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Lieberman Would Have Shown Dem Prez Candidates The Love In '08 Campaign - But No One Asked

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Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

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Sen. Joe Lieberman nearly became the first person in history to be the vice presidential nominee for two different parties, but it turns out one reason he so fully embraced Republican Sen. John McCain during the presidential campaign is that none of his fellow Democrats asked for his help.

In 2007, Lieberman (I-CT) was reviled by Democrats who supported him being booted from his caucus thanks in part to the Iraq war. It should not have been much of a surprise that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton weren't racing for an endorsement.

But it was to Lieberman, according to an account described in the book "Game Change" and confirmed to me by Lieberman's office.

The book, written by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, contains some unreported nuggets about how McCain (R-AZ) secured Lieberman's endorsement when he needed it most.

According to the account, McCain phoned Lieberman after their Thanksgiving 2007 visit to Iraq.

Heilemann and Halperin write:

New Hampshire is going to be everything for me, he said. And there's a lot of independents who are going to vote in the primary. I want to ask if you'd think about giving me your support. If you can't, I'll understand. You're in enough trouble with your party already, but I know it would help me out a lot.

Give me a couple of days to think it over, Lieberman replied. It's a big step, but you know how I feel about you. We've been through a lot together and particularly on the war.

Lieberman talked with his friends, family and staff and one person told him he was crazy, but added that McCain's campaign would not last very long so it would be a short endorsement, according to the book.

And here's the kicker:

On the other hand, not a single Democratic candidate had asked for Lieberman's endorsement, not even his fellow Connecticut senator, Chris Dodd.

For all the distance between him and his party, Lieberman still found that level of ostracism surprising - and painful, very painful.

Lieberman's office confirmed this account to me and sources close to the Republican campaign note the close McCain-Lieberman friendship had a lot to do with it. Democrats also are the first to point out that a Lieberman endorsement would have hurt more than helped in the Iowa caucus.

Lieberman became one of McCain's go-to friends and advisers, and Lieberman, McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) were bosom buddies on the campaign trail.

Game Change also says that one of the trio's favorite past times was watching the "I feel pretty" YouTube clip of John Edwards fixing his hair.

But more importantly, Lieberman's loyalty and defiance of the Democratic party led McCain to want him as his running mate. McCain came so close that his team was already attempting to smooth the waters for nominating a pro-choice former Democrat at the Republican National Convention.

But in mid-August, Karl Rove told McCain aides it would be an awful idea, according to Game Change. Rove phoned Lieberman Aug. 24 and pleaded with him to decline the offer.

"[Y]ou may be the only person who can save McCain from himself," Rove said to Lieberman, according to the book.

After his team convinced him Lieberman wouldn't fly, McCain then picked Sarah Palin and the rest is history. Palin's book "Going Rogue" includes pages of kind words for Lieberman, who helped her with debate prep and during the general election.

Special thanks to Sasha Issenberg for loaning me his copy of the book.

Comments (32) | Join the Conversation!

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February 16, 2010 9:03 AM   

I find it hard to believe that Lieberman is so obtuse he found it surprising no Democrat asked for his endorsement. Even he's not that dumb. Now the hacktastic Mark Halperin on the other hand...

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February 16, 2010 9:26 AM    in reply to markg8

I don't. After his abysmal showing in the 2004 Democratic primaries (and not being endorsed by his former running mate Al Gore) he became increasingly petulant. Then after Connecticut Democrats rejected him in 2006, his petulance increased exponentially. I think it's pretty easy for any Senator to become sheltered from reality, and in the case of Lieberman, reality was so painful he gladly ensconced himself in the shelter of the Beltway.

If Joe opts to run in 2012, it will show how far removed from reality he really is.

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February 16, 2010 9:46 AM    in reply to markg8

Could that be because no one trusts him --with good reason! He has a very bad tract record --then again he may be lying about this too!

