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Lieberman on His Private Chat with Obama, Rev. Wright, and How McCain is Picking Up the Gore-Lieberman Foreign Policy Mantle
June 26, 2008 5:13 PM
In an interview on the ABC News Shuffle Podcast today (listen HERE) Sen. Joe Lieberman, the independent Democrat from Connecticut, made his case for the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., saying, "I’m going to make a provocative statement: in many ways I think John McCain on Foreign Policy is closer to where Al Gore and I were in 2000, then Barack Obama is."
Lieberman made the comment in the midst of acknowledging that on domestic issues ranging from the economy to health care his positions more closely align with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois. "On domestic policy, you’re right. I’m closer on a lot of issues, not all, to Obama," Lieberman said. "But the big difference for me is, McCain will actually get something done. It’s one thing to say where you are on a policy and give a good speech, but McCain as president will actually get something done."
That's because of McCain's willingness to take political risks to hammer out bipartisan compromises, Lieberman argued, saying that and McCain's position on foreign policy/national security issues are why the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee would consider speaking at the 2008 Republican National Convention, a step that might cause the Democratic Senators with whom he caucuses to revoke his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee should they win more seats this November and no longer need his vote.
"It might, I don’t know," Lieberman acknowledged. "Obviously that’s up to my colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus, presumably they’ll be more of them next year than there are today. But, of course, I hope that I’m judged on my voting record, on my life-long membership in the Democratic Party, and on the job that I’ve done on all the committees on which I serve, including the Homeland Security Committee, which I chair."
Lieberman elaborated to ABC News on his much-discussed conversation on the Senate floor with Obama, where the presumptive Democratic nominee expressed displeasure that Lieberman hadn't pushed back enough against the false rumors Obama is a Muslim.
"You know originally I thought, this conversation, like all conversations of its kind ought to remain private, cause that’s what it was, and we said that we thought it was private and it was friendly, which it was," Lieberman said. "Unfortunately somebody on his staff leaked this question about my reaction to the rumors, that are really lies, that he’s a Muslim, and he said that he heard that I had not responded well, he thought, well, to it, and I said I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about .I only remember one time on which I was asked which was during a Florida primary which I was there for Sen. McCain in January. Long before, incidentally, the whole controversy with Rev. Wright. So I answered the question and that was just one part of it."
The first part of the conversation, Lieberman said, was much more upbeat. Lieberman told him that "the fact that the Democratic Party has nominated an African American for the first time as its candidate for president is a very significant event. When I mentioned it to Senator Obama he was kind enough to say to me, look, part of the reason I’m able to do this is, you broke a barrier being the first Jewish American on a national ticket in 2000, and the way you did it, and the way the public reacted to it, in a way, partially cleared, partially cleared a path for me."
Some of their conversation was about "him breaking this barrier, some of it was just plain politics. it began friendly and ended friendly."
And the middle?
"If there was any moment of disagreement it was on the question of his religion and he presented it not in a hostile way," Lieberman said. Obama said, "'I was disappointed when somebody told me that,' and then I said 'I don't know who told you that but that was not the way it was and I would never say that.'"
As a man of faith, an Orthodox Jew, Lieberman said he was "surprised" at "the words that Rev. Wright was saying" since they were so different from the Barack Obama he's come to know.
"In fairness we don't know if Rev. Wright said these inflammatory, anti-American, racial comments every Sunday, but I would not continue to go to a synagogue where that kind of rhetoric was spoken," Lieberman said, adding, "I think it did raise questions in people's minds about why did he stay in the church that long," but he said he would "take (Obama) at his word" and move on.
Lieberman said he wasn't interested in being McCain's vice president and had not been contacted about the job by the McCain campaign. "If he ever asked me I'd urge him to think about that, he can find somebody much better," Lieberman said. "I’m just real happy to be a senator after what I went through in 2006."
You can listen to the ABC News Shuffle Podcast on iTunes or HERE.
