Lieberman Insists He'll Speak To Hagee's Group Despite Protests

WASHINGTON — Sen. Joe Lieberman said Wednesday he will address a conference hosted by the Rev. John Hagee, who was spurned by Republican John McCain for his claim that God sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land.

"I believe that Pastor Hagee has made comments that are deeply unacceptable and hurtful," Lieberman, I-Conn., said in a statement. "I also believe that a person should be judged on the entire span of his or her life's works. Pastor Hagee has devoted much of his life to fighting anti-Semitism and building bridges between Christians and Jews."

Lieberman is one of the strongest supporters of likely GOP presidential nominee McCain. He also has been mentioned as a possible running mate.

Lieberman plans to appear at Hagee's "Christians United for Israel" summit in Washington. He called Hagee's group "a vital force in supporting the war against terrorism and defending our ally, Israel."

The liberal advocacy group Democracy for America called on Lieberman to cut his ties to Hagee and his extremist views.

"If even Lieberman's new best friend, Senator McCain, can figure out that Hagee's message is bad for America and bad for Israel _ so can Joe," the group's executive director, Arshad Hasan, said in an e-mail to supporters.

McCain, R-Ariz., last week rejected Hagee's months-old endorsement after an audio recording surfaced in which the preacher said God sent Adolf Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land. McCain called the comment "crazy and unacceptable."

Hagee has referred to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and called it a "false cult system." He also has linked Hitler to the Catholic church, suggesting it helped shape his anti-Semitism. Hagee apologized to Catholics earlier this month.

Lieberman had praised Hagee during his speech to the pastor's group last year.

Lieberman was Democrat Al Gore's running mate in 2000. He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004.

Comments

[Skye]

"And Jewish voters think McCain/Lie-berman care more than Obama. Maybe now they'll look again at Lie-berman's son-in-law the rabbi and the fact that he supports Obama".



I think only a small percentage of Jews would choose McCain over Obama.

[AxelDC]

If I lived in CT now, I'd be circulating a recall petition on Lieberman. He has completely transformed himself from a Democratic leader to a Neocon minion.

Don't these Jews understand what Fundamentalist think of them? They love the Jewish people because they think Jesus will come back and convert them all into good Christians. How can they not find that offensive?

[SteveinTacomaWashington]

Mr. Lieberman, Please switch to the GOP, I know you have labeled yourself as a Independent on the Dem's side, but your ties with McCain and now this is only going to help Obama with the Jewish vote. Become McCains running mate too. Since Hillary is going to take her case to Denver and further split our party, we need all the help you can give us.

[rzan]

He has a step-son who is a rabbi. How must his family feel about Joe's latest act of idiocy? I do hope the people of Connecticut are paying attention.

[kravitz]

Hadassah Lieberman is a wonderful woman I have had the opportunity to meet.

Her husband went nuts on her though.

[nativeeyes]

Isn't Lieberman McWARS seeing eyed dog??


He look'd pretty dognuts lately...

[heal57]

Lieberman's stepson is voting for Obama.
I think Joe is losing his marbles; kind of like Zell Miller. Remember him? He challenged Chris Matthews to a duel on the air. I laughed for two hours!!!!.


Independent for Obama '08

[nunzia]

To all you IDIOTS in Conn who voted for LIEberman: happy now?

[RedDogBear]

This reinforces something I believe and think that a lot of people on the left are mis-guided on. We often talk about "support for Israel" as if supporting a militaristic Israel that refuses to come to a just peace with the palestinians is in the interests of the Israeli people. Its not. The vast majority of Israelis don't benefit from being pawns and potential targets anymore than the vast majority of US citizens benefit from our bloated over extended military. Lieberman doesn't care about the Jewish people. He cares about a small cabal that benefits from war in both the US and Israel.

[RandyRosenthal]

Dog, I agree with you about the similar position the vast majority of Israelis and US citizens are in. Neither of us benefit from right wing governments with itchy trigger fingers. What I disagree with is the predominate leftist idea that Israel does not want, nor actively seeks peace. I just don't get it. We all know the tragic military excesses and abuse that has accompanied a nation fighting for its very existence for 60 years. What is completely under-appreciated is the ever present and vocal Israeli peace movement and the continued efforts of virtually all Israeli governments both left and right to reach out to its hostile neighbors despite everything. How unlike Lieberman ? Bush position of never talking to your enemies lest be labeled an appeaser.

[lizwatch]

I wonder what his wife is saying about all this??? Didn't she say something like, "take that Hitler!" after Joe got the nod to be VP for Gore? Must be interesting at their house???

[Moxo]

So, Joe is now a Kapo, nu?

[HumeSkeptic]

Lieberman who?

[trollsbwild]

Go ahead, Joe. Do it. You're affiliation with MyCane will poison any chance of a GOP win in Florida.

[idabamaho]

Hopefully Joe will be the veep. Then Johnny McIforgotMyPosition will re-invent his forgotten position.

[atomic]

Joe Leiberman - the Dems kicked him out of the party because he never was a Democrat in the first place. Leiberman has always been a mole for the right wing extremists. He was there to help screw up the counting of the votes for Gore in 2000 and as backup just in case we realized Gore was the real winner and the installation of Bush was thwarted.

Leiberman - is a traitor. If there ever was one and I wouldn't mind seeing him tried and convicted for treason along with all the Neocons and their loyalists.

[sclucie]

Doesn't this idiot get the fact that a large sector of evangelicals believe that Israel must exist for Christ to come again? At which point the Israelis and all Jews will be systematically slaughtered? And he's willing to talk to this lunatic?

[gakabani]

Hey it takes two to tango, two lunatics are better than one.