Lieberman for McCain

It is no secret that Connecticut Democrat Joe Lieberman is a supporter of John McCain for president.  In fact, some thought he would get the V.P. nod.  I'm thankful that he didn't but I was happy to see him reach out to fellow Democrats in support of McCain's candidacy tonight.  

It is remarkable and newsworthy that a sitting U.S. Senator and former nominee of the Democrats for the vice-presidency appeared at a Republican convention and endorsed the Republican ticket.

And, I think that Lieberman means what he said tonight.  He believes that this country is more important than partisan politics and also believes that his friend, John McCain, is the right man to lead it.

Lieberman gave the reasons that he's backing the GOP in November.  I want to note two . . . 

First, in speaking of Sarah Palin, Lieberman said that she "like John McCain is a reformer.  She's taken on the special interests and the political power brokers in Alaska and reached across party lines to get things done.  The truth is she is a leader we can count on to help John shake up Washington.  That's why I believe that the real ticket for change this year is the McCain-Palin ticket."

While it may be unlikely that any politician will really change the way that business is done in the capitol, I know that there's no chance that Barack Obama will.  He's just beholden to different special interests than the current administration is.  With Palin prodding and McCain's own "maverick" tendencies, he might just try.

Second, Liberman stated that "John McCain will be a president our allies will trust and our enemies will fear.  And that's the kind of president we need in today's world."

I couldn't agree more.  On foreign policy, there is no contest between McCain and Obama.  McCain wins that issue in a landslide.  Instead of inspiring trust in our allies, Obama promises only wide-eyed idol worship, with no substance.  And instead of inspiring fear in our enemies, Obama will inspire hope - hope that America will back away defeated from the fight before it is finished.

I disagree with John McCain on many issues but American needs him now.  The alternative is disaster.  Even Joe Lieberman knows that.

(On a side note, Fred Thompson spoke before Lieberman did tonight.  His speech can be read here.  It is powerful.  I don't have the time right now to comment on it is worth the read.)