Lieberman: McCain best able to break through partisanship
Lieberman officially backed McCain Monday.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Democrat turned Independent, announced Monday he is backing Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, an endorsement that could help the Arizona senator court independent voters in the crucial primary state of New Hampshire.
"I know it's unusual for a Democrat to be endorsing a Republican," Lieberman said at a New Hampshire press conference with McCain and former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge in New Hampshire. "It's even unusual for an independent Democrat like me to be endorsing a Republican."
"You know, political parties are important in our country," he continued. "But they're not more important than what's best for our country, they're not more important than friendship, they're not more important than our future. And that's why I'm proudly here to urge Republicans and Independents in New Hampshire to come out on January 8 and make John McCain the next president of the United States."
Lieberman, the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee in 2000, said McCain is the presidential contender best able "to break through the partisanship that is poisoning our politics today and stopping us from getting anything done in Washington."
In accepting Lieberman's backing, McCain said, "It is one of the great honors of my political career to have known him, to have worked with him, and to have received his endorsement."
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.
CNNPolitics.com: Lieberman: McCain can reunite our country
- CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
From CNN Politics
- White House says it's seeking more information on 'horrific' footage of Border Patrol agents confronting Haitian immigrants September 21, 2021 02:38 am
- Texas doctor who says he performed abortion sued in first known challenges under new law September 21, 2021 02:36 am
- January 6 committee chairman says panel could start issuing subpoenas 'within a week' September 21, 2021 02:27 am
- Open warfare breaks out between liberals and moderates over Biden agenda September 21, 2021 02:22 am
- Supreme Court will hear major Mississippi abortion case in December September 21, 2021 01:52 am
- Democrats set up showdown with GOP by attaching debt limit to bill to avert government shutdown September 21, 2021 01:37 am
It would be nice if Lieberman would just cut the cord and become a Republican. This man has become an embarrassment to all of the people that supported him when he ran for VP. I know I'm embarrassed.
OK all you hate filled idiots!
What did Joe do? So he lost a primary and decided to run as an I. He wone, and now you refer to him as disloyal?
You are the same people who yell and scream about Bush's partisan politics.
Disloyal? Hypocrites!
I don't see the logic behind Joe's thought process. He has endorsed a man who knows nothing about unity. Polls suggest Mccain may not even carry his own home state in the primary. He is in essence an irrelevant throwback to a time when more informed Republicans were desperate to avoid nominating the impending trainwreck of Bush Part 2 for the presidency. Joe has all but assured his alienation in Senate decision making. Has he ever had a platform anyway, other than increasing foreign aid to Israel and searching for new countries to invade?
Didn't Benedict Arnold live in Connecticut, too???
"...in fact I was hoping in '04 that Kerry would pick him as a running mate over Lieberman."
Good God, my mistake. I was hoping Kerry would pick McCain over Edwards, not Lieberman, obviously.
Joe is the man! Al Gore was lucky to have a serious thinker like Lieberman on his ticket-otherwise Gore would have gotten creamed in 2000.
And then Gore went behind Joe's back to endorse Howard Dean in 2003. And now the DLC is complaining?? Haha! This is too funny and serves them right!!
Someone on this comment page actually compared Nutso Joe to JFK. I remember JFK. Joe IS NO JFK.To even think so is beyond comprehension.
It's a shame most of the comments here do not see the Big Picture! Making you a Republican or a Democrat should not define all of your political beliefs- that would just makes you a sheep. In choosing a presedient we need the shepard. If you look at the two politicians, their beliefs are almost completely in line reguardless of political affiliation. I commend Joe for being a great leader who votes on the issues, not on what his party to tells him to.
The president's responsibility is to the people (most of which are of centrist view) not to the Right and Left Wingers who help fund the advertisements...
The ignorance and hatred that gets posted when someone crosses party lines is despicable. When I vote for a representative, at any level, I'm not voting for someone to take care of what ever pointless party they're named under, but to look out for the best interest of the Nation. And all the little puppets dance for the GOP and the DNC, and shake your fists when candidates are open minded and make moral decisions should be ashamed of yourselves.
You won't be, and you'll continue to shake your fists, and brand those who cross party lines as traitors as always. Just keep dancing, we need the entertainment.
