Lieberman praised Obama in 2006
WASHINGTON -- Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman chided Democratic nominee Barack Obama as untested and inexperienced during his GOP convention speech this week, but two years ago Lieberman was singing a sharply different tune.
Democrat-turned-independent Lieberman heaped praise on Obama during the Illinois senator's March 2006 visit to Connecticut to give Lieberman's re-election effort a boost.
A video clip of Lieberman's remarks during a state Democratic party dinner that has been the rounds of Democratic bloggers this week tells the story.
"He is a blessing to the United States Senate, to America and to our shared hopes for better, safer tomorrows for all our families," Lieberman says of Obama. "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 his blessed country."
Obama backed Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic Senate primary in Connecticut. After he lost in an upset to Ned Lamont, an anti-war candidate, Lieberman defied party leaders and ran as an independent in the general election.
Leading Democrats, including Obama, then backed Lamont in the fall contest. Obama sent out an e-mail message to his Connecticut backers urging them to support Lamont. Lieberman was re-elected with support from the GOP, including praise from the White House and fundraising help from prominent Republicans. He also received support from a few Democratic senators, including Max Baucus of Montana, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas, his office pointed out Wednesday.
Lieberman had befriended and dispensed advice to Obama when he arrived as a freshman senator in Washington in 2005, serving as his mentor.
Lieberman's words of praise from 2006 stand in sharp contrast to his Tuesday night speech to the GOP in Minnesota.
"Senator Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who I think can do great things for our country in the years ahead," Lieberman told the convention crowd. "But, my friends, eloquence is no substitute for a record not in these tough times for America."
Lieberman, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and was Al Gore's running mate eight years ago, warned delegates that Obama has not reached across party lines to achieve anything of significance and has been unwilling to take on Democratic interest groups.
Just one day after Obama clinched his party's nomination, Lieberman joined Republicans on a McCain campaign teleconference call assailing Obama following his foreign policy address to a leading Jewish group.
Lieberman's criticisms of Obama have rankled Democrats, but they need his vote to maintain a 51-49 majority in the Senate, especially with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., battling brain cancer. Lieberman is an independent who caucuses with Senate Democrats.