ABC's Kate Snow: Lieberman a 'Conservative Democrat'

According to ABC’s Kate Snow, support for the Iraq War automatically makes one a conservative, even if that individual is liberal on most other issues. In reporting on the increasingly tight race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Snow briefly mentioned at the end that Joseph Lieberman endorsed John McCain. She dismissively referred to Lieberman as a "conservative Democrat."

"And he won over long-time Democrat, all be it a conservative one, Senator Joe Lieberman, who ran with Al Gore, will endorse McCain later today."

Though Lieberman’s support of the Iraq War is well known, Lieberman is hardly a conservative or even a "conservative Democrat." Lieberman voted with the American Conservative Union’s agenda 17 percent of the time in 2006 and 16.8 percent lifetime. He voted with the ACU’s liberal equivalent, Americans for Democratic Action, 75 percent of the time in 2006.

The entire transcript is below.

CHRIS CUOMO: Let's turn to the race for '08 and Hillary Clinton. Just a few weeks ago, she looked invincible, but now with 17 days left to the Iowa caucuses, she's in the race of her life. Over the weekend though, she did pick up the endorsement of the "Des Moines Register." And as "Good Morning America" weekend anchor Kate Snow reports, Hillary Clinton is doing all she can to win back more support.

KATE SNOW: Check out the 1980 Bell 222, AKA the Hill-o-copter. Senator Clinton and her supports plan to take to the air to hit all of Iowa's 99 counties in this key week before Christmas.

SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY): I could not be more pumped up. I am thrilled.

SNOW: Clinton is flying high off that endorsement from Iowa's biggest newspaper. Some good news after weeks of bad ink.

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA (D-IL): I think that this is how we're going to win this election.

SNOW: Barack Obama is leading polls in Iowa, and now he's coming on strong in New Hampshire, too. Sunday he won the endorsement of the neighboring paper, "The Boston Globe." But a certain former president says all those Obama supporters are rolling the dice. In a conversation with Charlie Rose Friday night, Bill Clinton talked at length about why he thinks Barack Obama isn't ready to be president.

FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: When's the last time we elected a president based on one year of service?

OBAMA: Here's a quote. "The same old experience is irrelevant. You can have the right kind of experience or the wrong kind of experience. And mine is rooted in the real lives of real people, and it will bring real results if we have the courage to change." And that was Bill Clinton in 1992.

SNOW: Beyond the Democrats, it was a good weekend to be John McCain. He won nods from both the "Des Moines Register" and "The Boston Globe." And he won over long-time Democrat, all be it a conservative one, Senator Joe Lieberman, who ran with Al Gore, will endorse McCain later today. For "Good Morning America," Kate Snow, ABC News, Des Moines, Iowa.

Update: On NBC's "Today" report Lee Cowan gave a much more accurate description stating Lieberman "calls himself an independent Democrat."