Text size +

Lieberman gives support to McCain

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor December 17, 2007 09:50 AM

John McCain, on something of an endorsement roll, officially added another noteworthy name to his fold this morning -- Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut.

Lieberman was Al Gore's running mate on the Democratic ticket in 2000, but has strayed from the party fold, especially on the Iraq war and national security, and was elected as an independent in 2006. He stood by McCain's side at a town meeting in Hillsborough, N.H., and urged Republicans and independents to vote for McCain in the Jan. 8 primary.

"I know that it is unusual for someone who is not a Republican to endorse a Republican candidate for president," Lieberman said, according to McCain's campaign. "And if this were an ordinary time and an ordinary election, I probably would not be here today. But this is no ordinary time -- and this is no ordinary election -- and John McCain is no ordinary candidate."

Lieberman added in an interview on Fox News that "there are some things that are more important than the political parties. One is friendship and the other is that I happen to the think this guy is the best of all candidates to unite our country across political lines so we can begin to solve some of the problems people have in this country....I'm certainly sending a message that I agree with John McCain a lot more on national security, foreign and defense policy."

On Sunday, McCain was also endorsed by the Globe, which could help him in the New Hampshire primary, and by the Des Moines Register, which could boost him in the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses.

27 comments so far...
  1. If i were in a war & on the front lines i would not want liberman beside me ! HE,s a turn coat ! When republicans have displayed there true nature since bush took office guess where lieberman is in all this mess .

    Posted by eugene lemmons December 17, 07 10:26 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. lLIEBERMAN IS ONE OF THE FEW HONEST POLITICIANS WHO PUTS THE WELFARE OF THE COUNTRY AHEAD OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY - HE HAS THE COURAGE AND INTEGRITY NOT SHOWN IN MOST OF OUR POLITICAL HACKS.

    Posted by PAUL SEGAL December 17, 07 10:40 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. What a sell-out. The people of CT should be ashamed!

    Posted by Z December 17, 07 10:42 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Lieberman is a man of integrity. A far cry from the Demos he left behind.

    Posted by v Racer December 17, 07 10:51 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. There's a story in Arthur Schlesinger's recently-published Journals which talks about a joke that John McCain told about the Clintons. The so-called joke was that Chelsea Clinton is so ugly because she is the illegitimate child of Hillary Clinton and Janet Reno (see page 833).

    So behind McCain's nice-guy exterior (if you like hawks, that is) is an inner fundament, struggling to get out.

    In the same book -- which Lieberman may well have read -- Hillary Clinton describes Lieberman to Schlesinger as "sanctimonious" (page 837).

    Posted by elizabeth bauersox December 17, 07 10:58 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Lemmons....this is about the only Democrat with any intergrity left.

    Posted by joe blow December 17, 07 11:00 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Joe Lieberman is out of his mind. Does he really believe that supporting a candidate who believes in this idiotic war we are in is going to unite our country?

    Posted by Michael Bartos December 17, 07 11:02 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. There was a time, not too long ago, when elected leaders put their country first and their party second. We've lost much of that leadership ethic to a partisan game of one-upsmanship, fueled by the 24 hour news cycle and single minded pressure groups. Together, McCain and Lieberman stand as prime examples of the type of governance and leadership that must return to Washington.

    Posted by Paul Jacobson December 17, 07 11:09 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Lieberman made his bed with the Iraq War. It takes a man to admit you're wrong. Joe has gone the other way ...entrenched stupidity. Don't hold your breath waiting for America to 'unite' behind your mistake Joe.
    Bush League.

    Posted by PulSamsara December 17, 07 11:12 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Elizabeth, let me get this straight: McCain made a joke about the Clintons (rude, but not unusual at all), and so he's a fundamentalist? Not even Evel Knievel could make that jump.

    Posted by Dan Pawson December 17, 07 11:14 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Lieberman, is a democrat, republican, and independent for the United States of Israel.

    Posted by Nugster December 17, 07 11:24 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. I find it funny that this announcement was made specifically on the same day Ron Paul's money raising event was scheduled. What an obvious way to try and trump the real deal (voters). By using a meaningless endorsement. I have never voted based on an endorsement.

    Posted by AbramC December 17, 07 11:41 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Lieberman is the reason I wouldn't and didn't vote for the Gore-Lieb ticket. He doesn't represent the people of his state nor the people of the United States. Frankly Mr. McCain, joe-boy's endorsement is the proverbial "kiss of death".

    Posted by Jakup December 17, 07 11:41 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. I find it funny that this announcement was made specifically on the same day Ron Paul's money raising event was scheduled. What an obvious way to try and trump the real deal (voters). By using a meaningless endorsement. I have never voted based on an endorsement.

    Posted by AbramC December 17, 07 11:43 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Lieberman is trying to get the Democratic Party back for rejecting his bid in Conn. He should have spent less time on the Imus show and more time studying the Iraq War in detail. He may have found out it was a blunder that has hurt this great country to no end. He may be right with McCain but who cares wh he endorses.

