can have another shot at VP. Voters who elected him must be so demented
So the Israeli Sen.Joe Lieberman who resides in Connecticut endorses a US Senator.
Who gives a flying intercource, the little knat would endorse Stalin if he thought there was something in it for him.
Matt in Portland:
I HOPE you are correct but McCain is surging in some polls already. It seems that Huckabee's big jump in many polls has the Republican establishment shopping for Depends. As another man who hears no voice but God's, Huckabee would be a loose cannon for the power elite of the GOP who actually care not a fig for the born-again dupes who vote for Republican out of ignornace and fear rather than in their own interests. McCain may be the lesser evil since he at least operates in this world and in our own time rather than in the dispensational epochs suggested in the books of Daniel and Revelation so favored by the "Christian" Right. McCain makes my flesh crawl but if I had to choose between the two, even I would go to McCain. That scares me.
Jesus! (If I may invoke the Right's number 1 Guy) I hate that I did not spell "ignorance" correctly above. It makes me appear, well, ignorant.
One loser endorsing another loser...way to go, Joe.
Lieberman is a closet Republican. Him giving support to McCain is not any kind of big deal.
Sen. Lieberman is concerned about Israel's security more than he admits and that is why he is supporting the Mideast war. He is more interested in protecting than the United States, whose vital security interests are not in play there.
Lieberman is about the ONLY Democrat worth his salt. He's got more courage than all the other Democrat weasels wrapped into one. It is truly disgusting how Democrats do not have the courage to admit to their past positions...be it WMDs, Iraq, CIA interrogation methods...it doesn't matter. Hey is you supported something that is not popular not, admit it like a man, or woman. Have the courage to say you were wrong, or that you had a change of heart. If I were a Democrat I would be embarrassed to say I am on of them. Lieberman is his own man...all you other WORTHLESS, SPINELESS Democrat should be voted out of office for lack of character.
Joe Lieberman and John McCain are both irrelevant losers so it is small wonder they are so close.
Joe's really a Republican. He waives his liberal voting record but when it counts he's lining up with the GOP. Besides he has been a Bush supporter for 7 years. Two of a kind!
joe will do and say whatever it takes for him to stay in a position of power. no conscience, no shame, and proud of it all. that counts as the most valuable talent in american politics.
Smooth move CT. We thought you wised up in the primary, but chickened out in November 2006. I hope you all can sleep good knowing you elected Bush with either a D or an I next to his name.
Perhaps a McCain-Lieberman run as moderates who want to reach out to both sides would provide an interesting twist to this election. They might present some interesting choices. It is unfortunate that their support of keeping troops in Iraq for a long time will cause most voters to reject them
Surprise, surprise. Lieberman we all know once you lost the bid for Democratic senatorial nomination, you were pissed! He ran as an Independent but really wanted to run as a Republican. But he knew Republicans would reject him as a true Republican. Now Lieberman is hoping McCain wins nomination so he can the VP nod.
The GOP can have him. They are a perfect match-up anyway...
"The guy gives jews a bad name." – Matt, Portland OR
Matt, you're a poor example of your race, whatever it is. You should have learned better by now, or at least learned that most people will dismiss you as anti-semitic – rightly or wrongly.
Thinking for yourself is a dangerous thing in America. You are supposed to the line and don't upset the puppet masters. Thankfully somebody like Lieberman realizes that its ok to stand on your own beliefs.
Who really cares about this endorsement. Joe is useless Senator from the get go. Why Gore ever pick him to run as VP was beyond me. He wants a cabinet post. Shades of Rumfeld/ /What a bum.
Well that clinches it – if he's good enough for Lieberman, I can cross him off my list
Who was on Tim Russert's show a few days after the Democratic victory? Not any incoming Democrat, but Joe Lieberman and John McCain. Was Russert trying to keep the Iraq war going? Thanks to his 80% Republican support in Connecticuit, Say It Ain't So Joe won the general election against Ned Lamont. Thanks, Karl Rove. Too bad the NIE destroyed the last bit of credibility this guy had.
Joe's thinking that if the Democrats increase their Senate majority, he's toast. Best defense is back a Republican. A little independence isn't bad, but I can't help but think Mc Cain's a little perplexed at all this.
It will help Mc Cain in the South. Also, keep the Jewish cracks out of this as his modern orthodox faith has no bearing on this situation.
Lieberman is the best senator... that Israel ever had.
McCain, Lieberman, Hagel, Paul... There aren't many congressman (or politicians in general) who are willing to split with their party to follow their conscience. Regardless of whether you agree with their politics, you have to respect them for having stuck by their beliefs. It's a shame that the primary system all but excludes them from advancing past their disgruntled party faithful to get to the general election.
...And this is the man who was going to be our Vice President running for President now? Wow. McCain is ok, but ideologically, I don't see the connection. If the war is the ONLY issue causing Lieberman to do this, that's pretty lame. OBAMA 08!
This Neocon Zionist is a Right-Wing Jew's Jew.
The fact that he's an Independent and NOT a Democrat which he Claims, makes him more of an outsider and Enemy Combatant to the Democratic Party, although he's Blackwater to Republicans. He needs to be wiped out.
Take back America.
RonPaul2008(dot)com
Hey Ginny–speaking of "whining hypocrites", most of the commenters here are just PO'd because Lieberman bailed on the Democrats, then beat their usual spineless jellyfish, Lamont. Lieberman Derangement Syndrome? The psychological community should take heed...
