Joe Lieberman: He's no Zell Miller (but he sure is a John McCain fan)

Four years ago -- almost exactly to the day -- Democratic Sen. Zell Miller of Georgia delivered a high-profile speech at the Republican National Convention in New York and created a furor.

Tuesday night, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut -- a Democrat turned, by his own lights, independent Democrat -- assumed the role of renegade at the GOP conclave in St. Paul. But his mission was dramatically different than that undertaken by his erstwhile party colleague.

Miller took the stage at Madison Square Garden to launch a frontal assault on the Democratic nominee trying to deny President Bush reelection. He eviscerated Kerry's voting record on defense systems, suggesting that if the senator from Massachusetts had his way, the U.S. military would be armed with spitballs.

Lieberman, by contrast, came to Minnesota more to praise John McCain than to attack Barack Obama. And for the voters both camps are targeting -- independents -- there's a good chance Lieberman's message will resonate more effectively.

At the least, it ought to lay the groundwork -- if any was really needed -- for Lieberman to land a high-ranking post in a McCain administration (after all, his welcome in the Democratic Senate caucus is bound to grow even more strained than it already is).

Deep into his prime-time speech, Lieberman took a few swipes at Obama. He dismissed him, for instance, as a "gifted and eloquent young man" (emphasis added) who might one day live up to his potential but who has yet to accomplish anything that would now qualify him for the presidency.

But Lieberman's main purpose was to make a stirring bipartisan case for McCain. And that he did, line after line.

After starting his remarks by decrying the political divide that afflicts Washington, he said, "And that brings me directly to why I am here tonight ... I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party."

Seconds later came this: "I am here because John McCain's whole life testifies to a great truth: being a Democrat or a Republican is important. But it is nowhere near as important as being an American."

And seconds after that, he said: "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. And that one is John S. McCain."

Lieberman also fully embraced McCain's choice ...

... of Sarah Palin as the GOP vice presidential candidate -- surprisingly, perhaps, given that he and the governor of Alaska would be hard pressed to find a social issue on which they agree.

Not surprisingly, the Republican crowd ate up the words from the man who, just eight years ago, joined Al Gore on the Democratic presidential ticket.

For many who worked to elect that duo, it must seem a much longer time ago than that ... and in a galaxy far, far away.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credit: Getty images

Comments

[Joe-Blo]

Joe is disgusting. What a turncoat. What bandwagon are you going to hop on next Joe?

[scootmandubious]

Best sound byte from the convention?

The RNC Co-Chair, referring to the upcoming nomination of "Sarah PAWLENTY" as Vice President.

I have the video posted at this link in case you haven't seen it: You can't write a script this good!

http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-post.html

[Jeff]

John McCain is certainly a great American patriot to name as his Vice President a person who is totally unqualified, has no experience in national much less international affairs, and was only chosen so as to buttress his base among right wing evangelicals. Given his age and multiple bouts with cancer, it is a high risk strategy for the American people to choose such a ticket. The fact is that John McCain's judgment is erratic and impulsive, not exactly the kind of President we or any other country need.

[jefflz]

Lieberman is a sad character at this point in his political life. He is fervently pro-war since he mistakenly sees this as being in the best interests of Israel. However, the Iraq War has been a disaster for all concerned including the families of the more than 4000 dead US soldiers, 100,000 dead Iraqis, the US taxpayer, and for the peace process in the Middle East. It has been great for the Blackwaters and Haliburtons of the world. His dogged adherence to the failed war policies of Bush (and now McCain) placed him at odds with his party. He is now bitter and willing to strike back in any way he can. That he is a mouthpiece for an uninformed, knee-jerk " all war all the time" McCain who is so confused that Joe has to correct him while on camera marks a pathetic end to Lieberman's career. As soon as the elections are over, no matter who wins the White House, the Democratic senate will strip him of all committee seniority. Lieberman has become a tool of the McCain campaign managers which makes him allies with Karl Rove and his band of Fear and Smear thugs. Too bad Joe your clouded vision has cost you a much better place in history.

[Jona]

I am in independent and never like people who follow party line regardless ...I like mavericks, and rebels.
So I can identify with Liberman's speech that sometimes big issues matter more in a certain time.

We are indeed in war with radical muslims and I can not stand "wishy-washy" statement.

my decision will be based on whose "record" and "speech" match the best and I am not going to let the MSM to do my homwork.

[Reagan Democrat]

Lieberman's presence, and his speech, make it a simple fact that McCain is the least partisan of the two candidates we have to choose from.

Is it a sad but true state of affairs, when voting with your party 90% of the time (Sen. McCain) is less partisan than your opponent who voted with his party 99% of the time (Sen. Obama)?

Of course it is. But that is the reality we face because so many voters in each party respond to hyperpartisanship, leaving a small group of independents to ideally decide the election.

