Joe Lieberman, No Model of Consistency, Wonders 'Which Obama Will Govern'

Joe Lieberman made an appearance on Sunday's This Week With George Stephanopoulos, to take up the mind-bending task of falsely asserting that Senator Barack Obama had moved to John McCain's position on Iraq, and then criticizing the position for which he is simultaneously advocating.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Why should people vote for John McCain?

LIEBERMAN: Why should people vote for Barack Obama? The significant fact is this - McCain has been principled and consistent. He put his campaign on the line to take an unpopular position about what should happen in Iraq, because he thought it was that important to our country. Senator Obama has been shifting. And I want a president who is going to be true to what he believes is best for our country. That's what I think John McCain has shown with regard to Iraq, and throughout his entire career.

"Which Barack Obama will govern if he's elected?" Lieberman wondered aloud. An oddly fitting query, coming from Lieberman, because if there's anyone in all the world who knows about presenting one set of principles to the public, and then turning his back on them later, it's Lieberman, who's own constituents know what it's like to be saddled with a public servant who isn't "true to what he believes is best for [the] country."

"We all want to end the war in Iraq...I want to bring our troops home...All of us want to Iraq war to end...none of us wants the Iraq war to end more than I do." Sound familiar? Here's where you've heard those words before:

Yep. In 2006, when Joe Lieberman didn't know what else to say to cling to his Senate seat, those were his words. But which Lieberman showed up to work afterwards? Which Lieberman governed, once re-elected? As it turns out, it was a very inconsistent and unprincipled version of Joe Lieberman.

Looking back, of course, one worries that might have been the only Joe Lieberman there ever was.

Comments

[brownforall]

I remember seeing Reid on countdown talking about him staying where hes at. The only reason hes still here is becuase he votes with the democrats on the other issues. I could probably understand if he just disagrees on Iraq and Iran, but a blue state Democrat that does a Republicans dirty work, and is probably expected to speak at the RNC is stunning. Sense he votes with the Dems on all issues except Bush/McCain foreign policy I would like to see a reporter challenge joe on the other issues and see if he breaks with McCain.

I can see it now, Obama being declared the next POTUS and atleast 6 Republican Senators losing their seats along with gains in the house.

[DMHendrix]

Do you think the Sunday talking heads invite Joe LIEberman on their shows just to make SURE they ruin our day? Nothing irritates me more than to turn on a political talk show and see Joe LIEberman or Lindsay Graham..and then there they were...both of them on different channels spewing the same garbage. ugh.

[levibatgirl]

I thought the blue sign in front of droopy in the picture said 'I'm sickening' at first. lol!

[lbsaltzman]

Lieberman is now a flat out front man for the neoconservatives and AIPAC (American Israeli Political Action Committee). He is advocating policies pushed by the extreme rightwing in this country and in Israel. These policies are detrimental to the best interests of the United States. His policies are also detrimental to the best interests of Israel which needs to end the occupation and make peace with its' neighbors.

Lieberman's support of John McCain should make us frightened of the direction McCain will take the country.

I hope the Democrats totally isolate him next year once they have a firm majority in the Senate.

[libertyanne]

Ugggh! As soon as Sleazer-man came on today I shut him off and turned on the music.
I used to like him but the sound of him makes me GAG!
So long, Senator Sell-out! Maybe CT will wise up and get rid of you.

[mgray34]

Urban Legend #1: Experience factor- Neither McCain or Obama has executive experience. If this election were about a congressional seat or some other legislative position, McCain would have Obama hands down on the EXPERIENCE issue. For a presidential election, you have to base part of your decision on who has the better judgement.

Urban Legend #2: Flip-flopping- Anybody halfway following this election knows that McCain by a wide margin has flipped flopped more than Obama. In fact, McCain has done a complete 180 on several issues such as the bush tax cuts, off-shore drilling, and torture. He has either flat out lied, or has forgotten what he has said on other issues such as claiming he knew little about the economy and then turning around and saying that he never stated that. Obama, on the other hand has skated right on the fence on issues such as the 2nd amendment, FISA, and negotiating with hostile nations, without doing a complete 180.

Urban Legend #3: Obama changing his position on Iraq- This has got to be the MOTHER OF ALL SPIN JOBS by the Republicans!! He has said throughout the election that he would remove 1 to 2 brigades a month, would reserve the right to make adjustments to the pace of withdrawal to protect the ground troops, and that he would be just as careful getting out as Bush was careless getting in. NOTHING HE SAID THURSDAY CHANGED THIS!!

[ZsaZsa]

Q: Senator, why do you caucus with the Democrats, but support the Republican candidate for President?

Lieberman: Because we have to get away from partisan bickering. We need to work toward genuine bipartisanship in this country. And by bipartisanship, of course, I mean capitulating to the Republicans' demands each and every time. I think the American people are tired of all this bickering in Washington, and they want one party to rule, and the other party to go along, in a spirit of bipartisan cooperation. The Democratic Party risks becoming irrelevant if they insist on playing partisan political games by opposing the Republicans once in a while.

[Trogenhorse]

Lieberman believes it you tell a lie enough times, then it's true.

Well, CT what do you think of him now?

[Yola]

We are sad, sad, sad - at least those of us who voted for this nut!

[memphispaul]

Joe the LIE...
What else should we expect from someone like him?

[Noratruth]

what is he talking about? when has obama changed positions on the war? obama was against the war in 2003, and still is against the war... oh yea, thats a major shift in position. and of course mccain and his double talk express didn't change positions on the economy, offshore drilling, and various other positions to please his conservative base.

no wonder lieberman is supporting the republicans, they both love to lie and bullshit

[DCtrain]

There maybe something to this. Joe is a model of consistency himself... consistently slimmy ... consistently back-stabbing.... consistently boring ... Mr. Charisma is consistent.. he ought to know

[Cookie100]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080623_the_hedonists_of_power/
THIS IS THE PROBLEM< READ THIS!!
They are complicit with this administration in everything. Now they're shoving McSame down our throats! Americans have had it up to their earlobes!
NEVER AGAIN!

[Eric8869]

Will he just go away already?

[jeffp26]

Seriously, Lieberman makes me embarrassed to be a Jew and embarrassed to be a democrat.

Can't wait til he gets thrown out of our party in January. Let him caucus with those GOP mothers.

[theone718]

The day he gets thrown out of the democratic caucus I am throwing a house party, anyone want to come?

[305Rider]

Make it a BBQ, I'll bring some meat.

[Scarllatti]

I am chilling my finest wine to toast the hour Joe will be finally "TOASTED".

[jeffp26]

I will pay for the food and drinks. And I will be there too.

[bwither]

I will walk 1000 miles to get to that party.

AND I will drag a keg the entire way.

[RobertaInCT]

LOL

[katiec]

No wonder McCain and Lieberrman get along so well. Lieberman changes parties and
mind, McCain tries to act like a Democrat and flip flops daily,.
I hope L. keeps it up as cannot be improving already dismal outlook on McCain.
Am getting more and more disturbed by the news media and AP.
They are leaning so far to the right and giving McCain a free ride on everything.
They distort, misreport and ask unwarranted questions on everything Obama
says and does.
What happened to integrity??