Posted on 10/14/2004 11:45:57 AM PDT by SJackson
Former Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman called President Bush a "strong and consistent supporter of Israel," but said Jewish voters should also weigh other issues and choose John Kerry.
Lieberman told heavily Jewish audiences Wednesday that Kerry has an impeccable pro-Israel record as a U.S. Senator and would be a strong ally for the Jewish state in the White House.
But Lieberman said in an interview that Kerry needs to be more "explicit" about his support for Israel to remove doubts of some Jewish voters.
Lieberman, a popular figure in South Florida four years ago when he campaigned as the first Jewish candidate on a major party presidential ticket, spoke on behalf of Kerry in Miami-Dade and Broward counties before making appearances west of Delray Beach and in West Palm Beach.
After speaking to about 600 people at the Huntington Lakes community west of Delray Beach, Lieberman told reporters that Bush appears to have made inroads with Jewish voters, who voted Democratic by an estimated 4-to-1 margin in 2000.
"We are dealing with a president who's had a record of strong, consistent support for Israel. You can't say otherwise. And I think John Kerry to reassure people has to himself be explicit" rather than having surrogates deliver the message, Lieberman said.
Lieberman said he has urged the Kerry campaign to have the candidate speak more about Israel because "only John Kerry can eliminate those doubts."
In his remarks to the audience at Huntington Lakes, Lieberman called Bush "strong and consistent" on Israel and said it would be "unjustified" to criticize him on that issue.
"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.
"You've got two people here who are strong and consistent supporters of Israel. But then look at everything else," said Lieberman. He said Kerry would be a better president on health care, prescription drugs, the environment, education and Supreme Court appointments.
At Century Village of Deerfield Beach earlier in the day, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Delray Beach, introduced Lieberman to a crowd of about 250 as "the real vice president of the United States," a reference to the disputed Florida recount that ended with Bush declared the winner by 537 votes.
"You know what, we carried the state of Florida no matter what the United States Supreme Court said," Lieberman told the Deerfield Beach audience.
Lieberman called the race in Florida a "dead heat" and urged his audiences to take advantage of early voting, which begins Monday.
Sounds like Lieberman was damning Kerry with some faint praise.
Such a leftist statement: 'show' support for Israel?
How about saying "Kerry must support Israel"--how about that?
such as ?
I have a sneaking suspicion that Joe may not vote for Kerry this time out.
I hope the Bush campaign is smart enough to use Lieberman's quotes in some ads in South Florida. If Kerry can get away with constantly quoting John McCain, Bush should quote Lieberman.
Lying to the jewish community, a repeat of the previous campaign.
Answer. . .None.
I hope he doesn't. He's one of the few Democrats I still have respect for.
After reading that, I doubt he's voting for W.
That's right, voters. We know you want ice cream, but we want you to hold your nose and vote for moldy French cheese! Hey, they're both made from milk! Where's the problem here?
Don't hold your breath Joe. We don't want anything bad to happen to the "conscience of the Senate" (that went AWOL on that while running with Algore, but what the heck).
I'd disagree with your apparent contension that Kerry is best for our country, but as pertains to israel, he's telling them the exact opposite.
Sorry,Holy Joe it's not going to happen!!!
Yup.
But would not that run counter to the beliefs of the majority of Kerry's base?
Talk about a backhanded endorsement. I guess we know who Joe is voting for.
Of course as you'll not that doesn't prevent several posters from raising the Jews vote for Israel disloyalty issue. Go figure.
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