Print media report that Lieberman attacked Obama at RNC without noting he had pledged not to
SUMMARY: Print media outlets reported Sen. Joe Lieberman's attack on Sen. Barack Obama at the Republican National Convention, including Lieberman's deceptive claim that Obama "vot[ed] to cut off funding for our troops on the ground," but did not report that the attack violated a pledge Lieberman had made not to "spend [his] time attacking Barack Obama" at the convention.
The Washington Post, The New York Times, McClatchy Newspapers, and the Associated Press all quoted Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) attacking Sen. Barack Obama in a September 2 speech at the Republican National Convention but did not report that the attack violated a pledge Lieberman had made not to "spend [his] time attacking Barack Obama" at the convention. Moreover, each of those reports quoted one of Lieberman's specific attacks on Obama -- that Obama "vot[ed] to cut off funding for our troops on the ground" -- without noting that Sen. John McCain himself has voted against legislation to fund the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, or that Obama has voted in the past to provide funds for troops stationed there. As Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz wrote: "Obama has frequently voted to finance the war but was one of 14 Senate Democrats to oppose a war-funding bill last year -- after Republicans removed troop withdrawal deadlines -- saying he did not want to be 'validating the same failed policy in Iraq.' "
All of the above media outlets quoted Lieberman saying:
"When others were silent, John McCain had the judgment to sound the alarm about the mistakes we were making in Iraq. When others wanted to retreat in defeat from the field of battle, when Barack Obama was voting to cut off funding for our troops on the ground, John McCain had the courage to stand against the tide of public opinion and support the surge, and because of that, today, our troops are at last beginning to come home, not in failure, but in honor."
Yet, as Greg Sargent documented on Talking Points Memo, on the August 3 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, Lieberman told host Tom Brokaw: "If Senator McCain feels that I can help his candidacy, which I think it's so important to elect him our next president, I will do it. But I assure you this, Tom, I'm not going to go to that convention, the Republican convention, and spend my time attacking Barack Obama. I'm going to go there really talking about why I support John McCain and why I hope a lot of other independents and Democrats will do that."
Obama DID vote to cut funds for troops on the batte field, and Lieberman pointed that out. Since when is it an attack to correctly and accurately talk about a person’s record? Obama has voted to fund the troops but he also voted to cut their funding. That is a fact, plain and simple. MMFA is upset because Lieberman told the truth. He also said that Obama did not have the experience McCain has. Once again, the truth.
Lieberman phrased it in such a way as to give the impression that Obama was actively working to deprive the troops of funding. That impression is directly contrary to reality.
By your warped standard, virtually every member of the Senate has voted to "cut funds" for the troops. Even you should be able to see how deceitful Lieberman's statement is.
You're playing with words and being disingenuous.
O.K. well... devoid of how much experience John McCain has, it doesn't matter. Here's why. No matter how much experience John McCain has, he still has a pathetic political plan. He is making a sorry attempt to invest in alternative energy if he becomes president. Alternative energy is something that we "must" have and Barack Obama has laid out a clear and safe proposal to take care of that. A proposal that will create jobs, boost our economy, and unshackle our troubled ties with Middle East oil. Also, the majority of other developed nations are extremely upset with our Iraq war because it was unwarranted. Period. We entered the war because, supposedly, there was weapons of mass destruction. Remember? Well, that was blatantly false. Also, we were told that the same group that attacked us on 9/11 lives in Iraq. Well, guess what? That's not true either. So, slowly but surely, these lies came out and the entire country, all of a sudden, felt very skeptical. Now, here we are claiming that the war in Iraq is in our favor even though we are almost a trillion dollars in debt due to the war, and we have arbitrarily killed American and Iraqi people for a war that was started for reasons that were not even true! Barack Obama voted "NO" on the war and he wanted to invest in our military to go after the terrorists in Afghanistan because the terrorist groups are largely centered there, especially Al Queda and the Taliban network. Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. And, their presence was no threat to us. We have nuclear weapons that could destroy this entire planet. And, because of this, other developed nations are not happy with our political leaders, like John McCain, who voted for the war. Remember, the U.S. is the only powerful nation. Also, just because we have a strong military doesn't mean we have the right to bully other nations. There is a general discontent aimed at our country because we have gotten arrogant politically and tried to bully others around with brute force. Do you know what other empire did that? Rome. And, they were conquered internally by Turks who had had enough of Rome's corruption. John McCain is exactly what this world does not need. He is already disliked abroad, he's losing in American polls and his political agenda is not nearly as comprehensive at Obama's. His campaign has spent the majority of its time attacking Obama with sensational commercials and avoided the issues altogether. He hasn't spoken clearly about the issues because his agenda is not substantial. There is no agenda, no plan, no clear vision that is ready to be implemented. His only hope is to berate Obama because once he is questioned about his knowledge of the issues, in the company of Barack Obama, this election is over. I will be watching the debates. Can't wait.