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February 16, 2010 9:04 AM   

Sheesh! Not only do we have to kiss Joe's ass, we have to go out of our way and be proactive about it. Reminds me of a speech one of his fellow Senators gave once:

Well, the "me" decade is almost over, and good riddance, and far as I'm concerned. The 00's were simply 10 years of people thinking of nothing but themselves. No wonder we were unable to get together and solve any of the many serious problems facing our nation. Oh sure, some people did do some positive things in the 00's - like jogging - but always for the wrong reasons, for their own selfish, personal benefit. Well, I believe the 10's are gonna have to be different. I think that people are going to stop thinking about themselves, and start thinking about me, Joe Lieberman. That's right. I believe we're entering what I like to call the Joe Lieberman Decade. Oh, for me, Joe Lieberman, the 10's will be pretty much the same as the 00's. I'll still be thinking of me, Joe Lieberman. But for you, you'll be thinking more about how things affect me, Joe Lieberman. When you see a news report, you'll be thinking, "I wonder what Joe Lieberman thinks about this thing?", "I wonder how this health insurance reform thing is hurting Joe Lieberman?" And you women will be thinking, "What can I wear that will please Joe Lieberman?", or "What can I not wear?" You know, I know a lot of you out there are thinking, "Why Joe Lieberman?" Well, because I thought of it, and I'm on TV, so I've already gotten the jump on you. So, I say let's leave behind the fragmented, selfish 00's, and go into the 80's with a unity and purpose. That's what I think. I'm Joe Lieberman.

My apologies to the junior Senator from Minnesota.

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February 16, 2010 9:16 AM   

Really? What did Lieberman expect? After everything he did to make it clear he didn't really want to be a Democrat and was having a love-fest with McCain, and he expected them to come to him for his blessing?

Can we say narcissistic personality disorder?

Joanne Bamberger aka PunditMom
http://www.punditmom.com

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February 16, 2010 10:36 AM    in reply to PunditMom/Joanne Bamberger

I'd call it a classic Napolean complex - small man, big ego.

Guess Lieberman didn't notice that Obama did very well without Lieberman's help, much less lose any votes from Lieberman's attacks on Obama.

"Petulant" is a good term.

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February 16, 2010 9:19 AM   

I just do not care about what he says. I really just want him to go away.

http://randomthoughtstd.blogspot.com/

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February 16, 2010 9:20 AM   

Now for today's episode of Liarman!

Joe, Joe, Joe, even if you weren't asked, that doesn't excuse you contemptuous endorsement of McCain.

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February 16, 2010 9:21 AM   

Pawww Joe Wiebuhman. Now wun wikes him. So he takes it out on de Amewican people.

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February 16, 2010 9:24 AM   

Whichever Democrat came to him for his endorsement would have pretty much had to drop out of the race right then. Joe, I know you ain't too bright, but you're not stupid. You know none of them would come to you, even ones that campaigned for you instead of Lamont, because your endorsement would have been the kiss of death in the 2008 Dem primaries

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February 16, 2010 9:27 AM   

Lieberman is like a kid that brings candy to school with the intention of making friends.

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February 16, 2010 9:58 AM   

And Lieberman just couldn't be out of it. Couldn't sit on the sidelines and lick his wounds. Really, he's as bad as Joe the Plumber in his need for the media spotlight.

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February 16, 2010 10:07 AM   

Dump Joe in 2012!

Lieberman is a narcissistic, small minded person whose intelligence is far beneath what he imagines it to be. The Democratic Party establishment has enabled this self-possessed twit which has allowed him to be an obstructionist to progressive initiatives.

Lieberman will either not run or will lose a re-election bid in 2012. He will then officially go to work for those whose water he already carries on the public's dime. He will make a fortune for being the political whore that he has always been.

He is a loathsome man. Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer bear a large measure of responsibility for catering to and, thus, empowering this malevolent man.

Dump Joe.

