Ex-Democrat Lieberman to Speak at Republican Convention
Ex-Democrat Joe Lieberman will speak at this year’s Republican convention in support of the nominee of the GOP for the presidency, Senator John McCain.
Lieberman was the Democratic VP candidate only eight years ago. In recent years, however, he broke with the Democratic Party, mostly over the War in Iraq.
His result for this war resulted in him being targeted by netroots and other progressive activists. They found someone of their own, Ned LeMont, to run for Lieberman’s seat in the Senate. LeMont won the battle for the Democratic nomination for this seat. Lieberman then decided to continue his career as an Independent.
Interestingly enough, there are now rumors that Lieberman will be McCain’s running mate. If so, he would write history; it has not often happened in history that someone switches party after running for VP or president only to run for the same office again.
He would also write history in a completely different way; Democratic activists would hate him even more than they do now. They would hate him more than they hate George W. Bush. That’s historic.
As for the chances of him being McCain’s VP; I think they are not as high as some think. McCain and Lieberman on one ticket would do nothing about the age problem. Additionally, Lieberman is not someone who knows a lot about the economy. His strength is foreign policy. That’s also McCain’s strength. McCain needs someone who adds something extra to the ticket; who makes up for McCain’s weaknesses. Lieberman does not do that.
Lets not forget how much it might not inflame the Republican base now, but how much it would after the wars are over. Lieberman is more moderate than some Dems, but I’m guessing too moderate for the Republican base.
I think it’s a good thing. It shows that Democrats can become Republicans and Republicans can become Democrats if a president or candidate behaves in a certain odd way that is detrimental to the nation’s health, which is how Obama drove Lieberman to back McCain.
I think people, especially Republicans shouldn’t be angry about Joe Lieberman but should support him and hope that there will be more who follow his path. Kind of like during the Reagan times.
Thanks for the heads up Michael.
He won’t be a VP pick, and may not help in the Jewish sector much, but hopefully a nice prod for independents.
Not to mention a nice up yours to the Dem’s - they earned it.
Lieberman won’t be the GOP VP.
As much as people on the Left mock him as "Holy Joe" and call him a turncoat, if you look at his voting record he really leans more Democratic than Republican (with the exception of the Iraq War). In fact, he probably has a more liberal voting record than some being considered for the Democratic VP slot, like Evan Bayh.
Reminds me of Zell Miller. Why don’t Democrates ever invite Republicans to speak at their conventions? Rhetorically speaking, of course.