Well, that clinches it for me. I thoroughly respect and admire both and if Lieberman is behind McCain, so am I.
The sour grapes comments here are amusing. These two men- in different parties- have very similar overall view. Joe endorsing John not only makes sense, but is consistent with Joe's emphasis one issues.
It was the Democrats who voted out Joe and turned him into an independent; he has been more foregiving of that than most of us would be.
The thought is McCain would make Joe his VP pick; it would be a unity ticket. Unfortunately, as the comments here demonstrate, unity is unlikely to be in season in '08. The left especially is looking for blood.
Myself, I'm a Fred Thompson supporter, but I give a hat tip to two great men of long, principle service to this country. However, I respectfully disagree with them on most domestic policy issues and will not be supporting them.
I meant to say toe the line in my comment.
Lieberman is nothing but a weasel. Forget the party line issue. He's become Washington's other joke.
Joe just can't kiss enough Republican ass, just like he did at Bush's state of the union speech! Joe just loves bush just like dick.
Four more years of Bush....
They need to be wiped out.
Ron Paul for President.
Take Back America from the Jews.
Does anyone actually care who midget man Liberman endorses? American has told Liberman over and over that we don't give a hoot what he thinks.
McCain is yesterday's news. He stands no chance for a GOP nom. His supporters need to find a new candidate or Billary will be back in the oval office.
Why in the "Jewish hell" is this so called Independent Lieberman attending strategic Democratic meetings with a chair on the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee in a Democratic Congress?
Joe is now an open embarrassment to the Democratic Party and to himself if he were capable of disinterested introspection. He has sold his soul on the premise that the war–which has the support of far less than a majority of all people of both parties–will somehow turn out to be the right thing to have done even if it has been done based on lies, deceptions and a misguided and ultimately superficial neo-con ideology.
If his endorsement is true to the published senior GOP source reports then he needs to be stripped of the Committee chair assignment now.
After January 2009, we democrats will not need Joe anyway and as for me, I hope he then shows his true color–RED. And as I think each day, "Better Dead Than Red."
For now go Joe if you have the guts resign your Senate seat BEFORE the McCain endorsement, join the Republican Party now for your next ticket so the CT voters can truly trash you as an Independent and see you in your true colors.
I love all the brain-dead idiots on here saying "you can have Lieberman." First of all, moderates like Lieberman are the reason the Dems have control of the Senate right now. Without Pro-gun John Tester and Jim Webb, anti-abortion Bob Casey Jr., and pro-war Joe Lieberman do you know what you brain surgeons have? You have a 53-47 Republican controlled senate. That's why the Democrats got drubbed till Howard Dean took over, Howard Dean realized that the Democrats NEED moderates on their side. So, you all just keep raging against people who don't hang pictures of Karl Marx on their walls, hopefully you all take over the Democratic party and we can watch it go down in flames at long last.
Such a traitor Joe; but it's ok, we knew it was coming as soon as you went "independent".
Anyone who would endorse a Republican, much less a supposed Democrat should be ashamed.
A lot more people are endorsing Ron Paul today – and with their pocketbooks.
Lieberman is a Republican and always has been. He represents the worst among members of Congress. His hawkishness is disgusting and almost infantile. He belongs with McCain, and hopefully we won't have deal with their silliness much longer.
I'm a democrat who could feel good about McCain – I truly could – had he not compromised his integrity by campaigning for Bush in 2004. That was a betrayal.
Joe's not really a Democrat, nor has he really ever been one...So, this doesn't surprise me.
I suspect his constituents in Connecticut, however, are having a bit of buyers remorse...
bret, atl, ga:
Lou Dobbs, is that you?
joe liberman is no longer relevant and will be even more after the next election.
He typifies the word "traitor"
well, there is no longer any doubt, mccain will never be president, and that is a very, very, good thing.
Joe Lieberman should be kicked to the curb by the Democrats.
What is he hoping for?
Maybe to become VP? God help you all!
He is nothing more that a Traitor!
I guess I don't understand the nature of Lieberman's endorsement. He's an independent, votes with Democrats, and endorses a Republican. As a life-long Democrat from Texas, I did vote for McCain in the 2000 Republican primary only because I knew Bush's record as Governor of Texas did not make him fit to be president. Perhaps Senator Lieberman has a similar reason for his endorsement of McCain. This is what makes our country freedoms so great.
Lieberman knows what a complete vacuum for leadership the democrats are trying to foist on America in a dangerous world! Wise man!
I am ashamed to be a constituent of Senator Lieberman's.... This is a disgrace. He needs to be taken down. Ned Lamont may have been a single issue candidate, but it's a hell of a lot better than Lieberman. And this is a jew saying this!
When is Loserman going to switch to the Republican Party, he's been kissing Bush's butt for seven years, he might as well make it official.
Lieberman likes the War effort...he is jewish and seems to really hammer down on this issue to the detriment of the U.S. Why continue the war, when the Iraq population is split? If he likes the war effort so much then go to the front line..i n Iraq!
Yeah, we need a Jew's opinion like we need another Bush!!!
Shouldn't it say "warmongering jew" who went against anti-war dems?
Folks, I just don't get it. If Sen. Lieberman wants to be VP so badly, then why doesn't he endorse someone like Romney or Giuliani, who are both still frontrunners in the GOP primary? Why doesn't he endorse Hillary or Obama, who also stands a good chance of winning? Why instead does he endorse the guy who's behind in so many polls? I'm a huge McCain supporter because I believe that McCain stands by what he believes in, even though I don't necessarily agree with all of it. I think that Sen. Lieberman is doing the same thing as me on this one, picking the only person who can really reach over the aisle to make this country united again.
