Lieberman blasts Democrats as protectionist, isolationist

HARTFORD, Conn.—U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman blasted the Democratic Party Sunday as protectionist, isolationist and hyperpartisan.

Speaking on ABC's "This Week," Lieberman, I-Conn., said it is not the same party that made him its vice presidential candidate in 2000.

"It's not the Bill Clinton-Al Gore party, which was strong internationalists, strong on defense, pro-trade, pro-reform in our domestic government," he said. "It's been effectively taken over by a small group on the left of the party that is protectionist, isolationist and very, very hyperpartisan. So it pains me."

Lieberman, who won re-election to the Senate as an independent after losing the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary anti-war candidate Ned Lamont, still caucuses with Democrats.

But he has endorsed Republican John McCain's presidential bid, and said Sunday that among the three presidential candidates, McCain comes closest to reflecting the legacy of John F. Kennedy.

McCain, he said, is "a reformer, somebody who understands ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country and remembers the other part of the Kennedy inaugural, which said that we will bear any burden, pay any price to assure the survival and sustenance of liberty. That's John McCain."

Lieberman also blasted Sen. Barak Obama for voting against a resolution to label the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group.

"These people are responsible for killing hundreds of American soldiers," Lieberman said." Senator Obama voted against that. Now, to me, that was an irresponsible vote. And I give Senator Clinton credit; she voted for it."

Lieberman says he believes McCain will be able to win he support of a majority of independents and a lot of moderate Democrats.

Lieberman has told reporters that he will speak at the Republican National Convention if McCain asks, but has ruled out sharing the 2008 GOP ticket with McCain.