Opinion: Joe Lieberman Supports McCain, Becomes an Enigma to Democrats

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Connecticut's Joe Lieberman's senatorial term ends in 2012. The Democrats reluctantly tolerate his hawkish views on Iraq and Iran with his support for Republican presidential nominee John McCain because they only have a one-vote majority in the U.S. Senate. Lieberman refers to himself as an ''independent Democrat.'' He predicts that the Democrats will do well this congressional election.

He isn't worried if Obama wins the presidential election. He is sticking to his guns about what he is doing today: ''Overall, I'm doing what I think is right today, and I'm not going to change that because of any concerns about what might happen politically a year from now or three years from now.'' His Connecticut congressional colleagues, such as Rep. John Larson, are constantly asked by reporters about their working relationship with Lieberman. Larson has known Lieberman for many years and he says that he and his wife are still the same people that he has known for years and they don't treat him differently.

Connecticut House Speaker James Amann (D-Milford) said that Lieberman had decided not to seek reelection in 2012 after publicly endorsing McCain for the GOP top spot but he hasn't talked to Lieberman recently and doesn't actually know his true political intentions.

Lieberman did move from New Haven back to his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut after winning as a petitioning candidate for the U.S. Senate against Democratic nominee Ned Lamont. He lost New Haven in 2006 to the upstart Lamont.

Martin J. Dunleavy is a member of the Democratic National Committee from New Haven. He vigorously campaigned for Lieberman in 2006. Although opposed to the U.S. military invasion of Iraq, Dunleavy respects Lieberman's position on the controversial war because he believes that it's principled. Dunleavy doesn't understand why Lieberman would endorse McCain over the one issue of Iraq. Dunleavy had this to say about Lieberman's endorsement of McCain: ''Other than the war, I don't know what this is about for him. Other than that, I don't know what is going through his head. Call John McCain. He's closer to him than anybody these days.''

The New Republic's Jonathan Chait wrote a scathing critique of Lieberman recently decrying him as a ''faux independent.'' He basically said that Lieberman is a part of the Republican machine. The magazine also criticized his close relationship with Pastor John Hagee. Hagee is head of Christians United for Israel. The country's existence and survival, according to Hagee, is Biblical prophesy and people have to believe this in order to get into heaven. Hagee has condemned gays and Catholics in the past.

Lieberman will speak to Hagee's group next week at its annual ''Night for Israel'' in Washington. The Connecticut Senator also spoke to the group last year.

Lieberman has said that he doesn't agree with everything that Hagee has uttered in the past but he should be judged by the totality of his work. He didn't consult with McCain's campaign staff prior to accepting his invitation to speak in front of Hagee's group.

Senator Lieberman might speak at the Republican National Convention in St.Paul, Minnesota. If he does, he says that he won't personally attack Obama.