Why is an Israeli senator giving endorsements in the US?
This is the US keep your opinions in Israel, do US senators give Israelis endorsements too?
It is hilarious to watch Democrats bend over backwards to villify Liebermann for supporting a Republican.
John Kerry wason the verge of asking John McCain to be his VP. (hte only reason it didn't happen was because McCain refused.) Democrats were ecstatic, however, at what they viewed as Kerry's bipartisanship for the good of the country.
Liebermann supports a Republican, and he is the devil on earth.
Apparantly bipartisanship is good when you do it to get a Democrat elected but evil when it is to get a Republican elected.
Dont care if Joe is a Republican or whatever. I am against Joe because he tows the Bush administration war line. Joe has his head in the sand for thinking Israel is not at least part of the problem in the Middle East. His Israel 1st policy does not help peace, it simply further cements the divide.
So no, I am not a 'Joe HAter', but I dont agree with his thinking on the issues.
Leiberman has done nothing but lose and stab his party in the back. He's grabbing at straws at this point. Lots-a-luck Joe. You'll need it.
Kevin:
I agree with you completely; these hate-filled posts are reprehensible and clearly from people whose hate for the current administration is off the charts.
WHAT PART OF LIEBERMAN'S COMMENTS DON'T YOU LIKE? The part about there's too much partisanship, or the part about the good of the country being first and foremost? He votes the way he believes, and there are MANY people (a large number in the middle) who feel the same way he does.
If we had more Liebermans and fewer Clintons, Edwards', and their counterpart partisan Republicans, we'd be a LOT better off. You want the opposite of Lieberman? Pelosi. You pick which type of person you'd rather have in Washington in Congress.
Try hating less and thinking more.
Lieberman is a traitor to his party. When the Democrats win big next year,
we won't need him anymore. I hope he is stripped of all his lucrative committee posts.
Although I am definately LEFT of CENTER and generally support all Democrats, how can one can call Lieberman a traitor? The man is following his beliefs and not playing politics. While I do not agree with McCain or him on Iraq, I do agree with not always being partisan. This could serve as a paragon on Bi-Partisanship and actually making policy, rather than constant disagreements with NO RESULTS.
To everyone that called him an idiot or traitor, two words: GROW UP.
Ok,OK, calm down haters your getting all lathered up about somthing your leftie side caused in the first place Your dem leaders chose not to support lieberman , they did not give him the nod at the last election. It forced him to run as an independent and once again your side acted hastely and and hatefully by making references to his loyalty to the dems. WELL he won the election and once again we all see how you guys react when somthing good happens. partisans working together is good for america after twenty some years of BUSH/CLINTON politics. One more thing,,,, what is a sword of damocle Tom from NM ???? please dont take offense Its just an odd thing to say in reference to liebermans part of gores run at office and I would like to know how it applies
What an IDIOT! The people of Vermont had the chance to rid our country of the ignorance of this man. After losing his primary as the Democratic hopeful and then won as a Independent. He is a former vice-presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket who is of the Jewish Religion and he backs a Republican HAWK like McCain. through this fool out at the next election and return your state to some level of competence.
Israel does not have Senators, they have a parliamentary system. So your bigotry is rooted in stupidity as well as ignorance..
Who is going to believe Leiberman? Gosh....he defected as democrat because he tried rather to follow the Bush administration for the best of his interest. Here Leiberman goes again endorsing McCain. What best of his interest he sees on McCain? Well, he is doing everythin he can to fit.
It is just sad that he fails on his loyalty to the democrats. It is really sad what's happeing to Leiberman. He is not sure I believe where to go or who he needs to hold on that will be of his best interest.
what makes this story so relevant is the fact the far left came out of the woodwork in 06 to get rid of Joe Lieberman !!
CT is as blue as a state can get !! but even in a Dem stonghold like CT when faced with a choice between a moderate (Ind) like Joe Lieberman, and a left winger like Lamont who was backed 100% by the Dailykos MoveOn types!! then the people of CT chose Joe !!
Watch for the same in 08 and if the Dem's do win in 08 watch for far left to turn on them too !!
Shame, shame, shame, on the far left who chased Joe into McCains arms !!
and koodo's to Joe Lieberman for sticking to his guns and looking out for the USA !!
– Jeff Badura