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2004 US Presidential Election
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December 10, 2003
Lieberman | Lieberman strikes back

Lieberman Lashes Out at Dean

Senator Says Endorsement Runs Counter to Gore's Views

By Dan Balz and Edward Walsh
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, December 10, 2003; Page A10

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DURHAM, N.H., Dec. 9 -- Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) responded to his rejection by former vice president Al Gore with a sharp attack on Howard Dean on Tuesday, questioning Gore's judgment and warning that the former Vermont governor would lead the Democratic Party back into the political wilderness.

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Earlier Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show, Lieberman said he was "caught completely off guard" by the Gore endorsement. "I heard about it from the media," he said.

Lieberman returned repeatedly to the theme that Dean is someone who would reverse the gains Democrats made under President Bill Clinton. "What really bothers me is that Al is supporting a candidate who is so fundamentally opposed to the basic transformation that Bill Clinton brought to the Democratic Party in 1992," Lieberman said on "Today." "Clinton made our party once again fiscally responsible, pro-growth, strong on values, for middle-class tax cuts, and Howard Dean is against all of those. So Al Gore will have to explain why he is supporting somebody who I think would take our party and country backward, not forward."

Lieberman's campaign aides said the Gore endorsement will "crystallize" the race for the Democratic presidential nomination by dramatizing the differences between Lieberman and Dean. "It seems to have energized our supporters and brought us a whole lot of new ones," said Mandy Grunwald, Lieberman's media consultant.

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Lieberman, speaking at a coffee shop here, said he had no idea whether his criticism of Gore's "people versus the powerful" message of 2000 -- criticism he has aired several times since that campaign -- contributed to Gore's decision. He said he has spoken with Gore "occasionally" and had sought his endorsement. "I hoped we would have a chance to speak before his decision," Lieberman said.

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Posted by nikita demosthenes at December 10, 2003 11:12 AM | TrackBack
Comments

“Moreover, if we quickly succeed in a war against the weakened and depleted fourth rate military of Iraq and then quickly abandon that nation as President Bush has abandoned Afghanistan after quickly defeating a fifth rate military there, the resulting chaos could easily pose a far greater danger to the United States than we presently face from Saddam. We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country. “

Al Gore Sept 23, 2002
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/gore/gore092302sp.html

“There can be no peace for the Middle East so long as Saddam is in a position to brutalise his people and threaten his neighbours”

Al Gore, Sept 23, 2002
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/809168.stm

“Iraq’s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to completely deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power”
http://slate.msn.com/id/2071500/

Posted by: Mark Buehner at December 10, 2003 11:25 AM

Ah, Mark…the flip flops are flying.

Dizzzzy……

My head is spinnin’…..

Like a whirlwind it never ends……..

Posted by: johnnymozart at December 10, 2003 12:03 PM

Speaking as a former State and National
delegate to the Democratic convention,
get a grip on the real world.

Do you really expect the Democrats to
be consistent or tell the Truth about
anything military related? That is money
they cannot use to buy votes and
hog troughs. Ha!

Seriously, I have switched parties and the
following is intended to be humorous!

Teenager to Grandpa: I am confused.

Grand Pa: How come?

Teenager: This is my first election. Who
should I vote for?

Grand Pa: Follow my advice. Vote Republican!

Teenager: Why?

Grand Pa: You won’t get DIZZY following their
flip flops! Besides… they are like the she-male
walking the street over in ……. they NEVER
stay bought! They always w_ _ _ e for more!

Posted by: leaddog2 at December 10, 2003 02:09 PM

mark b - I’m no fan of gore’s supoporting dean, but the slate artilce’s title is: “Gore Is Consistent on Iraq” and basically reputes what you’re saying?

Posted by: lucky at December 11, 2003 03:29 AM

Lucky, that was before the latest flip-flop. Besides I disagreed with the sentiment then, but they argued it well and provided direct quotes.

Posted by: Mark Buehner at December 11, 2003 10:04 AM

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