And for those who think Lieberman is just another Republican: http://www.dailykos.net/archives/003636.html
McCain is welcome to Lieberman as far as I am concerned. What does he really stand for–nothing.
Joe Lieberman isn't a democrat turned independent. He was voted out of the party by the democrats in Connecticut. This is a distinction because he didn't have a choice as someone who turns to be an independent does.
Since Joementum is really a Republican I wish Mitt will pick him as a running mate. FAKE + JOKER = LOSERS
Anything to support the zionist / neocons. Once a Bushie, always a Bushie...so he will definitely lose his next election – like he should have lost this previous one.
Has everyone forgotten about the last Senate race that Lieberman ran in, and he was not supported by HIS OWN DEMOCRATIC PARTY?
Now it's time for them to reap their rewards! How soon they forget!
you losers commenting here on lieberman defecting have short memories. the lefties threw him aside for his agreeing with the president on the war againts terror. He tried to warn you idiots after 9-1-1 that this war was about more than the oil, but you didn't listen, you gave the president full support knowing you would try to impeach him first chance you got. After lieberman won his seat back without you morons help, what did you expect he would do ?
Simply put, Lieberman is a Zionist.How tragic that he has allowed his extremist views on Middle East policy trump every other issue that he could stand for as a Democrat, from health care to the economy. If one good thing came out of Al Gore losing, it was that Lieberman lost too.
Isnt this an example of bipartisanship we have been yearning for? Way to McCain.
Gee wiz, a Zionist supporting the only guy in the world who supports the Iraq war. What a friggin surprise...
hmmm suprise....
Has anyone noticed Liberman (A Jew) is focused solely on the destruction of islam globally. He would like nothing more than to expand this war and turn this fight against terrorism into a Judeo-Christian crusade. Thus his endorsemnt of John MCcain, though Gulliani may have been a better choice.
Liberman has no aligence with the American people or the democratic party, his religion is his decision. Lets oust this theocrat install a democrat.
Ron Paul is raising millions of dollars as we speak today! Go check it out!
Gungho Joe's endorsement is the kiss of death for McCain.
Any Democrat who voted for Lieberman in the Senatorial election will have to live with that mistake.
George W. has two friends in McCain & Lieberman.
OLD NEWS - Lieberman is log cabin NEOCON, like John McCain.
BREAKING NEWS - Ron Paul recieves $4.39M endorsement today as of 1930 ET.
honestly...what a joke..i'm sooo through taking lieberman seriously; its the exact opposite of Bush:
For SUCH a smart guy,how can he be sooo out of touch...
Mccain "friendlied" up with Bush after schmucko stomped on him in 2000 in the election panic ; that whole scenario told me mccain has lousy principles...
Lieberman McCain and Larry Craig the GOP's three wise men . It appears that this threesome would make a good President,[ VICE] PRESIDENT, and attorney general for the GOP.That scum bag Lieberman would SUCK up to anybody that would get his name in the paper. One more reason that if the state of Connecticut had any B-lls they would remove that piece of crap from his Senate seat immediatley. What a low life.
Scott, Manchester,NH:
Couldn't agree more.
I hope the rest of NH is as smart as you.
Gee, what a surprise! Who'd have ever thought Lieberman would support the Bush Republican!
McCain is pro-war in the Middle East
Lieberman is pro Isreal
Do you think there is a connection?
Lieberman is a undercover Republican!
Everytime I think about Joe Lieberman, I recall how he sold out the ticket in his 2000 debate with Dick Cheney. Well now I understand. I used to think it was simply a pitiful performance. Now I see it was his way of "endorsing" a GOP candidate.
Good for Lieberman!!!! It would not surprise me to see him jump parties. The Democrats are a bunch of poll driven, spineless, short sighted idiots that appeal to those of the same cloth. For the life of me I do not understand people that support politicians whose opinions change in the wind and do not have the political courage to make a stand on principle (ie Clinton, Pelosi...), whether it is popular or not. For that I give Lieberman credit.
Mr. Lieberman get over it, you should know by now that you are out in left field,or I mean Right, no Indpendent, I feel sorry for you.
McCain and Leiberman,perfect together. The next leaders of Israel.
Lieberman/Mccain – Another marriage made in Heaven.
Lieberman is all for Joe, period. Ned Lamont came out of nowhere and threw the fear of God into him.
Soon he will be standing alone, and he'll come crawling back to the voters of CT begging for forgiveness.
Meanwhile, the likes of Hannity and Limpbaugh will lead him around by the nose and proclaim him as their long- lost savior.
A pathetic little man, that Joe Lieberman.
Folks, it is interesting that not one of you touched the issue of Lieberman's religion (except for Sharyn from CT). He is a devoted jew and, with all respect to those, will see the world through those glasses. Unfortunately to the US, this will just escalate all neutral approach to end the war in Iraq. It is also interesting, that many of our leading political figures with jewish descent woould like to solve the Arab world's century old questioins... They will not listen to us!! We need to send envoys with not caracteristically emphasized religious background to mediate in the Arab world.
I remember before the 2000 election he was asked about his religion (how to solve a national crisis on a given Saturday... He said that he still would not touch phone but would ask an aid to do things for him... he had a hard time to answer) We truly need to separate religion and politics / national issues to deserve a credit from the world to be listened to. We need to give more chance for truly independent politicians, who would not care about party lines but focus on real problem solving. And without religious convictions.
