Publisher's Notebook

www.jarc.org

Judaism's The Compass
Of Joe's Political Journey

I is the end of a remarkable chapter in American Jewish
Lieberman's district ... and lost again in a primary).
history.
Yet on the rough-and-tumble playing field of politics,
"I have not always fit into conventional political boxes
Lieberman was viewed by friend and foe as a mentsh
— maybe you've noticed that — Democrat or Republican,
someone who could be agreeable, even when disagreeing.
liberal or conservative. Because I've always thought my first
After last week's announcement, political commentator David
responsibility is not to serve a political Gergen referred to Lieberman as a dying breed, and opined
party but to serve my constituents, my that we, as a country, were the poorer for it.
state and my country."
Flashback: It's 1976 and I'm serving as a legislative aide
With those words, Joseph I. Lieberman for the Connecticut Republican Senate leadership. Democratic
revealed last week he will not seek
Majority Leader Joe Lieberman is approaching our caucus to
re-election as a U.S. senator from
seek common ground on a handful of issues, including a "bottle
Connecticut in 2012, bringing a conclu- bill." The bill would require beverage retailers to impose a deposit
sion to a 42-year political career that
fee. Lobbyists for the beverage industry were aggressive in their
included a spot as Al Gore's 2000 vice
opposition. While he had enough votes, Lieberman still engaged
presidential running mate and an unsuc- the Republican leaders in respectful conversation to see if he
cessful run for the 2004 Democratic
could garner hi-partisan support. He couldn't. But there was no
presidential nomination. While his posi-
rancor. No posturing. No demonizing. Just agreeing to disagree.
tion on the political spectrum has shifted
According to historians of the American Jewish experience,
over time from McGovern to McCain, Lieberman did have a
Lieberman's 2000 oh-so-slightly unsuccessful Democratic
constant in his life ... an observance and embrace of Judaism.
vice-presidential run with Gore was the high-water mark of
Flashback: It's Shabbat in 1968 and I'm sitting with my
Jewish acceptance. He wore his Judaism openly and steadfast-
father in the back row of Bikur Cholim Shevath Achim syna-
ly avoided campaigning on the Sabbath. Many Jewish homes,
gogue in New Haven. A blond and youthful Joe Lieberman is
observant or not, had pictures of Lieberman. If Joe Lieberman
sitting next to us, calmly thumbing through his siddur. Fresh
could be a heartbeat (and U.S. Supreme Court ruling) away
out of Yale Law School, he still hadn't launched his
from the presidency of the most powerful coun-
political career. This day, he had something else on
try on Earth, anyone could. Ask Barack Obama.
his mind . . . he was 26 and about to celebrate his
Flashback Its 2000 and the second day of
`double bar mitzvah" by reciting his haftorah and
Passover. Washington is buzzing about President
leading services.
Clinton's bad behavior and Lieberman's good
National political mavens, among them Detroit-
behavior. His name is beginning to appear on
area native Jon Chait of the New Republic, ques-
short lists of vice presidential candidates. In New
tioned why Lieberman "offed himself' committing
Haven, the roads are wet and the sky is overcast. A
political suicide by running as an independent
small group of walkers rounds Edgewood Avenue
after losing his party's 2006 Senate primary and
for Marvel Road and proceeds toward the Bikur
then totally embracing 2008 Republican presiden-
Cholim Shevath Achim synagogue. As the group
tial candidate John McCain. Had his pitch-perfect
approaches, Lieberman can be seen, wearing a
political instincts, on display since his first-ever
trench coat and floppy hat and surrounded by his
Sen. Joe Lieberman
run for public office, deserted him?
wife and children, pushing a wheelchair contain-
Flashback It's 1970 and I'm elated. I earned my driver's license!
ing his mother, Marcia. It was a half-mile walk from his home
After stuffing envelopes, making phone calls and running to nearby
. . . and he still sat in the back row.
delis to fetch sandwiches for older volunteers, like Yale Law School
But Lieberman's 2004 Democratic presidential bid was quixotic.
student Bill Clinton — all in the service of Joe Lieberman's first run
Despite otherwise strong Democratic voting credentials, his
for elective office — I could now handle bigger assignments. The
support for the war in Iraq assured his eventual exit. Lieberman's
most important was on primary day, when I drove lots of elderly
hawkish stance was his undoing again in 2006, when Connecticut
Jewish women to the polls. We didn't worry about hanging chads . . .
Democrats rejected his re-election bid. His opponent, wealthy
Lieberman pulled an upset in defeating liberal Democrat and state
political novice Ned Lamont, took a take page from Lieberman's
Senate Majority Leader Ed Marcus.
own first-election playbook: winning by moving to the left. Though
Sensing the pendulum swinging far to the left, the savvy
winning the general election as an independent (thanks to the
Lieberman assembled a coalition built around African-Americans Republicans offering a remarkably weak candidate), Lieberman
and Yale students and faculty that outflanked Marcus. By 1970, on
was done with the Democrats, and they were done with him.
the political spectrum he was somewhere between anti-Vietnam
Lieberman's upcoming retirement continues to generate a range
War Democratic presidential aspirant Sen. George McGovern and
of opinions. Through the eyes of former presidential candidate
Communist China's Chairman Mao. With no credible Republican
and consumer advocate Ralph Nader (the Gore-Lieberman ticket's
opposition, Lieberman won handily in the general election.
election nemesis), Lieberman was "a right wing extremist on
To keep Marcus from re-emerging as a competitor,
everything except the environment and gay rights." To Connecticut
Lieberman exhibited more political chops. Armed with
Republican Chairman Chris Healy, Lieberman was "a proud liberal."
new census data, he gerrymandered Marcus right out of his
Regardless of his place on the spectrum, Lieberman's public
state Senate district. In fact, the new district line ran right
and warm embrace of Judaism was a constant in his 42-year
through Marcus' backyard. (Marcus established residency in
political career. And we are all the richer for it.

(1.. to R) Ed Cherkinsky and Michael Rosen

For over seven years,

Ed Cherkinsky has been

volunteering at JARC.

His most rewarding

experiences have been with

the men from JARC's Evelyn

and Salman Grand Home.

Nearly every Thursday

evening, Ed has a "guy's

night out" with Jack, Ruben,

Robert, Michael, Ivan and

Chuck. According to Ed,

"We've become very close.

I am grateful to be part

of their lives and to have

them as part of mine."

For JARC volunteer

opportunities, contact

Melissa Rubalcava at

248-538-6610 x 342 or

melissarubalcavaRiarc.org ,

Whether as a volunteer

or donor, your generous

support will benefit

the men, women and

children JARC serves.

Help JARC continue...

E-racivi 15arrirc.

January 27 • 2011

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