Joe's Candidate

Lieberman praises McCain at Holocaust Memorial Center.

Bill Carroll
Special to the Jewish News

W

hen Sens. Joe Lieberman and
John McCain visited the Yad
Vashem Holocaust Memorial
in Israel, McCain wrote only two words in
the visitors' book: "Never again!"
"John McCain has been asked many
times what he would do if Iran tried to
make good on its promise to wipe Israel
off the map, and he says that, as a candi-
date, he can't discuss hypothetical ques-
tions; but, believe me, he's determined
there should be no second Holocaust:'
Lieberman told an enthusiastic crowd of
about 400 people at, appropriately, the
Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington
Hills.
"He believes Israel's enemies are our
enemies."
Lieberman, who now calls himself an
independent Democrat from Connecticut,
is backing McCain, the presumptive
Republican presidential nominee from
Arizona. They made several joint and
separate appearances during a whirlwind
tour of the Detroit area last week, with
Lieberman starting his speech about 45
minutes late at the Holocaust Center.
The largely Jewish audience, some of
whom arrived two hours early, didn't seem
to mind, dragging chairs from wherever
they could find them into the meeting
room, which was set up town-hall style.
Lieberman answered several questions
after his presentation, all part of his out-
reach to the Jewish community.
Introducing Lieberman, Ron Wiser of
Ann Arbor, the former U.S. ambassador
to Slovakia, quipped, "It's been said that
John McCain has shpilkes (can't sit still).
He wants to get things done. Well, Joe
Lieberman has chutzpah (gall or nerve)."
Wiser was alluding to Lieberman's defiant
campaign for re-election to the Senate in
2006 as an independent after losing the
Democratic primary, drawing the ire of
many prominent Democrats. He's been a
senator for 19 years.
In 2000, Al Gore selected Lieberman as
his Democratic vice presidential running
mate, the first time a Jew has been on a
major party national election ticket.

Values And Views
"As an independent, I now
support John McCain because
I'm an American, and he's the
best man for the job; that's
more important than party
affiliation or anything else
stated Lieberman, adding that
McCain's values and strong
views on foreign policy are
the chief reasons why voters
should choose him as the next
president on Nov. 4.
"That's what we elect presi-
dents for: in that moment of
crisis — which we can't
foresee — to make the right
decision for our country. He
would make security deci-
sions based on American and
Judeo-Christian values. The
man I want to sit behind the
big desk in the Oval Office and Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Ct., speaks to a large crowd at the Holocaust Memorial Center.
make those decisions is John
McCain:'
critical of McCain's opponent, Sen. Barack out to kill us. And during his 22.years in
Joan Knoertzer of Ann Arbor said she
the Senate, John McCain has an unblem-
supports McCain and hopes that a Jews for Obama, D-Ill., in his remarks. "Obama
ished pro-Israel voting record!'
McCain coalition would emerge, similar to has absolutely no experience compared to
Another member of the audience
McCain:' Behrman said. "But Lieberman
the successful Jews for Bush group in the
—
which was part Republican and part
comes across as more of a Republican
past two elections.
Democrats
intending to vote Republican
than a Democrat."
"This is a perfect night for me because
for
the
first
time — Robert Radner of
Lieberman took care of Obama in his
I came to see Joe Lieberman, who's a
West
Bloomfield,
said,"You can't duplicate
own way. After calling the Illinois senator
man of principle and integrity, and I'm
McCain's
experience
over Obama's, with
((young and intelligent:' he pointed out,
a staunch supporter of John McCain:"
his
records
in
the
war
and Senate. Like
"John McCain supports drilling for oil;
declared Harriet Rotter of Bingham
Harry
Truman
in
the
1940s,
you just can't
Barack Obama doesn't. McCain under-
Farms.
push him around."
stands the auto industry better, and he
At a brief news conference before his
Marvin Silver of Bloomfield Hills called
will focus on the energy crisis and the
speech, Lieberman was asked if more
Lieberman
"a real mentsh (gentleman).
need for independent energy sources.
Jews, who traditionally vote Democratic,
And
I
like
his
informal style. I didn't mind
He would reconvene the Senate from its
would now switch over to Republican
waiting
for
him
at all."
recess and get them to do something to
McCain — especially if he picks
"He's
very
inspiring,
and the most
reduce gas prices. He would fix social
Lieberman as his vice presidential candi-
important
thing
for
me
is that he's very
security and health care."
date.
pro-Israel:'
said
Barbara
Moehhnan. Ely
Brushing aside the vice presidential ref-
Tama
agreed:
"I
liked
his
strong com-
On War And More
erence, Lieberman said, "This election is
ments
about
Israel."
They
both live in
for all the people and goes beyond all reli- On foreign matters, Lieberman said
Farmington
Hills.
gions and political parties, mainly because McCain would better understand the
Shirley Sarkisian of West Bloomfield
Russia-Georgia crisis and take the proper
of the important economic issues facing
said
she admires Lieberman because "he's
the country today. For that reason, I would action.
an
independent,
free-thinker, and he's very
"He's determined not to have another
hope John would get more Jewish votes:'
articulate.
I
came
to hear him because he's
Iron Curtain descend on Europe
But Newman Koval of Southfield was
a
real
American."
Lieberman added. "As a former prisoner
skeptical. "I'm for McCain, but I don't
Rudy Kosurkin of West Bloomfield
think he will win:' he said. "No matter who of war, he hates war and would never rush
would
like to see Lieberman as a vice
into a conflict. Our allies would trust him
he chooses for vice president, it's a hope-
president
candidate, but fears McCain
and our enemies would respect and fear
less situation."
would
lose
the election "just because
Steven Behrmann of Huntington Woods him. He knows it's a dangerous world
Lieberman
is
Jewish." ❑
because the Islamic fascist terrorists are
said Lieberman should have been more

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August 21 • 2008

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