Playing both sides

Joseph Lieberman, Democratic vice presidential candidate in 2000, addressed the Republican National Convention last week, causing minor controversy.

Lieberman, a Democrat who has traveled alongside presidential candidate John McCain and at times has corrected McCain’s misspoken foreign policy comments, praised McCain at the convention, saying, “I’m here to support John McCain because country matters more than party. I’m here tonight because John McCain is the best choice to bring our country together and lead our country forward. I’m here because John McCain’s whole life testifies to a great truth: being a Democrat or a Republican is important. But it is not more important than being an American.”

Not only is this formerly influential Democrat supporting a Republican, he is putting down his party’s presidential candidate.

“Eloquence,” Lieberman said, referring to Barack Obama, “is no substitute for a record — not in these tough times.”

Lieberman’s weak speech tried to convey that McCain and Palin are the leaders the country needs now, while Obama is not. Lieberman softened his criticism of Obama by saying, “Senator Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead.”

Lieberman seems to be trying to benefit regardless of the election results. Claiming to still be a Democrat, he appears to believe that Democrats should, if Obama wins the election, overlook his party hopping and accept him as their own.

But if the Republicans win, seeing Lieberman again alongside McCain in some high-ranking position will come as no surprise.