I vote for: McClain/Pain 08
the former POW and socer mom
He will lay more pipe
bolten' joe had more R's than D's vote for him last time around. POV.
Funny how the voters.....you remember them.....the voters.......many with a D after their names voted to keep him in the sentate. - pointofview / Wednesday September 3, 2008 2:36:27 PM
Funny how the Republican Party chopped their own candidate (Alan Schlesinger) off at the knees and encouraged their voters to vote for Bush's favorite "Dem," Lieberman.
Mags,
It is too late now, but Would not a Lieberman defection to R have made the GOP in the majority party in the Senate?
"I'm not going to go to that convention, the Republican convention, and spend my time attacking Barack Obama."
This lie is as shocking as the ones he told at the convention. Why on earth can't the media report this?
They could make a movie about this Republican Convention. Oh wait, they did.
I would guess Lieberman has only his own interests to protect, so he will do whatever it takes to help the McCain/Pailn ticket.
From Think Progress; Amanda, August 21st., 2008 (bold type as found in article)
Secretary Of State Lieberman Endorses ‘Dumb’ Plan To Kick Russia Out Of The G-8»
Today, Lieberman showed exactly what type of diplomacy he’d practice as Secretary of State. Speaking in Poland after a trip to Georgia with fellow McCain ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Lieberman proposed kicking Russia out of the G-8:..............[....]
I heard Bob Schieffer say that if McCain wins, he will put Lieberman in his cabinet.
And all I could think of is: Yes. Regardless of who wins the election, Lieberman should be PUT IN A CABINET--especially in the kind where one would keep Tools.
Wow how things change in 8 years
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/08/07/gore.lieberman/index.html
Monday, while vacationing on Martha's Vineyard, Clinton said he was pleased with the choice of Lieberman, whom he described as a "friend."
"I think he's wonderful," the president said. "He's been a wonderful friend to me. I'm very happy about Joe Lieberman."
"He's a bold thinker, he's always full of new ideas." Clinton said. "And he's supported the changes that we've made over the last eight years that have turned America around and moved America forward. I think he's just an extraordinary guy... I like him."
White House aides said Gore telephoned president Clinton in Edgartown, Massachusetts, late Monday morning to tell him he had settled on a running mate.
"Joe Lieberman represents a new guard of leadership," said one Gore source. "Senator Lieberman has a national reputation of integrity and independence. Lieberman and Gore share the same values."
Lieberman, 58, served as Connecticut's attorney general prior to defeating Republican Lowell Weicker to claim his seat in Congress' upper chamber. He is currently running for re-election to his Senate seat, and under Connecticut state law, could opt to keep his Senate campaign active while simultaneously running for the number two slot on the Democratic ticket.
Members of his immediate family seemed blindsided by the news. "I'm overwhelmed by this incredible moment in time and history and the history of my family and the history of many immigrants throughout the country," said Hadassah Lieberman, the senator's wife.
"Wow how things change in 8 years"
Yeah, some people have turned into complete fools after 9/11, and some people have not.
I'm used to giving aid and comfort to our enemy but Jesus H. Christ, how's a sane person able to keep track of all of our enemies today.
I liked it better when I only had to cut one check at the end of each month to the commies.
That's about all it will be good for.
Col
He was giving you a very accurate description of your party.
Hi pointy. I'm not a member of any political party, so right off the bat you've failed. What you saw as "accurate" were a load of baseless wild accusations, the sort of BS that people with critical thinking skills tend to dismiss without some sort of backup.
Why don't you and Nolefthemisphere join your half-wits together, and see if you can come up with some of those "facts".
Or, you can just shut your cockholster,and come back when you have another childish imagination-based insult to post.
Good luck, both of you.
Col
Yea right, you are not a member of any party. You just vote for the dems 100% of the time, and always trash the republicans.....but you...you are an independent. You have never once taken an issue here that is not totally 100% in line with the dems.....i mean progressives. Thanks for the laugh. Was a long day at work, and reading that......you calling your self anything other than a member of the far loony left was just the laugh I needed.
Your hallucinations about my voting record aside, did you come up with any of those "facts" I asked for? No? Did you think I wouldn't notice?
FAIL !
Those who forget history are doomed by twacked over the head with it by Niceguy Eddie...
