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10 /11

2002

42

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from page 40

Lieberman's nose dive into the
2004 from the most extreme liberal
greasy pit of political compromise was
wing of his party — let's call it the
not a pretty sight, and it rightly cost
Barbra Streisand brigade — a group
him the admiration of many who val-
that is marginal in the general election
ued him precisely because he was a
but crucial in the primaries.
man who didn't do such things.
Yet Gore's disreputable stand gives
His defenders argue that as the vice
Lieberman a perfect opening to launch
presidential candidate, he was obligat-
his presidential run. By directly con-
ed to follow Gore's lead. Maybe so, but fronting his former benefactor on Iraq,
as he eases his way into his own push
Lieberman can spin breaking his prom-
for the top job, it will be interesting to
ise not to run against Gore as a matter •
see how much distance this most cen-
of principle. In a field crowded with
trist of "New Democrats" is willing to
candidates appealing to the left, such
put between himself and
as Sen. John Kerry of
the core of his party on
Massachusetts, Lieberman
the left.
can stake his claim to the
As much as he would
center of the party.
like to play this game
Even more importantly,
close to his vest for anoth-
with the leading lights of the
er year-and-a-half, the
Democrats either running
next few weeks may pro-
scared or just losing their
vide us with the best
cool (i.e., the Senate's light-
chance to evaluate just
weight Majority Leader Tom
how much Lieberman's
Daschle), the nation needs to
conscience has been
hear the voice of a leading
Sen. Liebe rman
altered by an acute case of
Democrat who is willing to
presidential fever.
place the national interest
above that of narrow partisanship.
Lieberman has said that he opposes
Speaking Out On Iraq
Gore on this issue, but he must do
The issue at stake is nothing less than
more than merely make a few non-
the most momentous decision
committal statements. He must take
Congress will make in the next two
to the Senate floor and deliver an
years: an up or down vote to give
address on the threat from Iraq that
President Bush the okay to launch
will establish a tone of national unity
military action against Iraq.
and eclipse the bitter ravings of Gore.
Unfortunately, this crisis finds the
It is worth remembering that
Democratic Party splintered and virtu- Lieberman's August 1998 speech
ally leaderless. Most Democrats in
denouncing President Clinton's behavior
in the Monica Lewinsky scandal was
Congress seem to support the presi-
dent on the merits, as they should,
probably the single act that not only gave
given the lethal nature of the threat
him his stained-glass reputation, but also
earned him the vice-presidential nod.
from the Iraqi regime. Others are too
scared to speak out against Bush.
At that time, Lieberman said just
enough to earn the "courageous" tag,
But some key Democrats are way
too close to the party's hard-core leftist but not enough to actually aid the
Republican push for impeachment and
base. While it was no surprise that
cut himself off from his own party.
Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., would
join those opposing action against
Had he called for Clinton's resignation
rather than merely scolding him, the
Iraq, Gore's re-entry onto the national
outcome of "L'Affaire Lewinsky" might
scene last week after two years of
have been very different.
hibernation found him taking the
anti-war side, as well as indulging in
This time, Lieberman has another
chance to make history, and should do
some of the most hypocritical rhetoric
uttered in recent memory.
so without hedging his bet as he did
in 1998. By helping to establish a
Gore — who supported regime
united home front in favor of action
change in Iraq two years ago and who
voted for the first Persian Gulf war —
on Iraq, he can scuttle the leftist
putsch to save Saddam while aiding
now places himself among those refus-
his own presidential cause.
ing to contemplate U.S. action with-
If he fails to do so, then we will
out the approval of a feckless United-
know that it is the political sharpster -
Nations majority.
and not the "conscience of the Senate"
In questioning Bush's motives (as
— that is defining Joseph Lieberman's
well as forgetting much of his own
political career.
record on this issue), Gore effectively
That would be a shame for him, but
cut himself off from the center in a
even more so for his country.
brazen attempt to win support in

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