Posted on 10/14/2004 11:38:38 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman took the unusual step of praising President Bush while chiding John Kerry during a campaign stop in Florida Wednesday.
Lieberman, with just three weeks left before the election, praised Bush strongly for his support of Israel, America’s lone democratic ally in the Mid-East.
"We are dealing with a president who's had a record of strong, consistent support for Israel. You can't say otherwise,” Lieberman told an audience of 600 near Delray Beach, Fla, the Palm Beach Post reported in editions Thursday.
Lieberman also added that any criticism of Bush vis-à-vis Israel would be “unjustified.”
After the speech, the paper said Lieberman spoke to reporters and suggested that “Bush appears to have made inroads with Jewish voters, who voted Democratic by an estimated 4-to-1 margin in 2000.”
But Lieberman indicated Kerry’s support among Jews may be softer, and he chided the Democratic nominee for not coming out more strongly for Israel.
“And I think John Kerry, to reassure people, has to himself be explicit" rather than having surrogates deliver the message, the Post quoted Lieberman as saying.
Lieberman alluded to worries among Jews about Kerry’s position on Israel. Lieberman bluntly revealed that he has asked the Kerry campaign to have John Kerry himself discuss his views on Israel because "only John Kerry can eliminate those doubts."
Lieberman made clear he is still staunchly supporting Kerry for president.
"I am here to tell you that John Kerry has also been a strong and consistent supporter of Israel and will continue that fight as president," Lieberman said, noting Kerry’s commitment to health care, the environment, education and his position on Supreme Court appointments.
But, unusual and strong praise from Sen. Lieberman, one of the party’s leading moderates, is sure to rock the Kerry campaign as the election moves into the ninth inning.
Jewish-Americans concerned with Israel’s security have good reason to worry about Kerry, who once called Arafat a “statesman” and sharply criticized Israel for building a barrier wall to protect itself from suicide bombers.
In an October 2003 speech to the Arab American Institute in Michigan, Kerry referred to Israel’s controversial security barrier as an impediment to peace:
"I know how disheartened Palestinians are by the decision to build the barrier off the Green Line – cutting deep into Palestinian areas. We don’t need another barrier to peace. Provocative and counterproductive measures only harm Israelis’ security over the long term, increase the hardships to the Palestinian people, and make the process of negotiating an eventual settlement that much harder."
After Israel’s supporters cried foul, Kerry quickly modified his position, saying his real was to the route of the fence.
Nowadays, Kerry carefully describes the barrier as a "legitimate act of self-defense."
Lieberman’s gentle criticism of Kerry is not the first time the pair have butted heads over security and other matters.
Lieberman had vigorously opposed Kerry during the heated Democratic primaries.
Unlike Kerry and Edwards who eventually became critics of President’s Bush invasion of Iraq, Lieberman has been a stalwart supporter of the President’s efforts to liberate Iraq and build democracy there.
While still a candidate in the primary season, Lieberman had plenty in the way of the negative to say against candidate Kerry:
Lieberman is one of a few Democrats that I would consider voting for as President, not to say that I would do it definitely, but I would not totally discount him. Evan Bayh is another Democrat that seems to have a good head on his shoulders.
"Lieberman sounds like he is thinking about jumping ship."
If he is as much a man of principle as we'd like to think, he should say bye-bye to the Democrats and do so soon. If he were to exit the Democratic Party this very week, he would be remembered in the history books for an historic decision of putting country above politics.
Lieberman's hotter than a latke in a frying pan! (Imus song)
Bump for later reference.
I just assumed he was lyin' again. But I like your take.
I doubt it. As other have said, Lieberman is the type who wrestles with his conscience; unfortunately, his conscience never wins.
ping
I was thinking the same thing here and I'd like to be there for him too :-)
However remember that he's still a Democrat at heart and therefore his stance on Abortion, Guns, etc, may not change with his party changeover.
"Lieberman made clear he is still staunchly supporting Kerry for president."
Doesn't sound like it to me. He basically endorsed Bush and told Jewish Dems that it was OK to vote for him. He probably has no confidence in Kerry like Zell
Miller but is posturing himself to stay in favor with his party.
- - - and that is why I do not change my opinion of Lieberman from 2000 - - is this remark intellectually honest given what he is saying - - - is seems like "I was before I wasn't" sort of thing?
I agree with Lieberman. He's right on target.
The 4-1 Dem margin is gone. Russian Jews are small in number but pro Bush. The other Jews want unanimity because they have strength in their relatively small numbers. Orthodox Jews will GO BUSH and are in the same boat as Catholics as far as Kerry is concerned (Court appointments -0- because of "the litmus test".)
Lieberman I bet would switch now nut there aren't enough "main stream" Jews in the Republican Party, I think his statements are a wake up call to other Jews and there will be a switch. (Remember Hitlary kissing Arafat?)
Let me be one of the first to say, WELCOME!
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