Joe Lieberman announces the end of his complex political career
The decision by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I) of Connecticut not to run for reelection in 2012 marks the beginning of the end of a storied political career.
After all, how many politicians were their party鈥檚 vice-presidential nominee, and then made the short list for the opposing party鈥檚 vice-presidential selection just eight years later?
That, in a nutshell, captures the complexity of four-term Senator Lieberman, who spent most of his career as a centrist Democrat, then in recent years grew alienated from his party. He ended up in the political netherworld of an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, but only votes with them on some issues. He is a fierce defender of the US wars abroad, and last month, just as fiercely led the charge to repeal the military鈥檚 鈥渄on鈥檛 ask, don鈥檛 tell鈥� policy that barred gays from open military service.
In his retirement announcement, delivered Wednesday in a hotel room in his birthplace of Stamford, Conn., Lieberman said his reason is 鈥渂est expressed in the wise words from Ecclesiastes: 鈥楾o everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven.鈥�"
He acknowledged that he hasn鈥檛 always fit into 鈥渃onventional political boxes," but said that wasn't the most important aspect of public service.
"I have always thought that my first responsibility is not to serve a political party but to serve my constituents, my state, and my country, and then to work across party lines to make sure good things get done for them," Lieberman said. 鈥淲hatever the partisan or policy differences that divide us, they are much less important than the shared values and dreams that unite us and that require us to work together to make progress for all. To me, that is what public service and leadership is all about.鈥�
By opting out of a reelection bid, Lieberman makes life easier for the Democrats. Had he run again, it probably would have been as an independent. But with, in effect, two Democrats (Lieberman and the Democratic nominee) running in a three-way race, the Republicans could have won with a plurality. In a two-way race, the Democratic nominee will enjoy an edge in liberal-leaning Connecticut.
In his last election, in 2006, Lieberman鈥檚 strong support for the Iraq War cost him the Democratic nomination, won by anti-war businessman Ned Lamont. The Republicans fielded a weak candidate, Alan Schlesinger, allowing Lieberman to build a coalition of Democrats, Republicans, and independents that propelled him to victory.
But Lieberman would never be the same. Just six years earlier, he was Al Gore鈥檚 running mate on the 2000 Democratic ticket. In 2004, Lieberman ran for president himself, but by then, his centrist politics 鈥� especially his support for the Iraq War 鈥� didn鈥檛 fit the Democratic electorate, and his candidacy didn鈥檛 go far.
鈥淗e was always very much a social liberal,鈥� says Peter Fenn, a Democratic strategist, noting Lieberman鈥檚 civil rights activism in the 1960s. 鈥淎nd he was not a hard cold-warrior who didn鈥檛 want to see negotiations on arms control with the Russians. Iraq was for him a huge turning point.鈥�
Lieberman鈥檚 2006 loss to Mr. Lamont affected him deeply, as he saw the Democratic Party abandon him and support its nominee.
鈥淗e was really angry when he had to defend himself against someone he didn鈥檛 feel was a serious candidate,鈥� says Mr. Fenn. 鈥淚t hurt him personally, then he took that out on the party, and on others, and of course when he was reelected it emboldened him a bit.鈥�
Lieberman鈥檚 close friendship with Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona, another strong defender of President Bush鈥檚 Iraq policy, added further strain to his relationship with the Democratic Party 鈥� especially when Senator McCain won the Republican nomination for president in 2008. In a way, Lieberman sealed his political fate when he endorsed McCain against Barack Obama, campaigned for McCain, and addressed the Republican convention that summer.
By many accounts, McCain wanted to make Lieberman his running mate, but was talked out of it by allies who felt Lieberman鈥檚 liberal social views would alienate conservatives. McCain went on to select then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Lieberman has described life as a political independent as liberating 鈥� and even helped convince former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist that leaving the Republican Party and running for the Senate as an independent was the way to go when it became clear Mr. Crist was going to lose in the GOP primary. 鈥淗e was right,鈥� Crist said last May. 鈥淚'm much happier now, to be perfectly candid."
For the past four years, Lieberman has counted as a Democrat for the purposes of committee assignments and leadership votes, but often left the Democrats guessing how he would vote. The possibility that Lieberman might become a Republican was never far from Democrats鈥� minds, but on domestic policy, in particular, Lieberman was often a reliable Democratic vote. On health care reform, he adamantly opposed the government-run health insurance proposal called the public option, but after that idea fell away, Lieberman was a loyal supporter of reform.
Ultimately, though, Lieberman鈥檚 inconsistent voting record on matters important to mainstream Democrats, plus his endorsement of McCain, would have made it extremely difficult for him to win a Democratic primary in Connecticut next year. There were even suggestions that Lieberman might consider running for reelection as a Republican, though people close to him say that was never an option.
For his final two years in office, Lieberman said, 鈥淚 will keep doing everything I can to keep our economy growing and get our national debt under control, to combat climate change, to end our dependency on foreign oil, and to reform our immigration laws.鈥�
Once out of office, Lieberman says he intends to remain active in public service. As an observant Orthodox Jew and strong supporter of Israel, Lieberman may opt to remain active in Middle East policy.
Before his announcement, the race for his seat was already in gear. On Tuesday, former Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz (D) announced her candidacy. Two Democrats in Connecticut鈥檚 congressional delegation, Reps. Christopher Murphy and Joseph Courtney, are also reportedly considering running.
On the Republican side, former TV wrestling executive Linda McMahon has suggested a possible run, after losing last November to now-Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D). Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) also reportedly may run.