The Podcast's executive producer is Julia Hoppock and producer is Natalie Gewargis.
- jpt
June 26, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (60)
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Leiberman continues to annoy, racing toward any camera that will have him, but there is one thing that makes it all a little less insufferable -- and that's the Christmas present Saint Joe will receive shortly after the newly expanded Democratic majority is firmly in place.
Irrelevance. Followed by invisibility. And it couldn't happen to a thinner wit.
Posted by: harley | Jun 26, 2008 11:43:04 PM
Lieberman supports McCain because he knows McCain will have no qualms about attacking Iran.
Posted by: cincyr | Jun 26, 2008 11:03:09 PM
Lieberman is shameless in his quest to be the VP candidate. He is an old, extinct fossil who is backing another old extinct fossil in hopes that he'll get something out of it.
Posted by: Liz | Jun 26, 2008 10:45:42 PM
Lieberman is an OK guy - you can Trust him. Obama is a FRAUD - I don't care what party he is from. This guy will NEVER be elected - he is NOT qualified to lead our country.
Senator Clinton is the best candidate to win back the white house. Too bad the now corrupt DNC selected the WEAK, Radical, Arrogant candidate!
Posted by: Molly | Jun 26, 2008 10:00:52 PM
Lieberman is saying what a lot of us feel. If I heard a Jerry Wright type sermon at my Church I would leave immediately and question whether I should have anything to do with the other parishoners. The only disgrace here is Obama's willingness to remain in that poisonous atmosphere.
I was sorry to see Senator Clinton suspend her campaign. I will sit out or vote McCain in November
Posted by: Carrie | Jun 26, 2008 10:00:44 PM
IF YOU LIKE THIS ECONOMY;
IF YOU LIKE THIS NEVER-ENDING WAR;
IF YOU LIKED HIS VOTE AGAINST A GI BILL FOR IRAQ VETS;
IF LIKE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICES;
IF LIKE THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH;
IF YOU CAN'T WAIT TO INVADE IRAN;
IF YOU LIKE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT;
IF YOU LIKE A PRESIDENT WHO VOTED AGAINST EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN;
IF YOU LIKE A PRESIDENT WHO VOTED AGAINST MATERNITY LEAVE FOR WOMEN;
IF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE END OF ROE V. WADE;
IF YOU LIKE THE UNFAIR TRADE POLICIES THAT SEND JOBS AND TECHNOLOGY OVERSEAS;
IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT PRACTICES TORTURE;
IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT SPIES ON ITS OWN CITIZEN;
IF YOU LIKE THE FACT THAT THE US IS ONE OF THE MOST REVILED NATIONS ON THE PLANET, THEN YOU'LL JUST LOVE McCAIN.
Posted by: democrat | Jun 26, 2008 7:55:30 PM
Posted by: rhbate | Jun 26, 2008 9:48:32 PM
Actually, Lieberman has a lot in common with Jeremiah Wright. They both put the narrow grievances of their ethnicity ahead of being Americans.
Posted by: George Robertson | Jun 26, 2008 9:44:25 PM
Lieberman doesn't deserve any ink, he's a traitor to the Democratic Party. Of course, you could argue that Obama doesn't deserve any ink either, he's a traitor to integrity. I have no opinion on McCain, he's a Republican and Republican's have virtually no principles. That doesn't leave any choices other than a write-in or Nader. Hmmm.
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Obama, the chief architect of BitterGate!!
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Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Jun 26, 2008 9:20:55 PM
I, too, have kids and am voting for McCain. :)
Posted by: Athena | Jun 26, 2008 9:19:20 PM
I LOVE MCCAIN, AND I HAVE KIDS!
Posted by: Jaison | Jun 26, 2008 9:10:37 PM
As the 3rd senator from Israel,what else could he say?
Posted by: bskahn | Jun 26, 2008 9:10:06 PM
I agree Brush,
Lieberman has made his decision and is too stupid to notice the consequences that have to take place.