S.
Well, unless one was born last night or sometime after the mid-term election in 2006, this is a "PAYBACK" to the Democratic Party. If Joe didn't throw his support behind McCain he'd have thrown it behind the guy from Arkansas.
Good luck Joe Lieberman!
This is based on conspiracy theory.
If the false jews that control America want McCain as president, I say game over. Why even bother with the formalities?
He has NO support. So it will be interesting to see him win. If he does, it is ONLY because of rigging.
This will be interesting to watch. Especially since he has no ideas that are revolutionary and that define him. He might as well run as George J. Bush.
What a weisel- I hope McCain chooses Lieb as his running mate- that way the GOP will surely lose.
... quote: I love all the brain-dead idiots on here saying "you can have Lieberman." First of all, moderates like Lieberman are the reason the Dems have control of the Senate right now. Without Pro-gun John Tester and Jim Webb, anti-abortion Bob Casey Jr., and pro-war Joe Lieberman do you know what you brain surgeons have? You have a 53-47 Republican controlled senate. That's why the Democrats got drubbed till Howard Dean took over, Howard Dean realized that the Democrats NEED moderates on their side. So, you all just keep raging against people who don't hang pictures of Karl Marx on their walls, hopefully you all take over the Democratic party and we can watch it go down in flames at long last." Posted By Anonymous, Somewhere, MI : December 16, 2007 5:29 pm
ANON in MI – the stupidity of the masses is truly appalling!! The majority of the DEMwits STIL don't have a clue... I suspect most don't even know who Joe Lieberman is, let alone WHY he is so important to the Democrats. After what happened in the primaries I really figured he'd go with the GOP. Of course he ONLY innitially got dumped because of his support for the Iraq war, so either his constituents suddenly had a panic attack after realizing what they'd done or they decided he wasn't so bad after all... Either way just goes to show that the election is never over til it's over.
As to the med-school drop-outs, they are all goo goo eyed over the new American Idol who hasn't the brains God got a gnat – merely bought into all the media hype during the 2004 Elections... and now thinks he's the new Messiah. Yeah like his visions of hope instead of experience are going to run the country = Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. he's NOT. Oprah's garish carnival hawking of the kewpie doll was a total embarrassment to the whole country and not just the Dems. AND then to proclaim that he was "THE ONE" – and the answer to Dr. King Jr's DREAM made me puke. I doubt Oprahbamarama even know what MLK's "I have a Dream Speech" truly means...
I think McCain has lived his whole life as a fine and decent man of integrity. I wish he would have won in 2000 instead of being swiftboated by the shameless whisper campaign in SC spread by the Bush operatives. Either we would have never gotten into the Iraq mess (since McCain can actually "comprehend" was he is reading) or he would have gotten the job done right in Iraq as well as Afghanistan from the get go. The only time I thought he showed lack of character is when he reconciled with Bush.
As far as the Obiwankenobi wannabe goes = the more enlightened Democrats would be celebrating in the streets if he defected to the GOP. Speculation is that he'll probably declare himself an Independent, if he doesn't get the Dem nod and then might run with Bloomberg = Bloomberg/Obama.
ANYONE BUT OBAMA in '08
Us geriatrics need to stick together!!!
Who cares!! It is RON PAUL time, all aboard if you want less govt and more of your earned income.
Turncoat.
I hope 95 year old Mama McCain doesn't blurt-out anything bad about Jews, like she did about the Mormons last month. Keep your fingers crossed John and put your hands over your ears Joe!
How long will it be until this guy finally decides to be honest with the American people and declare himself to be a Republican? Right now claiming to be independent so he can play in both parties is dishonest.
Well, that's the kiss of death for McCain. Having Joe "Rubberlips" endorsement is akin to getting a love letter from Jack Abramoff or Scooter Libby...other fine men of Liebermanns calibre.
Just peachy. And to think I voted for him with Gore in 2000. Another reason to boot "Traitor Joe" out of the party. Most would wait until the general election to reach beyond the party, but not Lieberman. No wonder the Dems in Connecticut tried to show him the door.
McCain is the only republican with a shot of beating Obama or Hillary. Face it.
As a Democrat I WOULD vote for McCain if Obama gets the Democratic nomination... Despite holding a few different viewpoints from the GOP, I would rather have someone in the Oval Office who actually KNOWS the difference between a Driver's License and a Learners Permit. A REALLY REALLY REALLY SCARY THOUGHT!!!
I love reading comments from you Dem's, most of you are so uninformed and blindly follow the Democratic party that it's scary to think you have the right to vote. The Dem's abandoned Lieberman in 2006 and then wine like a bunch of baby's when he doesn't follow the Democratic doctrine or blindly support them for old times sake. You should count your blessings that he is the swing vote in the senate and usually supports the Dems. By the way, since you don't seem to know this I'll clue you in, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are losers. They swich positions depending on what state they are in and will not directly answer questions.. they just do the potomac two step around the issues... But you can't or won't see this, you just vote for whoever your union tell's you to vote for.....sad !
