Krauthammer and Shields Spar Over Lieberman Supporting McCain in 2008
A heated debate occurred on Friday's "Inside Washington" when the subject of Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-Conn.) imminent retirement arose.
After Charles Krauthammer praised Lieberman for being "probably the last of a breed that began with Truman and Kennedy and Scoop Jackson," PBS's Mark Shields attacked the long-term senator for supporting John McCain for president in 2008 (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Lieberman is probably the last of a breed that began with Truman and Kennedy and Scoop Jackson and to an extent Pat Moynihan who were the classic Cold War liberals, committed to a liberal stance on domestic issues. For instance, Lieberman is the one who was, helped to get Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell passed in the lame duck session, and yet he was a firm believer in a strong defense. He was also a believer in the war in Iraq, and when all his Democratic colleagues went into the weeds and hid in the dark days, he stood and he supported the surge in 2006, which ultimately brought us a measure of success in Iraq. I think he was a man principled in what he believed on domestic and foreign affairs and he will be missed.
MARK SHIELDS: Let's get one thing very candid about Joe Lieberman right now. He did something that nobody has done in politics since John Bell Williams of Mississippi and Albert Watson of South Carolina when Barry Goldwater ran in 1964 and they were Democrats. He broke with his Party and endorsed the other Party's candidate. He not only did that, he appeared at the convention. Scoop Jackson never did that. Scoop Jackson supported the Democrat. Pat Moynihan never did that. He not only did it, he was seeking the vice presidential nomination of the Republican Party. So, I mean, this was a, made himself a man without a Party and without a following, and he could not win a primary.
COLBY KING: Adam Clayton Powell supported Dwight Eisenhower, too, and surprised a lot of Democrats. I, I’m not, I understand your point that this may have been a self- serving decision on Lieberman’s part. I think it was a matter of sticking up for a friend.
KRAUTHAMMER: But it’s an interesting critique when people are saying how hyper-partisan everyone is, how people have lost their independence that you would attack a guy simply because he endorsed the other side…
SHIELDS: I am not saying, attacking him. I’m saying…
KRAUTHAMMER: …on an issue…
SHIELDS: he ceased being a Democrat.
KRAUTHAMMER: …on which he believed. Yes. So what? He was an American.
SHIELDS: He had to fight and run in a Democratic primary. Did I deny his American citizenship? He is a wonderful American, he’s an admirable American, he’s a lovable American, but he ceased to be a Democrat.
KRAUTHAMMER: And that to you is a damning thing for his life.
SHIELDS: You have to be in the Democratic Party to be a nominee of the Democratic Party.
KRAUTHAMMER: We are talking about a matter of principle, and I think it’s rather different than being a Party…
SHIELDS: Was it different for Albert Watson and John Bell Williams when they endorsed Barry Goldwater on civil rights?
As usual, Krauthammer was making an excellent point.
For the past several years, the Left have been complaining about a lack of bipartisanship in politics. One could make the case that a member of one Party supporting a member of the other Party in a presidential race is the ultimate act of bipartisanship.
But as has been noted by conservatives for years, bipartisanship to a liberal means a Republican defecting. When Democrats do it, it's treason.
Makes you wonder what tune Shields will be singing if a Republican endorses Obama's reelection in less than two years.
Stay tuned.
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Comments
Defcon Shields
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 9:45am.
Certainly got to give the guy credit for being a consistent buffoon.
Lieberman disagreed with conservatives on dang near everything other than the War, so since his allegiance wasn't 100% aligned with the Dems, he just ain't welcome.
Comity comedy commie(D).
Mark Shields is a talentless
Submitted by Clemenza on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 10:13am.
Mark Shields is a talentless hyperpartisan left win shill. The olnly reason Mark Shields has any TV presence today is because The Prince of Darkness, Bob Novak had him on his CNN shows, Capital Gang, Evans Novak Hunt Shields.
Is spite of this, . . . we still love you Bob.
If a republican endorses
Submitted by Reaver on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 11:02am.
If a republican endorses Obama’s reelection? I’d have to say its certain that some republican will.Lieberman broke with
Submitted by stratman on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 11:28am.
Lieberman broke with Liberalism (and certainly Progressives and other neo-Leftists) on matters pertaining to the security of Israel. Otherwise, Joe was a profoundly devout Liberal. His voting record proves it.
"Liberals"
Submitted by iveseenitall on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 12:05pm.
For Shields, and all committed "liberals", Lieberman committed a mortal sin. No one, no one is "allowed" to disagree with a "liberal" without suffering excommunication for life. Again, the great irony of "liberal tolerance" rears its ugly head---we will open our minds to you, as long as you are in lock-step with us. Notice, it's not Lieberman's ideas or point of view Shields attacks, it's the fact that he dared to think for himself and put country over Party. Moreover, Shields can't even be kind as Lieberman leaves the scene. Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"(progressive)
Hay, Shields....
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 12:30pm.
Hay,Shields, Lieberman "broke" with his party when he ran (and won!) as an independent back in 2006, TWO YEARS before he endorsed McCain. I wonder if THAT is what bothers you, the fact that he won even though he wasn't a Democrat?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Yea, I wonder what Sheilds thinks of
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 12:36pm.
Murkowski, she lost in the primary and supposably won as a write in.
Damn Them! Damn Them All To Hell!
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 1:03pm.
Damn Them Independents! Damn Them All To Hell!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
That's why he endorsed McCain
Submitted by ckc1227 on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 6:09pm.
Payback for Democrats abandoning and campaigning against him in that election.
Dear Dr. Krauthammer:
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 1:13pm.
The next time Shields wags his finger at you, please lean over and slap him right in the dewlap.
I always give the edge to Dr. K.
Submitted by drsamherman on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 9:25pm.
Yeah, yeah....I have a bias towards Charles as a fellow psychiatrist, but his reasoning is always 100% on the money, and even Mark Shields will not debate him when it comes to medical or scientific matters without the most severe loss of credibility. Nina Totenberg comes to every NPR debate so intellectually outgunned as to not exist at all, and of course Dr. K (as much as I disagree with him at times) is always intellectually and logically flawless.
Sorry Sam...
Submitted by stratman on Sun, 01/23/2011 - 1:00pm.
Krauty is superb most of the time, except for his intellectually and logically flawed support of Obama early on.
MS
Submitted by Lindamae on Mon, 01/24/2011 - 2:49pm.
Mark, Mark, Mark...
Please declare yourself a Democratic lobbiest and be honest with us. You need to preface everyone of your comments with the warning that you are speaking as a Dem. lobbiest when you spout the dem talking points. I haven't the foggiest if you are paid for your comments but - bless your liberal heart - you should be ashamed of yourself. I also suggest you start to listen to the facts made by those you encounter - I know - facts get in the way of talking points - but - you are getting older so now you should be getting wiser.
I can't watch Meet the Press, Face the Nation - both are just Dem. talking point shows. There is NO balance of opinions of either except David is worse than Bob.