Lieberman: 'Country matters more than party'

Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential nominee eight years ago, turned his back on his longtime political home tonight and heartily endorsed Republican John McCain and his style of bipartisanship.

"I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party," Lieberman told the GOP convention. "I am here tonight for a simple reason: John McCain is the best choice to bring our country together and lead our country forward. And dear friends I am here tonight 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."

"Both of the presidential candidates this year have talked about changing the culture of Washington, about breaking through the partisan gridlock and the special interests that are poisoning our politics," Lieberman added. "But my friends, only one of them has actually done it. Only one of them 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."

The senator from Connecticut said that Democrats "know all about John's record of independence and accomplishment."

"That's why I think why some of them are spending so much time and so much money trying to convince the American people that John McCain is someone else," he said, urging voters, "Don't be fooled."

Lieberman said that Obama has no record of bipartisan accomplishment or standing up to Democratic interest groups, and he joined in the defense of McCain's running mate.

"Governor Palin, like John McCain, is a reformer. She's taken on the special interests and power brokers in Alaska and reached across party lines. The truth is she is a leader we can count on to help John shake up Washington," Lieberman said. "That's why I sincerely believe the the real ticket for change this year in the McCain-Palin ticket....Washington bureaucrats and the power brokers are not going to be able to build a pen to hold in these two mavericks."

Lieberman appealed directly to Democrats, telling them, "I know many of you are angry and frustrated by our government and our politics today and for good reason. You may be thinking of voting for John McCain, but you're not sure yet. Some of you may never have voted for a Republican before and frankly in an ordinary election, you probably never would.

"But this is no ordinary election, because these are not ordinary times, and trust me John McCain is no ordinary candidate. You may not agree with John McCain on every issue," Lieberman added. "But you can always count on him to be straight with you about where he stands, and to stand for what he thinks is right for our country regardless of politics.... As president, you can count on John McCain to be what he is naturally, a restless reformer, who will clean up Washington and get our government working again for all of the American people."