What more damming a tool for the GOP is for a Independent/Democratic person of his stature to consider speaking at the GOP convention.
Mr Lieberman has made his choice. Please Senate Dems make kick him out of the caucus NOW.
Posted by: Omentum | Jun 26, 2008 8:33:20 PM
Just imagine... this tool almost became our country's vice president.
Yes you are unusual awkward. I thought the message was clear when you didn't make in your state primaries that the Dems were telling you to GO away.
Rest assured you are done.
Posted by: Brush Lintball | Jun 26, 2008 8:25:52 PM
RHbate...I have never seen a more naive blogger...the majority of the things you are complaining about you can blame on the democrat majority in congress...and america is not the most reviled country in the world, not even close (as evidenced by alot of countries around the entire world electing american loving and friendly presidents) we just happen to have a backbone and stand up for what we believe in, just as a superpower should. You should do alot more research before you vote. No good would come to the driven people in america if obama is elected...socialism corrupts and kills the spirit, especially the american spirit and universal healthcare is a fraud, even the inventor of it in canada says its a crisis and is disowning it. barack obama= jimmy carter....total failure from start to finish
Posted by: democrat | Jun 26, 2008 7:55:30 PM
Lieberman blew it. He could have been remembered proudly as the first Jewish person on a national ticket - breaking barriers long thought unreachable. Instead he'll be remembered as a guy whose ego and personal ambition took him so far off the reservation, those of us who knew him from years back can only shake our heads and ask "What happened to Joe?"
Posted by: hopesprings52 | Jun 26, 2008 7:50:49 PM
LIEBERMAN DEFINITELY BELIEVES IN THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM; HE WANTS TO BELONG TO BOTH OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING.
Posted by: rhbate | Jun 26, 2008 7:37:02 PM
IF YOU LIKE THIS ECONOMY;
IF YOU LIKE THIS NEVER-ENDING WAR;
IF YOU LIKED HIS VOTE AGAINST A GI BILL FOR IRAQ VETS;
IF LIKE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICES;
IF LIKE THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH;
IF YOU CAN'T WAIT TO INVADE IRAN;
IF YOU LIKE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT;
IF YOU LIKE A PRESIDENT WHO VOTED AGAINST EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN;
IF YOU LIKE A PRESIDENT WHO VOTED AGAINST MATERNITY LEAVE FOR WOMEN;
IF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE END OF ROE V. WADE;
IF YOU LIKE THE UNFAIR TRADE POLICIES THAT SEND JOBS AND TECHNOLOGY OVERSEAS;
IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT PRACTICES TORTURE;
IF YOU LIKE A GOVERNMENT THAT SPIES ON ITS OWN CITIZEN;
IF YOU LIKE THE FACT THAT THE US IS ONE OF THE MOST REVILED NATIONS ON THE PLANET, THEN YOU'LL JUST LOVE McCAIN.
Posted by: rhbate | Jun 26, 2008 7:33:33 PM
Posted by: American10 | Jun 26, 2008 6:39:31 PM
One would really prefer to see some kind of intellectual discussion but people like this cannot resist but impose themselves with their brainless proselytizing.
Not one of them can articulate a reason to vote FOR Obama.
Posted by: drjohn | Jun 26, 2008 7:31:03 PM
I admire Lieberman. I think all of our elected officials should vote what their conscience and their beliefs tell them to. Instead they are all so fearful of the political repercussions of actually disagreeing with their party on any issues that they sell their soul. I think he is aware that he could suffer politically by backing McCain but he is willing to take that chance and "let the chips fall where they may" in order to keep his integrity.
Posted by: susie | Jun 26, 2008 7:20:32 PM
I dont mind if a democrat is elected...just not a moron like obama...no experience, horrible ideas, way to far left wing....and this is coming from a democrat...I wish hillary was still running, she is much more electable than Obama...Im voting for McCain...he is not perfect, but he is much more dead on and reasonable than obama.
Posted by: democrat | Jun 26, 2008 7:11:07 PM
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