Obama and Oprah has pushed civil rights back about 50 years. Obama needs a mama. I guess thats Oprah. This only shows he can not stand a long .In other words he has to stand behide a woman. That just lets me know that i'm going to vote for Hillary.By the way Obama i hope you didn't think that crowd came to see are lesson to you.Oh Please
don't be surprise people! Sen. Lieberman's loyalty lies with the state of Israel. he believes in his heart that he must do what he can to protect them. It is only natural that an un-stable Iraq can only hurt Israel in the most immediate term. Good for him to be able to support his friend. Remember we wanted the Jewish vote in 2000 that is why we got Joe... too bad he couldn't speak the same hebrew in Florida... then again... maybe he learned it now... VP in the works again for the senator?
HOW ABOUT RON PAUL RAISING OVER 5.1 MILLION AND STILL 3 HOURS LEFT TODAY????? ISN'T THAT NEWS?
Loser endorses loser. Big deal.
Well, McCain is the only sane choice for the Republicans. Second best choice is Huckabee. Guiliani, Romney and Thompson are unelectable.
My vote is for Obama, if Clinton gets the nomination, I would vote for McCain. Third choice is the third party candidate.
Are you tired of the John and Joe show?
Vote Ron Paul. Donate to Ron Paul tonight, and be part of history, the highest one day political donation total ever! We're already over 5 million!
Some of you are so blind to your politics its disgusting. People that have the courage to cross party lines should be applauded not attacked. You may not agree with all of his positions but do yourself a favor and at least listen to ONE McCain speech and then make your decision. Blindly supporting or opposing someone b/c of the D or R by their name is about the dumbest thing I can think of. I wish political parties were illegal. Half of you who hate Bush would probably like him and vice-versa.
Joe lieberman should use his real name,"JUDAS LIEBERMAN".
Lol!
ps – Obama 2008
Lieberman has made it official. He is a Republican in a clown suit. Another of the armchair, borrow, and spend war hawks, that would follow Bush to the gates of hell.
This shouldn't surprise anyone – Lieberman may sit in on Democratic strategy sessions but he hasn't been a Democrat in years.
McCain doesn't stand a chance, unless things change drastically (like he calls someone a macaca), but this ought to cement Lieberman as an outsider.
He's still playing the same game that that pathetic Georgia hillbilly Zell Miller started. If either of them had become Republicans, as they should have, they would have immediately been nobodies. But since they endorse people in the other party they can simultaneously grab splashy headlines and seem "bipartisan," though in Lieberman's case, "sickeningly unctuous" would be more like it,
Ask yourself if anybody would give a rat's ass who Lieberman supported if it would have been a Democrat. There would have been no headlines.
So what?
A failed plotician supports another!
A religious militant who never served. Very dangerous man. Deceptive.
hey you can have that looser the A team john mccain joe lieberman VP. hey McCain maby you could ask sen.Larry Craig to endorse you sense you are lowering your standard
Lieberman, as an Orthodox Jew, has said clearly he supports and advocates military action and isolationism against Muslims and not always just the radical kind. He questioned the peace keeping discussions enacted by President Clinton, doubted the sincerity of Israeli Sharon, and spoke up against any peace talks with Palestinians. Only when convenient, in other words looking for donations or actively running, did he try to sounds sincerely concerned. He's a Chickenhawk that neocons can be proud of.
So out come all the Democrat fundamentalists and Howard Dean Nazis to denounce a man who is prepared to think independently for the benefit of America. Stupid Democrats can never understand they have become the fringe of American politics and the only reason they ever get to elect anybody is because voters are voting against someone else.
It's sad to see so many people castigating Lieberman, when he in fact is one of the few people in Congress who has shown the ability to be objective, thoughtful, and bipartisan. Based on the comments on this board, partisanship is alive and well...which is pathetic.
He speaks his mind, he's smart, and he's level-headed. The fact that partisan Democrats can't stand him is simply indicative of how pathetic the whole political process is now. I'm a Republican, and we're no better with most of our candidates.
Put down McCain and Lieberman if you want, but if you took off the labels and looked at what they've done, and what they've said, you'll see they've demonstrated an objectivity and bipartisanship that is absent in most of the other candidates. Or are you so swayed by personality?? Me, I'll take capability, intellect and judgment over soundbites, haircuts and fashion statements when it comes to who is leading our country.
Mr. Irrelevant endorsing Mr. Irrelevant!
Once again Lieberman shows his true allegence is to Israel, not the United States.
Excellent post by Prateek Kumar. Sad that so many people seem to care more about the party than the individual. If the primaries don't give us independents a good choice (such as McCain/Graham vs. Biden/Obama), the Unity08 ticket might do very well...
McCain has a stronger character, but his chief distinction from his rivals is not that he understands the need for immigration reform, reduced subsidies, and commitment where we use force abroad, but rather that he's the one who took political risk to find the consensus solutions we need from DC.
John and Joe have one thing in common, they back up their beliefs no matter what their party thinks. I have a lot of respect for both although I doubt Joe's support will help John gain any traction in his campaign. In my view, anyone who votes their party line without respect to the person that is running is just plain foolish. Both parties will let you down in the long run.
Joe Lieberman is a good decent person. He has integrity and principles. His endorsement of McCain is a very big deal.
some people would condemn anyone who endorsed the candidate they don't like or endorsed candidates from different party. Do they know that Sen. Joe is an independent? He's no longer a democrat. Fellow democrats dumped him during his re-election. He amazed me that he still vote in favor of Democrat in the Senate. without his vote, Democrats would have a hard time to have majority voice there.
I lost all respect for McCain back in 2000 when he let Bush and his cronies smear him for his military service.