    Posted by Bob Salvatelli December 17, 07 11:44 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. As a CT resident I am not suprised by I am still appalled. It takes a man to admit that they are wrong, and a fool to still think they are right.

    Posted by Yadu S. December 17, 07 11:46 AM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Looks like the stage is set for an independent run for the White House. McCain and Liebernan offer a pretty formidable ticket to all independent voters. What a refreshing political respite they would provide from the political dribble offered by Hillary, Rudy, Mitt, et al.

    Posted by Ralph Negron December 17, 07 12:04 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Hard to "unite" traitors and the mentally deficient so well represented here. Lieberman is a true American and it is important that the Democrat Party left him, he remains a "true" Democract. Not the loonies and lefties.

    Posted by joe blow December 17, 07 12:14 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Hey Joe Blow, what do you know about being a 'true American' with a ridiculous handle like that? Maybe it should be "Blew Joe". Traitors are idiots like Lieberman who have no qualms jeopardizing the future security of this country to get in tight with the Right. He's a schmuck.
    I'd bet you were one of the ones calling him a sore "Loserman" back in the days when Bush's loudmouthed loonies were commandeering the media with their puerile slogans and steering us into 9-11. Nice work.

    Posted by P. Johnson December 17, 07 12:43 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Joe is a true American who votes on the basis of his convictions rather bthaqn on the basis of party.

    Posted by carl ross December 17, 07 01:04 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Dan (comment 10) -- The word "fundament" means "anus."
    It does not mean "fundamentalist."

    I hope this clarifies your misreading of my post.

    Posted by elizabeth bauersox December 17, 07 01:16 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. I love it!

    Let the GOP nominate a hayseed bible thumper and the Dems a calculating "triangulator."

    You heard it here first: McCain/Lieberman 08!

    Posted by Max December 17, 07 01:23 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Why is no one in Conn. exploring the option of a recall campaign? Lieberman misled and betrayed those good people when he suggested in his last campaign that he would represent their views on the war in Iraq. instead, he's done nothing but continue to protect his own self-serving position on the war. i'd have more respect for him if he would offcially change parties.

    Posted by michael dolly December 17, 07 01:29 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. If I had my choice of any ticket,regardless of political party, I would choose McCain-Lieberman for President&VP Along with Colin Powell,These three have the most integrity of any candidate. Good move,Senator Lieberman!!

    Posted by Ed Day December 17, 07 02:12 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. Joe who?

    Posted by jimmythegent December 17, 07 02:49 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. I personally think that you're ALL idiots. Lieberman AND you commentors who like him or hate him for his endorsement.

    "The War" is NOT the most important issue facing our country - by a long shot.

    The most important issue facing our country is that everyone but the rich has been sold down the tubes and is SUFFERING. Eighteen thousand Americans a year DIE from lack of adequate healthcare. The rich are getting richer and more unstoppable while the poor are getting more and more desperate.

    THAT is the most important fact facing our country today.

    So - while I personally LIKE McCain and while I personally AGREE with him regarding "The War", as well as regarding the threat of Islamofascists in general, my vote and my public support goes to ward Edwards. And if he isn't chosen in the Primaries then my support goes to whichever Democrat IS chosen.

    So, i like the fact that Lieberman can come out and say that he thinks that McCain is right about the war but what a fuckin' asshole he is to sell out his country simply because the Dems are moronic about "The War". We've got MUCH bigger fish to fry than Al Qaida.

    mnuez
    www.mnuez.blogspot.com

    Posted by mnuez December 17, 07 04:52 PM
    Reply | Report this post
  1. (First of all - thank you bugmenot for the login...)


    I personally think that you're ALL idiots. Lieberman AND you commentors who like him or hate him for his endorsement.

    "The War" is NOT the most important issue facing our country - by a long shot.

    The most important issue facing our country is that everyone but the rich has been sold down the tubes and is SUFFERING. Eighteen thousand Americans a year DIE from lack of adequate healthcare. The rich are getting richer and more unstoppable while the poor are getting more and more desperate.

    THAT is the most important fact facing our country today.

    So - while I personally LIKE McCain and while I personally AGREE with him regarding "The War", as well as regarding the threat of Islamofascists in general, my vote and my public support goes to ward Edwards. And if he isn't chosen in the Primaries then my support goes to whichever Democrat IS chosen.

    So, i like the fact that Lieberman can come out and say that he thinks that McCain is right about the war but what a fuckin' asshole he is to sell out his country simply because the Dems are moronic about "The War". We've got MUCH bigger fish to fry than Al Qaida.

    mnuez
    www.mnuez.blogspot.com

    Posted by mnuez December 17, 07 05:00 PM
    Reply | Report this post
add your comment
Required
Required (will not be published)
About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

Send your comments to masspolitics@globe.com

archives

browse this blog

by category
by tag