Joe Lieberman
From RationalWiki
Joe Lieberman (or the riddle wrapped up in an enigma wrapped up in a matzo ball) is the former Democratic Senator from Connecticut. He's not a former Senator; he's a former Democrat. He has long been George W. Bush's go-to guy for a Democrat who would support him on the war; when this cost him the Democratic nomination in 2006, he ran as an independent.
The funny thing is that it was his willingness to run as an independent that cost him the nomination.
With the support of Connecticut's Republicans, he barely won re-election to his seat, (by barely we mean by over 10 points). He currently caucuses with the Democrats, supporting Democratic leaders for the Senate. However, he constantly votes with the Republicans on any legislation designed to either end the war in Iraq or to limit the President's ability.
Earlier in his career, he was well known as Al Gore's running mate in 2000 (although the "blame Nader" crowd would prefer you not mention this inconvenient truth), and for being a righteous tightass. He was the only Democrat in the Senate to publicly rebuke Bill Clinton, well except for Robert Byrd and ..., and he privately led a crusade to get professional wrestling off of TV. His most frequently used phrase during 2000 debates with Dick Cheney was "I agree with my opponent on that." In 1988 he first won his seat running against liberal Republical Lowell Weicker by running to the right and seeking and getting the endorsement of, among others, the Moral Majority.
He has been very supportive of George W. Bush and his Iraq war. He is currently very supportive of John McCain, and follows him around everywhere he goes like a puppy in hopes that he might become vice-president.
We just wish he'd get it over with and register as a Republican. Unfortunately, other than being a neoconservative warmonger who endorses Republican candidates, "Fighting Joe" Lieberman doesn't have much in the way of GOP credentials. First of all he's not a born again Christian. He voted no on a constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. He co-sponsored the bill giving gay and lesbian federal workers domestic partner benefits. He tried to end job discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. He gets an "F" from the NRA. He voted against enshrining flag worship in the Constitution. In 2004 he said, "I support affirmative action programs, including in appropriate instances consideration of race and gender in government contracting decisions, when the affirmative action program is designed to remedy the effects of past discrimination." Somehow, however, he's not only supporting McCain, but also Palin, without reservation.