Mc Cain has no chance to win and now has even less of a chance with irrelevant Lieberman endorsing him.
John McCain and ONLY John McCain could save us from world domination of the Islamic people.I am shocked to see the American people asleep on this matter.
hey you can have that good old republican you need him The A team looses
A Loserman supports a has been!
Hillary and Bill must be loving this! Didn't they support him in CT? Hey Dem's, in case you still aren't clued in yet …. Lieberman is not your ally. Why are you treating him as such? Why is Liebermann attending Democratic strategy meetings?
Posted By Bill G., Phila, PA : December 16, 2007 3:49 pm
Obama supported Lieberman. Lieberman is Obama's mentor in the Senate. Hillary was helping Lamont.
nobody cares; he's an egomaniac and people are tired of him.
No shock. Poor Joey's been suffering an identity crisis since Bush gave him the kiss of death after the latter's State of the Union.
Lieberman sold moderates down the river, and was being paid back by Herr Bush.
Is that surprising. One Neocon nutter endorses another? Why does McCain always look like he has a cucumber up his you know what? Did he learn that from the Clint Eastwood school for drama?
Well lets just say it – Lieberman is for Isreal so fanatically that he would drag this country into any military adventure even remotely endangering Isreal. What this war hawk doesn't get is that Isreal can fend for itself, very well thank you.
But old blood thirsty Lieberman wants us to send our sons and daughters to die in the sand for his religious beliefs.
See what lobby driven politics has gotten us.
In my opinion he is a patriot for a foreign country and a traitor to the interests of this nation.
He is full of it !!!
And we are on to him.
Obama 08
"This endorsement could help emphasize McCain's national security standing, show he is able to work across party lines, and perhaps help persuade independent voters in New Hampshire to support his presidential bid."
Wrong, wrong and wrong.
McCain's "national security standing" disappeared when he began rubber-stamping President George "Criminal Traitor" Bush. McCain has become spineless.
McCain is *not* working across party lines. Lieberman quit being a Democrat the day our Worst. President. Ever. bussed him on national TV.
If New Hampshire's "independent" voters are really independent, they will not support a man who will not say a bad word about the man who trashed his family and his reputation. That man, of course, was Dubya.
Don't mention Ron Paul's record haul at all CNN – it's totally irrelevant. Your viewers and readers have no need to know. He is a longshot kook after all, right? Man, I thought Washington was corrupt or are you just lazy journos?
Senator McCain has a record of working across party lines for decades. He could also work with President G.W. Bush after problems during the election.
Lieberman has the infatuation with "Global Terrorism". The real national security threat is the cost
of this war which is happily underwritten by the Chinese who in turn
have gotten increased leverage over us.
So how can we can we fight "Global Warming" when we have no leverage over
the biggest polluters being the Chinese
who have in the past, threaten to dump
their positions in U.S. Treasury Bonds
threatening our economy. The biggest threat to America, not Isreal is China.
The real enemy is China..........
As usual, anyone willing to think for himself rather than mindlessly following his party's rhetoric is branded a traitor.
This is the sort of close minded thinking that sunk the Republicans in 2006. Wise up, Democrats, or you're next.
And then maybe we can get a good, strong independent candidate who can think for himself and is not beholden to party lines. Just what America needs to balance out the far right evangelical crazies and the far left moveon.org socialist bozos.
Hmmm... A person I can respect endorsing a person I can respect...
How unusual...
Lieberman didn't leave the Democratic Party, the party left him. Come general election time, that'll make a pretty good theme for Republicans. A lot of moderates who haven't drunk the liberal kool-aid still respect Lieberman. I can hear the pitch now: Heap praise on Lieberman, then point out that he wasn't the kind of candidate the Democrats want... so do we want to go with someone they do find acceptable?
On Sunday, 12/16/07, Ron Paul broke campaign fundraising records set by two prominent Democrats - surpassing John Kerry's 2004 record of 5.7 million, as well as Hillary Clinton's [disputed] record of 6.2 million in a single day. If the GOP wises up, they will realize Ron Paul's viability against the Democrats - or , more importantly, his superiority to the hollow, pre-packaged choices being offered by both parties. The GOP may just have to view Dr. Paul as a "necessary evil". That's what I have had to do with my vote for the last eight years.
RP08
thejaykob@hotmail.com
Lieberman was a turncoat from the beginning, a Tory of the worst kind working with the enemy. To this day I still can't figure out what was in the mind of the Ohio voter when they put this clown in office. They should have known he was just a GOP agent, and he is singlehandedly responsible for switching sides and hamstringing Democratic progress in the Senate. Its not a do-nothing congress....its a congress held back by the GOP nutjobs that gave us endless war, ignored terrorism, made enemies of our former friends, put is in crushing debt, abandoned New Orleans because it was mostly black, ignored federal laws, tortured, gave tax money to mercenaries and cronies and now has given us the wonders of the mortgage crisis. That was just a quick summary, the true list of crimes is too long to post here.
Liebermann is a self serving back stabbing idiot who has been in bed with Bush since before the 2004 election. Once the dems get a more solid majority in the senate after 2008, they should spit him out like bad meat. In fact, they should just strip him of all leadership posts now, and let him become a republican, and let CT wake up to his ways .