WHO was it that ARMED Osama Bin Laden and his Mujahadeen? Oh yeah, your idol Ronald Reagan and your parasitic VP Dick Cheney. Was Reagan not giving aid and confort to Hezbollah when he pulled the troops out of Lebanon? Was Clinton aid and abbeting the enemy when he oredered cruise missile strikes? (I won't mention Bush41's invasion of Iraq, as I srongtronly supported it at the time, even if it did give Bin Laden a new propaganda monkey.) America's past choices, including many by Republican Administrations, DID contribute to 9/11. That's fact. That's history. That doesn't make us BAD, or make it OUR FAULT, but if we are blind to how our own behavior might just be counterpreductive to our broader and future goals, well that does make us... um... REPUBLICANS, I think is the word.
We blame the Bush/Cheney administration. Just as the right vilified Clinton for eight years, we knew they weren't blaming America, just the president.
The big difference between you righties and us on the left is that we're able to understand those subtle differences.
Or maybe you're trying to tell us that you do hate America.
Worrier,
Next you'll be saying you support the troops but not the war.
I, on the other hand have first hand knowledge, that opposition to a war, can in fact be supporting the troops.
I've witnessed troops in the field being encouraged by people at home filling the streets, demonstrating against a war.
Hey troll:
If you have any direct evidence of anyone "giving aid and comfort to the enemy," please bring it forward and file treason charges.
Otherwise, sit down and STFU.
Col
I dont think he was talking about me, but come on sports guy....your party has been all about giving aid and comfort to the enemy, and hoping we lose the war for 2 years now. Obama wont even admit the surge has worked.
Please, please, puhleeeeeeeeeez, give me one, just one, example of the left giving "aid and comfort to the enemy". Can you? Just one? A little one?
After that, if you can, I'd appreciate a short analysis of how the surge worked. You know, a couple of events that occurred and how they contributed to the peace and stability we see in Iraq now. Maybe a little something to show how the Iraqi government has taken over all national operations and no longer needs any of our troops there, and how we've achieved all the goals and that were laid out by the Bush administration.
That'd be great. Thanks.
Yes, Lieberman has changed a lot in that time.
Wow how things change in 8 years
Yeah. Who knew that all the intelligence (such as it was) of the GOP was stored in the Twin Towers?
This just proves that Lieberman wants to be all things to all people...anything to promote himself. In the end, he is being used as a play for Jewish votes....like Palin is being used because of her gender and religious beliefs.
Boston Globe. M. Kranish Aug. 21st. 2008 http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/21/independent_lieberman_upends_political_world/?page=2
The problem with identity politics is that if you believe it to be true for the Republicans, then it must also be true for the Democrats.
yea 8 arab guys with cell phones and box cutters changed the world. guys like lieberman just viewed that as a new opportunity for personal enhancement.
And Rudy Giuliani has been looking at the 9/11 attachs as his own personal cash cow.
Lieberman's own words at the convention:
“What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?” Mr. Lieberman asked. “The answer is simple. I’m here to support John McCain because country matters more than party.” NY Times 9-3-08
SF,
The anti-war left abandoned Lieberman in the primary, he still caucuses with the Dems and considers himself a Democrat. So does just about everyone not on the radical left.
That's just what she is, Nerz. Funny part is, it looks like the GOP is panicking because they suddenly realized there were more reasonably well -adjusted people in America than they thought. At least, more semi-normal people who were in their ranks.
May be the first election that hinges on firing up the insane, and Palin seems to be just the one to get them out of their attics and treehouses to the polls.
I hope I'm not underestimating their numbers.
Where was the lie? Obama did vote to cut funding for the troops, and he has no experience. Only on the left does the truth become a lie. - POV
Your description is the big lie here. Choosing not to support a particular funding bill IS NOT THE SAME as voting to "cut funding." They are not the same to any normal, rational person.
Only on the right to the lies flow so easily.
Where was the lie?
1.) Lieberman said he would not attack Obama when in fact he did attack Obama. 2.) He claimed Obama voted against funding the Troops when in fact Omaba voted to fund the Troops. 3.) He claimed that Obama has not worked with Republicans on important legislation when in fact he's worked with Republicans on important legislation. 4.) Lieberman called himself a 'D' when in fact he's an 'I'.
Gov
I asked you for the LIES he told. Everything you mentioned was true. He did not attack Obama, Obama did vote to cut funds for the troops, Obama does not reach across party lines, and Joe can be whatever party he decides. Sorry Governor wannabe......you dont get to define who he is, and the real governor is on our ticket, and will be the next VP.
Must kill you that Palin has more experience than Obama, and that in her last election she got more votes than Biden did for president.
Even hard-core righties are disgusted by McCain and his pick. Enjoy.
http://rangerbobfriends.blogspot.com/2008/09/mike-murphy-and-peggy-noonan-dont-like.html
Nordquist's anti tax group helped pick her. Those deep pockets are now accessible to Mcloin.
