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LIEBERMAN PRAISES BUSH, CHIDES KERRY
Newsmax ^
| 10/14/04
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, Americas 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 Kerrys 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 Kerrys 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 Kerrys 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 partys leading moderates, is sure to rock the Kerry campaign as the election moves into the ninth inning.
Jewish-Americans concerned with Israels 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 Israels 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 dont 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 Israels 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."
Liebermans 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 Presidents Bush invasion of Iraq, Lieberman has been a stalwart supporter of the Presidents 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 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 didnt duck it. I didnt 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)
- Lieberman Said Kerrys Statements On The Use Of Force Authorization Were Unbelievable. I thought that John Kerrys 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 dont get it. Hes 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)
- Lieberman: 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)
- Lieberman accused Kerry of making protectionist statements. Lieberman signaled that Kerry may feel heat in the next few days by pointing to Kerrys position on the Iraq war, to what he said was his rivals opposition to further tax cuts and to protectionist statements on trade. (Dan Balz, Debate Looms Large for Democrats, The Washington Post, 1/22/04)
- Lieberman: How did Kerry vote to send troops to Iraq, and then oppose funding them? Well, I do, and Ive said that about John before. I dont 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. (CNNs Paula Zahn Now, 11/4/03)
- Lieberman: Kerry is inconsistent. I want to say obviously I respect John Kerrys military service to our country, but thats not what this is about. This is about the votes that hes cast that I believe are inconsistent. In fact, what do we look back and wonder about our time in Vietnam? We didnt support our troops. If everyone had voted the way John Kerry did, the money wouldnt have been there to support our troops. (Fox News/Congressional Black Caucus Democrat Candidate Debate, Detroit, MI, 10/26/03)
- Lieberman called Kerrys 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, theyre sending, again, a message that I would call ambivalent. (CBS, Face The Nation, 8/31/03)
- 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)
- Lieberman: Cant figure out Kerrys stance on Iraq. I dont 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)
TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gwb2004; kerry; lieberman; praise; thirddebate
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To: areafiftyone
To: areafiftyone
Lieberman sounds like he is thinking about jumping ship.
3
posted on
10/14/2004 11:40:32 AM PDT
by
finnman69
(cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestus globus, inflammare animos)
To: areafiftyone
And that's the ballgame my friends.
4
posted on
10/14/2004 11:40:43 AM PDT
by
andyland
(Terrorists are such nuisances)
To: areafiftyone
KERRY, there is still time. Have AL GORE endorse you.
5
posted on
10/14/2004 11:41:17 AM PDT
by
gunnygail
(Founding member of the VRWC. --Black Helo crewman. (I operate the Liberal tinfoil hat scanner.)
To: areafiftyone
Sen Liebermann, welcome to the Republican party.
6
posted on
10/14/2004 11:41:51 AM PDT
by
gunnygail
(Founding member of the VRWC. --Black Helo crewman. (I operate the Liberal tinfoil hat scanner.)
To: areafiftyone
I'll bet he pulls the lever (or punches the chad) for Bush anyway.
7
posted on
10/14/2004 11:41:54 AM PDT
by
bootless
(Never Forget - And Never Again)
To: areafiftyone
Joe has always struck me as a good man, his interlude with Al Gore in 2000 notwithstanding.
If he has been able to put aside his understandable bitterness at being denied the vice presidency, then I would imagine that he and W. might have a lot in common.
To: areafiftyone
We are dealing with a president who's had a record of strong, consistent support for Israel. You can't say otherwise,He said this at an event for Kerry? Wow!
9
posted on
10/14/2004 11:42:07 AM PDT
by
KJacob
(All polls are equal: Some more equal than others.)
To: Alouette; SJackson
10
posted on
10/14/2004 11:42:20 AM PDT
by
malakhi
To: areafiftyone
Can we exchange Lieberman for Lincoln Chaffee?
11
posted on
10/14/2004 11:43:09 AM PDT
by
The South Texan
(The Democrat Party and the leftist (ABCCBSNBCCNN NYLATIMES)media are a criminal enterprise!)
To: finnman69
Lieberman has more in common with us anyway. "His party" left him long ago.
12
posted on
10/14/2004 11:43:11 AM PDT
by
keats5
To: areafiftyone
Lieberman is one of the few Dems I could trust when it comes to National Security.
To: finnman69; gunnygail
burried in the article:
"Lieberman made clear he is still staunchly supporting Kerry for president."
To: areafiftyone
That should have read
Can we exchange Lincoln Chaffee for Lieberman?
15
posted on
10/14/2004 11:43:55 AM PDT
by
The South Texan
(The Democrat Party and the leftist (ABCCBSNBCCNN NYLATIMES)media are a criminal enterprise!)
To: stainlessbanner
I would say publicly, yes.
In a voting booth, he'll pull one for Bush.
16
posted on
10/14/2004 11:44:32 AM PDT
by
gunnygail
(Founding member of the VRWC. --Black Helo crewman. (I operate the Liberal tinfoil hat scanner.)
To: areafiftyone
Probably saw the success Zel Miller had in being a Democrat but supporting Bush.
The Dems are definitely in a panic position.
17
posted on
10/14/2004 11:44:51 AM PDT
by
truthandlife
(http://www.neverforgetneveragain.com -- If you want Bush re-elected pass on this video link!!!!)
To: areafiftyone; All
Had he won the primary, it would have been a tougher race for George W..
18
posted on
10/14/2004 11:44:59 AM PDT
by
KevinDavis
(Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
To: stainlessbanner
That's for party cover - the damage to Kerry was done.
19
posted on
10/14/2004 11:45:10 AM PDT
by
andyland
(Terrorists are such nuisances)
To: areafiftyone
uh-oh. Leiberman sounds shaky on his support for Kerry.
he should be. Kerry is wrong on the WOT and wrong on his treatment of Isreal.
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