Democrats are terrorists... killing babies, marrying men, and cloning humans = human race Eradication.. Either you’re with us, or against us. McCain is the only one. Unless...................bush 08 bush 08 bush 08 bush 08
Why Harry Reid would say that he has "the greatest respect for Joe" is beyond me. Time and time again, Joe Lieberman has proven to be dishonest and dishonorable. Joe Lieberman has been, in all but name, a Republican at least since the begining of the Bush administration. To say he is not endorsing the party, is a lie. Joe is also doing this to cement his power should the Republicans win the White House. If the Democrats have any brains or backbone, Once they pick up another Senate seat or two, they will strip him of all leadership responsibility and exile him to political Siberia. He is a dispicable human being.
P.S. – Joe is not from Ohih or N.H. He's from CT. People need to get their facts straight when laying blame for this Political abortion! The voters of CT have spoken and without doubt, lyin' Joe will be re-elected in 2010.
liberman was born a trader.
First, I'm voting for Hillary so the endorsement doesn't matter to me. Second, I live in CT and am disgusted that Joe has used the support of this wealthy and very educated state to support his own personal agenda. True Democrats here are ashamed of his war support. Who cares who you endorse, Joe? You're only in the news because you're such a turncoat!
Lieberman has more integrity and character than most on Capital Hill, especially on the Democrat side of the aisle. Apparently the Democrats cannot tolerate independent thinkers in their Party. Just look how they all follow the Party line that they formulate once they get popular support from the American people. Democrats support an issue if things go fine, but if events change, they withdraw support on a dime. Where's the conviction from these weasels? First they supported the war, now they don't; first they supported CIA interrogation techniques, now they don't; first they supported Lieberman, now they don't.
Lieberman and McCain are yesterday's news. Ron Paul in 2008.
I certainly think less of Lieberman now.
Lieberman is looking out for Israel and war monger McCain is his man!
Two pathetic men!
Hmmm. I don't know about that one. I'm a left-leaning independent, but I like McCain. Even his Iraq stance is somewhat appealing to me. But his rhetoric is nowhere near as bellicose as Lieberman's in regard to Iran. VP candidate, perhaps?? I think so.
What a huge surprise, they both love war. Geez, our country is heading for a potential disaster if McCain gets elected.
"Friends, Romans, Countrymen!" I'm sorry. For some reason Julius Ceasar comes to mind. Boy, what loyalty! Why would anyone care about the opinion of a traitor? Anyone remember Zell Miller?
You people should be ashamed of yourselfs. Joe was a leading dem for many years. He was loved by the party.
Joe didn't bail on the dems, the dems bailed on him. He had to become an I.
If all dems and reps were like McCain and Lieberman, we would be way better off than we are today
And Joe is from CT not NH. If you are going to make mean comments, at least know what you are talking about.
How about an independent moderate ticket: McCain-Lieberman?
What could it hurt? It would give Republicans a decent ticket to vote for and would bring some new issues to the race.
Does anyone really care what a political never-been thinks?
You people ripping Joe are clueless........he just doesn't want to support a Dem loser!!
From an independant from Bristol Ct.
BIG DEAL!
Re: The Ron Paul posts
WHO CARES! So he raised some more money. The guy is a loon. I like the IDEA of what he preaches, but, he is way to out there.
Getting rid of medicaid/medicare. You just lost every senior citizen/poor persons vote. Doing away with the FDA?
Who will watch over the drug industry?
No DOE. Skyrocketing energy costs!
Pulling all troops out of every county. Bad idea!
He is going to be on Russert next sunday. This will be the last we hear from him. All it will take is a few up front questions, and people will write him off.
There is an old saying, "Birds of a feather stick together".
These two are both loosers.
Lieberman = Benedict Arnold
As I read all the hate-filled, venomous attacks on Senator Lieberman from the liberals, it dawned on me that on the ticker, the most hateful mean spirited, negative people are always the liberals.
Why are liberals so mean and negative?
2 old skeletons with white hair joining forces. This would be a great ticket for President of the Elderly Community Chapter.
McCain-Lieberman 2008
On Sunday, 12/16/07, Ron Paul broke campaign fundraising records set by two prominent Democrats ..." Jacob from Chattanooga
To dream the impossible dream! Ron Paul is still languishing at 5%-6% in the polls. The true believers still cling to the shreds of their tattered dream that if we would all just listen to Libertarians we will all be convinced. We've all listened and we've all changed the channel.
Paul is as dingy as all the other Libertarians, adrift in a fantasy world.
TO: Tim of Edison, N.J.
How right you are.
Lieberman is not a member of the United States Congress. He looks out more for his beloved Israel than the American voters and taxpayers.
Posted By Timothy / Edison, NJ : December 16, 2007 4:07 pm
And does anyone REALLY care? McCain is from another era (as is Leiberman).
If America wasn't ready for a Jewish man in office, what makes them think a woman or an African-American man are gonna make it either? Now everyone's rallying around Romney (even though Mormanism is as controversial in the Christian culture as Judiesm, Muslimism or Buddism?).
This country has gone to hell in a handbasket. Don't think we're not going to have a recession or even a depression. Every man, woman and child is burdeoned with a $30K debt as we speak. WHOEVER gets elected is going to have a large hole to climb out of!
Lieberman is not only a paranoid, he is completely duped by this Bush era perverted obsession with terror. This milquetoast elitist wimp has become an unwitting stooge of the neocons, and I predict he'll join the ranks of the GOP next year. Good riddance, wimp! Starting in 2009 the Senate Democrats won't need you anyway!
