By SUSAN HAIGH (Associated Press)
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Joe Lieberman, the former U.S. Senator from Connecticut, died in New York City on Wednesday as a result of complications from a fall, according to a statement from his family.
Lieberman passed away in New York City on Wednesday due to complications from a fall, as stated in the family's announcement. He was 82 years old.
The former Democrat, who later became an independent, was never hesitant to deviate from the party's stance.
Lieberman's independent nature, including his criticism of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama during the 2008 election, caused friction with many Democrats, the party to which he belonged during his time in the Senate. However, his support for gay rights, civil rights, abortion rights, and environmental causes earned him praise from numerous liberals over the years.
“During a time of political conformity, Joe Lieberman stood out as a unique individual. He was one of a kind,” said Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat. “He fought for what he believed was right and for the state he loved.”
For the past decade, Lieberman played a significant role in leading No Labels, a centrist third-party movement that has declared its intention to nominate candidates for president and vice president this year. Some groups aligned with Democrats oppose this initiative, fearing it may assist presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in winning the presidency.
Lieberman came very close to becoming the Vice President in the controversial 2000 presidential election, which was ultimately decided by a 537-vote margin victory for George W. Bush in Florida after a protracted recount, legal battles, and a Supreme Court ruling. He was the first Jewish candidate on a major party's presidential ticket and would have been the first Jewish Vice President.
He was also the first national Democrat to publicly criticize President Bill Clinton for his extramarital affair with a White House intern.
Lieberman ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 but withdrew after performing poorly in the early primaries. Four years later, as an independent, he was nearly selected to be John McCain's running mate. He and McCain had a close friendship and shared hawkish views on military and national security matters.
McCain was strongly considering choosing Lieberman as his running mate as the 2008 GOP convention approached, but he ultimately opted for Sarah Palin at the last minute following intense opposition from conservatives due to Lieberman's liberal record, according to Steve Schmidt, who managed McCain's campaign.
Lieberman caused a stir in 1998 when he criticized Clinton, his longtime friend, for “disgraceful behavior” in a passionate speech on the Senate floor amidst the height of the scandal involving his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. However, Lieberman later voted against Clinton's impeachment.
He justified his shifts in party affiliation as a matter of conscience, stating that he always had the best interests of Connecticut voters at heart. Critics accused him of pursuing narrow self-interest and political expediency.
When announcing he would no longer be a Senator in 2013, Lieberman admitted that he didn’t always fit into typical political categories. He believed his main duty was to help his constituents, state, and country, rather than just his political party. He had a difficult relationship with Democrats.
In his final speech in the Senate, Lieberman encouraged Congress to see past party divisions and strong disagreements to overcome the problems in Washington.
Lieberman said that the crucial thing right now in Washington is to work with members of the opposite party by cooperating and finding common ground.
Harry Reid, the former Senate Democratic leader, once mentioned that even though he didn’t always see eye to eye with Lieberman, he respected him.
”No matter our disagreements, I never questioned Joe Lieberman’s beliefs or love for his country,” Reid stated. “And I admire his independent spirit, which comes from strong beliefs.
Privately, some Democrats viewed Lieberman’s ventures across party lines as disloyal. He left his party and became independent after losing a Senate primary in Connecticut in 2006.
Lieberman’s strong support for the Iraq War damaged his popularity in the state. Democrats rejected Lieberman and chose a political newcomer and anti-war candidate, Ned Lamont, who is now serving his second term as Connecticut governor. Lieberman then won reelection as an independent.
Expressing condolences in a statement issued on Wednesday, Lamont said he and Lieberman eventually became friends after the grueling race.
“Even though the senator and I had our political differences, he was a man of integrity and strong beliefs, so our debate about the Iraq War was meaningful,” Lamont stated. “I believe we chose to disagree based on our principles.
“After the race, we remained in contact as friends, in line with the finest traditions of American democracy. He will be missed,” he added.
Against the wishes of Democratic leaders and friends, Lieberman ran for reelection as an independent and received support from some Republican allies. He earned praise from the White House and assistance with fundraising from notable Republicans, like then-New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who later ran as an independent.
Lieberman emphasized his Senate experience and influence in Congress as a major asset, stating that he would strongly advocate for the state’s defense jobs and its fair share of federal funds. The plan worked.
Lieberman won a fourth term despite many of his Democratic supporters and long-time friends, including former Sen. Chris Dodd, backing Lamont. Lieberman openly spoke about feeling betrayed by old friends like Dodd, but the two men later reconciled.
A long-time friend and former chairman of the Connecticut Democratic Party, Nick Balletto, mentioned that many regular Democrats were not happy with Lieberman, but praised the former senator for dedicating his life to public service and the state.
“He was probably the most genuine, honest, straight-talking politician you’d ever meet. What you saw was what you got,” stated Balletto. “His concerns were the concerns of the people.”
After winning his reelection in 2006, Lieberman chose to work with Democrats in the Senate, who allowed him to lead a committee in exchange for his vote to help them keep control of the closely divided chamber. However, before long Lieberman started to show his independence and upset his fellow Democratic caucus members.
Despite being allowed to join the Democratic caucus as an independent, Lieberman strongly supported McCain in the 2008 presidential contest.
Lieberman's speech at the 2008 GOP presidential nominating convention, in which he criticized Democratic presidential nominee Obama, deeply affected many Democrats.
Lieberman portrayed Obama as a political figurehead, a lightweight with limited accomplishments in the Senate despite his impressive speaking abilities.
At the convention, Lieberman stated, "In the Senate, during the 3 1/2 years that Sen. Obama has been a member, he has not reached across party lines to … accomplish anything significant, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party to get something done."
He also said, "Eloquence is no substitute for a record."
Lieberman vigorously campaigned for McCain across the country, which many Democrats viewed as a betrayal to Obama and his former party colleagues.
During the 2008 race, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California criticized Joe Lieberman for making irresponsible statements about Barack Obama in a radio interview.
After the election, there were rumors that Senate Democrats might remove Lieberman from his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as payback. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chair of the Judiciary Committee, suggested Lieberman should lose his chairmanship, branding his attacks on Obama as “beyond the pale.”
However, at Obama’s urging, Senate Democrats decided not to penalize Lieberman for supporting McCain and the GOP ticket, in an effort to promote a bipartisan approach for his presidency.
Yet Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent and staunch liberal, called it a “slap in the face” for millions of Americans who backed Obama.
Lieberman was known in the Senate for his strong support of foreign policy, defense, and environmental causes.
Just five weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, he was one of the first politicians to call for the removal of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and later voted in favor of the military invasion of Iraq. His outspoken backing for the war would later negatively impact his candidacy in the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary.
Lieberman typically sided with Democrats on most issues and was a longtime advocate for abortion rights, a position that could have caused issues with conservatives if McCain had selected him as his running mate in 2008.
He played a crucial role in the legislation that established the Department of Homeland Security.
Lieberman grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, where his father managed a liquor store. He graduated from Yale University and Yale Law School in New Haven. During his time as Connecticut’s attorney general from 1983 to 1988, he was a strong advocate for consumers and the environment. Lieberman entered the Senate by defeating moderate Republican incumbent Lowell Weicker in 1988.
After he left the Senate in 2013, Lieberman joined a law firm in New York City. His funeral is scheduled for Friday at Congregation Agudath Sholom in his hometown of Stamford. They will announce an additional memorial service at a later time.
Lieberman and his wife, Hadassah, have four children.
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