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Lieberman to Speak Before Hagee Group

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July 21, 2008 3:57 PM

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: One of Sen. John McCain’s most visible surrogates is scheduled to speak before an organization founded and led by Pastor John Hagee Tuesday night in Washington, despite McCain’s rejection of the endorsement by the controversial pastor.

Veepstakes_generic_blog Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., is the keynote speaker at the Christians United for Israel Washington-Israel summit, where he’ll take the stage right before Hagee Tuesday evening, according to the summit itinerary

Lieberman, an Orthodox Jew, is one of McCain’s highest-profile supporters, appearing regularly alongside McCain at events and popping up frequently as a campaign surrogate.

He is chairman of Citizens for McCain, a group for independents and Democrats who support McCain. He is widely discussed as a possible Republican National Convention speaker, and even as a potential running mate for the Arizona Republican.

A McCain campaign spokesman said Lieberman is not going as an official representative of the campaign, and is free to do as he wishes in his capacity as a senator and advocate for Israel.

“Sen. Lieberman is free to do what he wants and his support for Hagee’s work on behalf of Israel is well documented,” a McCain aide said.

McCain rejected Hagee’s endorsement in May, after a tape emerged where Hagee suggested the Holocaust was caused by God to foster the creation of the state of Israel.

Hagee, founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, founded Christians United for Israel in 2006.

Lieberman spokeswoman Erika Masonhall pointed out that the Connecticut senator addressed the same group last year -- before he signed on with the McCain campaign.

"[The appearance] his really has nothing to do with Sen. McCain," Masonhall said. "[Lieberman has] made it clear that he found some of Pastor Hagee's comments in the past offensive, but he believes that the members of this group are patriotic Americans who are concerned about the war on terror."

ABC's Z. Byron Wolf contributed to this report.

July 21, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Romney, Mitt, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (22)

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It's really true, "your known by the company you keep" and these people deserve each other.

Posted by: JR | Jul 21, 2008 4:15:49 PM

Elmer Fudd makes news again. Mr Magoo might not choose him to be his running mate however if he goes through with it.

Posted by: Jen | Jul 21, 2008 4:21:00 PM

So Lieberman is a surrogate of McCain only when its convenient... McCain rejected Hagee's endorsement in May, but one of his key surrogates is speaking at a summitt hosted by Hagee. Lieberman and McCain are both hypocrites. I agree with the commments by JR, these two clowns deserve each other. If we were to turn this around and one of Sen Obama's surrogates was going to appear at a function hosted by the Rev Wright this would get all types of media attention.

Posted by: whcjr46 | Jul 21, 2008 4:31:06 PM

This is off topic but look at Obama. Took the flag off his plane and put his stupid OBama sign on it. He is a fool.
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/07/21/obama-ditches-the-american-flag/#comment-481568

Posted by: Fae | Jul 21, 2008 5:01:20 PM

Fae, that is disgusting.

And who cares who Lieberman talks to? He's not running for president.

If Obama can listen and talk to those vile people in Trinity Church, then who cares what anyone else does? And HE's running for president.

The desperation to equate the two still amuses Americans.

Posted by: Jo | Jul 21, 2008 5:07:00 PM

I'm sitting here listening to Andrea Mitchell & Chris Matthews try so hard to make Obama's Iraq trip look successful.

The desperation of the media to prop up Obama just speaks volumes. They must know he's a lightweight when they have to try this hard.

Love it!

Posted by: Jo | Jul 21, 2008 5:08:27 PM

Jo, if heavy weight means to be a warmonger, to spend time in jail in Vietnam and spend 26 years in the senate in Washington, DC and having not changed one single real thing in the life of poor american like me, then go with your heavely weighted McSame. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

Posted by: BKMC | Jul 21, 2008 5:19:47 PM

Looks like Lieberman is just a menace for everyone lately...

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | Jul 21, 2008 5:19:58 PM

jo, what do you mean who cares what Lieberman says? He is the guy who whisper corrections in McSame's ear when he forgets that Iran is supporting insurgents and not al Qaeda in Iraq. Comparing Lieberman to Wright is like comparing apples to oranges. Obama never interacts with Wright anymore.

Posted by: Bob Scofield | Jul 21, 2008 5:32:46 PM

Not sure I agree with Lieberman, but at least he has the courage to stand up and not be bullied by the rest of the democratic party!. I miss my girl Hill, hope they take the chains off of her and allow her to speak the DNC convention, but they are probably scared to.

Posted by: rachel | Jul 21, 2008 6:12:05 PM

What do you bet he talks about how the "surge worked." Obama had it all wrong blah blah blah.....Him and Rudy sound like a broken record.

Posted by: linda n carolina | Jul 21, 2008 6:41:27 PM

Being from CT, I think Lieberman is a good senator. He is certainly a man of principle. I may not always agree with him (like this Hagee thing is regrettable) but at least, for better or worse, I know where he stands. That's saying something for a politician in this world.

Posted by: bct424 | Jul 21, 2008 7:56:33 PM

This "chameleon" only claims to be Jewish, but his support for fascist and people like Hagee shows that he is more akin to white supremacists and other despicable groups who are anti everything and everyone else other than those just like him. Lieberman will change his colors to suit his groups and their purpose if it helps his ambitions. One will never know where he stands because he will support radicals and supremacists on one hand and then turn around and condemn them. No wonder most of us don't trust politicians any longer.

Posted by: Karen | Jul 21, 2008 9:09:30 PM

How is it possible that the Republican nominee has the guy we voted against as a close advisor and surrogate? Seriously, can anyone explain this crap?

Posted by: 1percenter | Jul 21, 2008 10:28:32 PM

Loserman

Posted by: Omentum | Jul 21, 2008 10:38:59 PM

When will ABC begin to ask the hard questions of Hussein Obama. For example "Mr. Obama, your birth certificate on your website has been proven to be a cheap fake, is it true you were really born in Indonesia, and hence not eligible to be President of the United States?". "Mr. Obama, can you show us an official birth certificate from the state of Hawaii?".

Posted by: Matt Gurlin | Jul 21, 2008 11:08:08 PM

Why has Lieberman become such a demagogue? How did he get to be the vice president running mate for Al Gore in 2000? Is he a traitor to the principles and values that are truly worth while. Seventy eight percent of the Jews do not suppor Lieberman and his friendship with Pastor John Hagee who has speared just about anybody and everybody who is not a Fascist.

Posted by: jjrousseau55 | Jul 22, 2008 2:14:33 PM

Lieberman speaking at Hagee's conference is comparable to Bill Richardson hobnobbing at a church conference run by Rev. Wright, apples to apples, in other words a very indiscreet action. But the McCain campaign has made so many major mistakes lately, who's counting anymore?

Posted by: Eugene | Jul 22, 2008 2:25:52 PM

Lieberman and Hagee. Let's get all the religious extremist together in one place and get them on their medications. This IS insanity!

Posted by: thebob.bob | Jul 22, 2008 5:29:28 PM


It's really true, "your known by the company you keep" and these people deserve each other.

Posted by: JR | Jul 21, 2008 4:15:49 PM

That is good news! So, Preacher Wright, Priest Phleger, slumlord Rezko, Ayers, Farrakan....and all the other close associates Obama has in his resume deserve each other, too. He is who he is with for twenty years. Double-standards for a double-talker!

Posted by: georgia | Jul 22, 2008 8:52:32 PM

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