I'm not the least bit surprised. Although I think that if McCain does not get the nomination and Bloomberg jumps in as an independent, Lieberman will endorse him for the general then. Lieberman is basically your last remaining "Scoop Jackson" Democrat. Bloomberg is his perfect fit but I see a decent match with McCain also.
These guys are basically internationalists just like President Bush but obviously disagree with each other on a number of domestic issues. But Lieberman's probabaly had it up to here with the increasingly isolationist Democratic Party that keeps turning towards protectionist and hands-off America-first approaches, whihc are just not practical in today's globalized world.
I'm tempted to move to CT just to get a chance to cast a vote against Lieberman, as self-serving a politician as they come... But then I'd have to live in a state surrounded by "independents" who were dumb enough to vote for him after he lost his in own primary.
These old, corrupt Senators get so much power that thier constituents won't abandon them ever for a "freshman" senator.
"Go Joe" -> please, just go away. You're an embarassment to the democratic party, and a total liability to this country's sense of integrity... because you have none.
I used to like McCain, but the Lieberman endorsement would make me far less liekly to vote for him in the general '08 election.
As Joe knows, beware of backstabbing democrats..
The Freedom of Expression is tantamount to Holy Writ for me and I object to virtually all attempts to restrict it. That said, given the numerous outright anti-Semitic remarks spread throughout these comments, I do wonder just what it is that CNN asseses before it agrees to post our comments.
Certainly a person has the legal right to be prejudiced and anti-Semitic but in my opinion, CNN would be acting within appropriate guidelines to reject comments that are not on topic. I also believe that intelligent people can make the determination that Joe's religious heritage is irrelevant to a civilized political discussion and shouild be rejected on that account alone without regard for the offensive nature of the anti-Jewish observations of some of the commentators here.
I am not a liberal PC fanatic-though I am quite proud to be a liberal–and I will not censor anyone's opinion simply beccause it is offensive to me. We are not guaranteed the freedom from being offended. The First Amendment protects unpopular opinions and minority opinions-popular ideas do not need protection-but when the electorate is reduced to employing religious/cultural prejudice as its vehicle for political discourse, American values at their best are being injured for everyone.
God knows one hasn't to look very hard to find substantive issues about which to confront Lieberman, we do not need to fall back on our collective ignorance and cultural prejudices to make our points. I can and do object strongly to his policies on Palestine and his position is likely informed in part on his faith; however, I can attack his Israeli policy without attacking his religion. With a few Maker's Marks and a warm fire I could debate Joe all night about the foolishness of a cosmology developed by a tribal, nomadic, premodern bunch of sheepherders in the millenia preceding the Christian claims of a Holy birth two thousand years ago. But, challenging his religion-actually most of the comments above were more epithet than idea–in a political debate is needlessly offensive, off-point, contray to our traditions in theory and they reflect a big part of the American problem without shining any light on it.
CNN, do your moderating job!
Again, the position stated here is not meant to suggest that I support in any way this weasel of a man, Joe Lieberman. Contrary to the truisms stated repeatedly in these comments, Joe is NOT thinking independently, he is talking in sync with the late Karl Rove's talking points to which most conservatives refer in lieu of a personal effort to gather information and then formulate one's position on any given issue. I beg any of his supporters above to find one Lieberman speech that did not echo what the WH was saying at that time. You will not find one. An "independent thinker" would be one who looks at the lost war in Iraq and thinks through to a rational conclusion to the war that is not informed by political considerations. THAT would be independent- and a shocker. Lieberman hasn't voiced an independent opinion since he arrived in DC.
Endorsing McCain is a political calculation, NOT a principled stand--even if almost anything looks principled after 7 years of lies and deceptions and horrific war.
CNN, do your moderating job! And thanks for the forum you provide.
Lieberman only a tool for the hawkish Israeli PAC's who hold sway in Washington and he will do anything to back who he thinks will do the most dammage against the Muslim nations in the middle east. There is no excuse for someone who promised to be a strong advocate for democratic causes (as he did during his re-election) to support such a right wing candidate. Shame on you little Lieberman. Just try to get re-elected now!!!! Never happen!!!!!
This is great! Even the Democrats are opening their eyes and voting for Republicans!
Larry in Columbus:
Great post. I'm sure you will agree it is so sad to see individuals on this site who stupidly scream "traitor", "loser", "has-been", "neo-con", etc. in all their partisan posts when to me it is so refreshing to see politicians who actually stand for something and who are viewed as being non-partisan.
My wish for the new year is for an informed and enlightened electorate that can think beyond party talking points (both sides if the aisle). It's sad that a moderate dem and a moderate republican are villified and criticized rather than admired and championed.
Lieberman, McCain?
Romney and Pat Robertson?
Cats and Dogs living together! It's the end of the world as we know it!
Lieberman is to the Democrats what Giuliani is to the Republicans.
At least Giuliani is relevant.
THANK YOU JOE; for standing up to these Dems who have stabbed you in the back too often: (See: Al Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean-2003 and Dem Senators endorsing Ned Lamont-2006). Joe was the only reason that Gore even had a chance of winning in 2000-otherwise Bush would have won handily. Gore still lost b/c he was such a bad candidate with no leadership ability-yet this is how he thanked Joe-stabbing him in the back!
Lieberman cares about nothing except Israel.
I wonder who Al Bore is endorsing...
Ha Ha!!
a rebel
LIEBERMAN SUPPORTS MCCAIN, NOT BECAUSE HE IS BEST FOR AMERICA, BUT BECAUSE HE IS BEST FOR ISRAEL.