More employment opportunities for wingnuts should be availible very shortly. Might shave a percentage points off the unemployment rates for a couple months.
You gotta admit, even if you don't like Lieberman's position regarding Iraq, it took a lot of political courage for Lieberman to support McCain.
I didn't see his speech as an attack on Obama at all. Lieberman simply pointed out the differences between the two candidates.
Has McCain told anyone what Lieberman's position would be in his administration? My guess is Secretary of State.
No, it doesn't represent courage. He saw the writing on the wall and realized that a stronger Democratic majority would probably reduce his influence. He would probably have lost his committee assignments. He saw a chance to stay relevant with a McCain administration and grabbed at the chance.
A key piece of his last Senate campaign was a promise to caucus with the Democrats. He couldn't have been reelected without that, so he was forced to after he won the election. The Democrats were forced to work with him in order to be the majority party. That won't be necessary next January.
You don't think a dishonest description of Obama's funding votes qualifies as an attack? In what world?
With any luck, we'll never find out what his position would be under McCain.
Bill,
Reading from the bottom up, No I didn't see it as an attack. Just politics as usual. Both sides do it.
Lieberman also said nice things about Obama. His complaint was Obama is not ready to be President and he has never shown that he has done anything to either take on the establishment or reach across party lines. Hence Lieberman's support of McCain.
... when Barack Obama was voting to cut off funding for our troops on the ground - Lieberman
That is dishonest and intended to portray Obama in a negative manner. That makes it an attack by any reasonable standard. Obama has never cast a vote to "cut off funding." Lieberman's not playing with words, he's being deliberately deceitful.
And that makes you wrong.
cont.
I am not so jaded about Lieberman as you. I think he is still a liberal Democrat. I see on his website he lists himself as an ID (Independet Democrat.)
It looks to me like the some here are very intolerant of Lieberman and demand lockstep conformity to their anti-war stance. Since Lieberman disagrees, lot of people here want to see Lieberman's head on a platter.
This objective view was brought to you by a man who is not a member of any party
"I am the col, an independent hack, and I support this mesage"
Lieberman is not a liberal, much less a liberal Democrat. Most rankings of Senators put him in the high 30s or into the 40s among the most liberal, which isn't very liberal given that the Senate itself isn't a very liberal body. In that stupid National Journal ranking that put Obama first, Lieberman came in 44th. The Conservative Union ranked him 39th. It actually puts him on the conservative end of moderate among Democrats. No, Lieberman is not liberal.
I don't consider my view to be jaded. I'm simply expressing what my eyes, ears and mind are making very clear to me. Lieberman has been pandering to the Republicans since he got his feelings hurt in 2006. He likes his power and is taking what he sees as the best route to maintain some of it.
No one's demanding lockstep adherence from him. He's being evaluated fairly on the basis of the decisions he has made.
Lieberman praising Obama in 2006, from the Huffington post:
"As far as I am concerned he is a Baruk, which means a blessing, he is a blessing to the United States Senate to America and to our shared hopes for a better safer tomorrow 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."I am amazed at what they say is true. We democrats really do eat our own. You people are horrible in your treament of Lieberman. Screw this, After seeing Sarah Palin last night, I am also leaving this mean spirited party. This girls towers way above Barack. Although I was a Hilary supporter, I gave Barack a chance, but this is not the party that I signed up for 35 years ago. You have left you basic convictions and have swayed way to far.
Yeah, sure you were a Democrat and a Hillary supporter. I fully believe you.
Like we don't know about the republicans that keep popping into discussion areas ripping Obama and pretending to be Democrats and/or Hillary supporters. Your act is getting tiresome.
Right Bob, Stay comfy with your conversion. I'm sure it was difficult and emotionally draining. But all that pain is gone now that you've found the true way.
Lieberman is a democrat now um. When did he reenter the party. Before or after he trashed them at the republican convention. Just think without that stellar VP McNurgy picked Joe could have been his pick. We'd have a split ticket, a war enthusiast and a war enabler.
OOhh(head slap) they do have it! How silly of me. I guess it was all win win regardless!
Keep smiling!
Joe Lieberman has repeatedly proven himself to be one of the most dishonest politicians in America. I agree that America should stand by the state of Israel. But Joe Lieberman always seems to put Israel’s interest ahead of America's. Whenever a U.S. Senator demonstrates more concern for a foreign nation than for the United States itself, he is not worthy of national office. This man can care less about Americans who are catching hell trying to survive by keeping their jobs and homes. I hope this corrupt politician will soon be voted out of office. He is a total waste.