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February 16, 2010 10:08 AM   

But who needed his endorsement in the first place?

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February 16, 2010 10:08 AM   

Is that why Lieberman also campaigned for Susan Collins? Was that part of his little tantrum too?

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February 16, 2010 10:16 AM   

What are the odds the Dem caucus dumps Lieberscum in 2010? They might be down to 52-53 seats by then and if Lieberman is booted, Nelson might go with him.

Dems will need to have at least 55 seats in order to make a stand. So if they lose ND, Arkansas, Indiana, Delaware, Colorado, Nevada, Illinois they better pick up NH, NC, and Ohio.

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February 16, 2010 10:20 AM   

Yecchh. Liebermann, Graham, & McClown. Almost as ugly as Billary, Pelosi, & Maxine Waters.

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February 16, 2010 12:04 PM    in reply to Sailormarlowe

You're hung up on appearances, Sailor.

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February 16, 2010 10:26 AM   

Of course, fresh Lieberstain whining, what else would drag this crappy piece of Villager nonsense back off the remainder tables???

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February 16, 2010 10:32 AM   

All I have to say is Joe Lieberman is a liar. There's no way to ascertain whether or not he's telling the truth, and his story doesn't amount to a hill of beans.

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February 16, 2010 10:37 AM   

A Lieberman endorsement would have sealed my decision not to vote for his chosen candidate.

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February 16, 2010 10:46 AM   

For all the distance between him and his party, Lieberman still found that level of ostracism surprising - and painful, very painful.

Really? Sen Lieberman was aware enough of the world around him to notice that he was being ostracized? Well, that comes as something of a surprise to me. In any event, I find it slightly consoling to think that Sen Lieberman found this "painful." Given the enormous human suffering that his absurd, irrational, arrogant and stubborn support for the war engendered, it is only fair that he should feel a small percentage of that pain himself.

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February 16, 2010 11:23 AM   

"What are the odds the Dem caucus dumps Lieberscum in 2010?"

Absolutely zero. The Democrats are petrified of their own shadow, and don't have the balls to do anything to Holy Joe.

None of which changes the fact that Lieberman is a lying sack of shit.

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February 16, 2010 11:28 AM   

I'm starting the America for Lieberman Party tomorrow and need delegates to the first convention. Wait, maybe it should be called Planet Earth for Lieberman Party? Or, Universe for Lieberman Party? Help me out here!

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February 16, 2010 11:52 AM    in reply to Vincent F

Galactic Douchebags for Lieberman

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February 16, 2010 12:04 PM   

Gee, somebody actually doubted Ol' Joe's sincerity? Aw, how could that be? Hasn't he always been there for his . . . . oh, nemmind.

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February 16, 2010 12:21 PM   

Notice he doesn't say he would have given his endorsement. He just wanted the opportunity to twist the knife a little by refusing.

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February 16, 2010 12:38 PM   

And I would believe a word Mark Halperin says because . . . . ?

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February 16, 2010 1:32 PM    in reply to Powkat

Umm, Ahh, Ahh, Umm... Its right on the tip of my tounge, Ummm,......

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February 16, 2010 1:43 PM   

Oh, what horse manure. If Lieberman felt that close to the Democratic party, then what caused him to campaign for McCain/Palin? A fit of pique? A months-long amnesia fit? Give me a break.

The level of shamelessness in Washington has reach a new high. The Republicans are now not just hypocrites, but shameless, obvious hypocrites. And the vast majority of Democrats are spineless worms who insist that they're doing all this nonsense "for the people" instead of to save their own electoral hides. If I could unilaterally throw them all out and start over from scratch, man, I sure would.

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February 16, 2010 2:32 PM   

So now this Asshat is suggesting he supported McCain because he was the only one who asked? He stated in his convention speech that he supported him because he was the best man for the job.

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February 16, 2010 3:33 PM   

I totally buy it. That Lieberman would support a republican purely out of spite fits his M.O.

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