Senator Joe Lieberman on Senator John Kerry

George W. Bush ^ | April 19, 2004

[RWR8189]

1. Lieberman said that Kerry played politics with the support of the troops. "'If everyone had voted the way John Kerry did, the money would not have been there to support our troops,' said Lieberman (D-Conn.). 'I didn’t duck it. I didn't play politics. I voted to support our troops.'" (Andrew Miga and David R. Guarino, "Iraq Viewpoint Dominates Dem Detroit Debate," Boston Herald, 10/27/03)

2. Lieberman Said Kerry's Statements On The Use Of Force Authorization Were "Unbelievable." "I thought that John Kerry’s statement in his announcement address -- that he voted for the resolution just to threaten Saddam Hussein -- was unbelievable. It was clearly an authorization for President Bush to use force against Saddam. ... I don't get it. He's been criticizing Howard Dean for lacking experience to lead America in the world today." (Glen Johnson And Anne E. Kornblut, "Democrats Rip Bush In 8-Way Debate," The Boston Globe, 9/5/03)

3. Lierberman: Kerry not "mainstream." "Lieberman said Kerry is not a 'mainstream Democrat,' saying, 'Just look at his record, look at what the Republicans are already saying about him.'" (Andrew J. Manuse and David R. Guarino, "On A Roll: Kerry Takes Big Win South," Boston Herald, 1/28/04)

4. Lieberman on Kerry doing the "political thing." "I felt really good about this debate. … I'm hopeful and believe it might just start the kind of popular uprising here against the favorite, John Kerry, as it did in Iowa against a favorite, Howard Dean, and it's because I've been in this 30 years. I know who I am. I know what I stand for. I'm all about independence and consistency and not doing the political thing but trying to do what’s right for the country." (Joe Lieberman On Fox News, "Hannity & Colmes," 1/22/04)

5. Lieberman accused Kerry of making "protectionist statements." "Lieberman signaled that Kerry may feel heat in the next few days by pointing to Kerry's position on the Iraq war, to what he said was his rival's opposition to further tax cuts and to 'protectionist statements' on trade." (Dan Balz, "Debate Looms Large for Democrats," The Washington Post, 1/22/04)

6. Lieberman: How did Kerry vote to send troops to Iraq, and then oppose funding them? "Well, I do, and I've said that about John before. I don't know how you can vote to authorize the war, enabling the president to send troops to Iraq, and then vote against the $87 billion … which is mostly going to support those troops." (CNN’s "Paula Zahn Now," 11/4/03)

7. Lieberman: Kerry is inconsistent. "I want to say obviously I respect John Kerry's military service to our country, but that's not what this is about. This is about the votes that he's cast that I believe are inconsistent. In fact, what do we look back and wonder about our time in Vietnam? We didn’t support our troops. If everyone had voted the way John Kerry did, the money wouldn't have been there to support our troops." (Fox News/Congressional Black Caucus Democrat Candidate Debate, Detroit, MI, 10/26/03)

8. Lieberman called Kerry's message on Iraq "ambivalent." "If John Kerry or anyone else who voted for the war resolution thinks that they were misled in a way that makes them think they voted the wrong way in supporting the war, they have an obligation to say exactly what--what--in what way they were misled. Otherwise, they're sending, again, a message that I would call ambivalent." (CBS, "Face The Nation," 8/31/03)

9. Lieberman: Kerry is "for and against." "Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) are pro-war while Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) voted for it but then swung back and forth, prompting Lieberman to jab that some are 'both for and against.'" (Deborah Orin, "Dems At War-With One Another," New York Post, 4/10/03)

10. Lieberman: Can't figure out Kerry's stance on Iraq. "I don't know how John Kerry and John Edwards can say that they supported the war but then oppose the funding of the troops who went to fight the war that the resolution that they supported authorized." (Fox News/Congressional Black Caucus Democrat Candidate Debate, Detroit, MI, 10/26/03)

Israel Security Fence

• October 2003: Kerry Calls Fence "Barrier To Peace." "And I know how disheartened Palestinians are by the Israeli government's decision to build a barrier off the green line, cutting deeply into Palestinian areas. We do not need another barrier to peace. Provocative and counterproductive measures only harm Israel's security over the long-term, they increase hardships to the Palestinian people, and they make the process of negotiating an eventual settlement that much harder." (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks Before Arab American Institute National Leadership Conference, Dearborn, MI, 10/17/03)
• February 2004: Kerry Calls Fence "Legitimate Act Of Self-Defense." "US Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the frontrunner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, described Israel’s construction of a security barrier as a 'legitimate act of self defense' after Sunday's suicide bombing in Jerusalem, clarifying a position he took in October when he told an Arab American audience, 'We don't need another barrier to peace.'" (Janine Zacharia, "Kerry Defends Security Fence," The Jerusalem Post, 2/25/04)

[governsleastgovernsbest]

The Bush oppo research team has been doing a good job. And thankfully, there are plenty of nuggets in Kerry's record to mine!

[I still care]

OK, I am usually wrong on these things. But I think Lieberman is in the running for VP.

He fits well with the run Kerry is going to try to make to the middle, he covers over the anti-war problem Kerry has, he will shore up the Jewish base. Even though he is from the east, he is considered a more conservative, thoughtful Democrat (something they are saddly lacking.)

The newspapers didn't treat Gore with any respect until he took Lieberman on. Then suddenly he was the 2nd coming in their eyes.

[Graymatter]

Yep. He's going to pick Lieberman for veep. Now I'm sure. :)

[jackbill]

Yep. He's going to pick Lieberman for veep. Now I'm sure. :)

I doubt it. With a paper trail like LIEberman has, as stated above, it would just be too easy for the Republicans to characterize LIEberman as just another political pimp.

[Tom D.]

It used to bother me that Zell Miller and Joe Lieberman were registered Democrats. Many, if not most, of their positions are anathema to the run of the mill Democrat politicians, although not (to my constant puzzlement) to the run of the mill Democrat voter. As many of us will recall, such Republican luminaries as W. F. Buckley, Jr. and his National Review actively campaigned for Lieberman against his RINO opponent, Lowell Weicker.

No, guys and gals, I have not forgotten Lieberman's effort as Gore's running mate or did I miss his efforts for Kerry in Florida today; nevertheless, while I am still puzzled at Miller's and Lieberman's and a multitude of folks who both know better than follow the Democrats and who have no ulterior motive to follow them, it does not bother me so much.

The reason for this change of heart is that Miller and Lieberman have significant credibility with the 20 per cent of folks who switch hit, particularly when they do what Lieberman is doing here: Talk to those registered Democrats who are receptive to his message in the primary, and then who falls back to "do his duty for the party". This has to leave a bad taste in the mouth of the Reagan Democrats.

Of course, we have to put up with the likes of Olympia Snow and Link Chaffee, but at least these guys have not run for president as Republicans and trashed Bush on live TV.

[gargoyle]

...I'm warming to the idea that Joe Lieberman and Zell Miller should be nominated by the democrat party for president and v-president. Then, we might have debate that I could stomach to hear...

...Is it me, or is Kerry trying to sound like FDR???