senate.gov Joseph Lieberman, Independent Senator from Connecticut

The first video above is 10 minutes long and the second is 10 minutes and six seconds. Joseph Lieberman spoke at the Republican Convention detailing the reasons he believed that Americans should vote for John McCain for President. Lieberman, a self described Independent-Democrat, who was formerly a Democrat until he lost the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont in 2006, then went on to run and win as an Independent, keeping his seat as Senator of Connecticut, spoke on behalf of John McCain Tuesday night. He detailed his reasons for backing John McCain, made comparisons and contrasts between McCain and his Democratic rival, Barack Obama. Lieberman listed instances where he had seen John McCain stand up to the Republican Party, stand up to the Democrat Party and times when McCain reached across the aisle. In one portion of his speech, Lieberman said:

Sen. Obama is a gifted and eloquent young man who can do great things for our country in the years ahead. But eloquence is no substitute for a record — not in these tough times.

In the Senate he has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party.

Contrast that to John McCain's record, or the record of the last Democratic president, Bill Clinton, who stood up to some of those same Democratic interest groups and worked with Republicans to get important things done like welfare reform, free trade agreements, and a balanced budget.

Joseph Lieberman is known to caucus with the Democrats in the Senate on the majority of social issues and he votes with Republicans on most issues pertaining to national security. As he was concluding his speech, Lieberman asked for the crowds indulgence and spoke directly to the camera and the Americans watching the events unfold at the Republican Covention as he said, "I ask you whether you are an independent, a Reagan Democrat or a Clinton Democrat, or just a Democrat: This year, when you vote for president, vote for the person you believe is best for the country, not for the party you happen to belong to." Already unpopular with his former political party, harsh criticism for his words tonight at the Republican Convention are already coming out on the Internet with Open Left declaring, "Every second I spent in Connecticut working to get rid of this scumbag was worth it." Other reactions coming out from liberal blogs, diaries and forums are equally as harsh against Joe Lieberman who they consider a traitor to the Democratic Party. The complete text of Lieberman's speech as prepared for delivery can be found here. There are minor differences between his speech and his prepared text.