That Was Then, This Is Now

Former Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut will complete his abandonment of good sense at some point this week by addressing the Republican’t National Convention, endorsing Bush disciple John “100 Years War” McCain as the next president of the United States. This, on the heels of Lieberman’s “good friend” McCain passing him over as his vice-presidential candidate in favor of right-wing Republican neophyte Sarah Palin.

Lieberman has lately taken to parroting McCain’s cheap, desperate, and ludicrous shots against Democrat Barack Obama’s patriotism. Yet just two years ago, Connecticut’s junior solon was singing a very different tune. In March 2006, Lieberman spoke at the annual Jefferson-Jackson-Bailey (JJB) Dinner in Hartford, Connecticut, an affair that had engaged Obama as its keynote speaker. He told the audience:

“As far as I’m concerned [Barack Obama] is a ‘Baruch,’ which means a blessing. He is a blessing to the United States Senate, to America, and to our shared hopes for better, safer tomorrows for all our families. The gifts that God has given to Barack Obama are as enormous as his future is unlimited. As his mentor, as his colleague, as his friend, I look forward to helping him reach to the stars and realize not just the dreams he has for himself, but the dreams we all have for him and our blessed country.”

Hmm. Lieberman praised Obama back then as someone who could make America safer and encouraged him to “reach for the stars.” Yet now he’s following in crazy Zell Miller’s footsteps to endorse another make-war-first Republican’t for the White House? No wonder Lieberman and McCain are such good friends: both of them are willing to sell out whatever core values they once had in pursuit of political power.

I wonder if the media will have the courage to confront Lieberman with his flip-flop--conveniently caught on tape--during this week’s convention. Probably not.