Thus, we can choose to elect someone who is "post-partisan", John McCain, evidenced by repeated factual co-sponsored bills with Democrats and a former Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate endorsing him.

Or, we can choose to elect someone who is "most-partisan", Barack Obama, as evidenced by his voting record and his lack of factual evidence of working across the aisle the way McCain has repeatedly with Senators like Lieberman, Feingold, etc.

Facts certainly get in the way of the "post partisan" label Obama tried unsuccessfully to adopt. Fortunately, he seems to have abandoned that with his breathtakingly liberal class warfare based acceptance speech that evoked Duakis, McGovern, Carter and LBJ.

"Most-Partisan" is the right label, and if it fires up the base Obama will win anyway and we will have ourselves to blame for the collectivist societal lurch that will result.

But independents can see through the spin to the facts, and Joltin Joe showed them tonight what Country Before Party really means.

The truth outs, every time.

[LA-renter]

It's painful to watch Lieberman. A bitter man with no honor.

He loses a Democratic primary election and has the gall to run against his party in the final election. Pathetic, really.

Could your problem be yourself, Joe? Of course not.

To Lieberman, fighting fantasy wars with Islamofascist terrorists has become the most pressing matter.

"I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party."

Which country is that, Joe? Israel?

[Jan]

We need to elect a president who will address the high cost of gas. People are losing jobs and their homes at a record rate, directly related to the economy. www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com

[S. Robbins]

Just go, Joe. It's understandable that you believe in McCain's independent spirit and find qualities that you'd like to see in a president. Even though I don't agree and don't see it as you do, I get it. What I don't get, however, is your support of his choice of Palin - it's ridiculous. His choice on a VP shows that he has compromised that which you appreciated about him in the first place - seemingly independent, it's pure pandering to a right wing base just to get votes, not because she is the best qualified person. How hypocritical and insulting. You should be MOST insulted of all, Joe. You would have been a truly independent and maverick-seeking choice, no? In fact, Palin seems to be a really unqualified person. Especially considering how important the McCain campaign seems to impress upon Americans the importance of "readiness" in this political climate, it's insulting to choose a VP who is NOT ready at ALL for taking on the PRESIDENCY!!! if something should befall the chosen president. Bad judgment. Not impressed.

[Mark]

Well, Liberman has supported Bush every step of the way, I would assume he would support McCain. Hawks think alike...

[dave]

i notice the picture spelling 'pai?n' behind lieberman's head. it just might reveal an unprofessional bias.

anyhow: it is obvious that the traditional republican core majority represented by the legitimate candidate, RON PAUL, would never support the neocon faction headed by mccain, that has hijacked the party and is attempting once more to hijack the government.
but when the delegates declare RON PAUL, who has suspended his campaign, the legitimate winner of the nomination, he can be expected not to decline the offer, for love of humanity and liberty, for the people, and for his country.

many people who support the legitimate republican candidate's constitutional message, have been following the events at RON PAUL's 'rally for the republic' attended by over 10,000 enthusiastic people. the convention is not widely covered by the corporate media, but can be viewed on c-span and alternative media. and while the delegates are still deliberating at the near-empty excel center across the river where RON PAUL has been prohibited to address the dissident neocon faction and the delegates, by the 'heroic' mccain and the neocons that have not yet deserted him, it seems there can only be one conclusion, which is for them to do as one of yesterday's speakers, dean wead put it, 'come home. come back.'

'today they want you to believe a patriot supports what the government wants - a true patriot supports liberty and the people,' said RON PAUL.

[Chris Morton]

Lieberman is the equivalent of Lord Haw Haw, an American who posed as a Brit during the 2nd WW and broadcast pro-Nazi sentiments from Germany to allied troops. Lieberman is a Democrat turncoat and traitor - he cannot be trusted by either party or by any voter.

[Winnie]

Lieberman is a good man of sound judgement in not going allong with the crowd when you think something is not right. He is a man of courage to speak out, and I respect him. As for qualifications for President of the United States of America do you all really think Obama is qualified? His judgements of the past and his 154 working days in the senate give much to be pondered. Biden has many years in the senate but poor judgement on almost all issues. What kind of team is that? So all you naysayers give Lieberman a break, and realize he speaks with wisdom, and has the guts to be maverick.

[JimmyG]

Joe Lieberman is an angry, unforgiving man. He lost the Connecticut primary for re-election leaving the Dems no choice but to back the winner. Joe has never forgiven the Dems for doing the correct thing. As an Orthodox Jew, pro-Israel in every way, Lieberman managed to scour Connecticut for every Jewish vote possible and won re-election as an Independent. He is like Zell Miller in the sense that he has betrayed his Party roots. Unlike Miller, who is an idiot, Lieberman, is an intelligent man. and should not be forgiven for his treachery. If the Dems do take the White House and enough congressional seats in the coming November elections, Leiberman should be punished and treated as the pariah he has become..