Back                                  Why are the Republicans backing Joe Lieberman

I've heard many reasons given for why the Republicans are backing Joe Lieberman but I've yet to hear the truth. I'm sure you've heard commentators on the news broadcasts especially Fox News talking about how Joe Lieberman is a moderate liberal and the Republicans are backing him out of respect for his voting record and honorable service. (Joe Lieberman voted with the Democrats 95% of the time. I wouldn't say that was a voting record the Republicans would admire.)

Let's face it, that's not the reason. Democrats back Democrats and Republicans back Republicans. Why then are the Republicans turning their backs on their own candidate?

The real reason is that they know that they can't win in Connecticut and since they are going to loose the seat anyway it's better to loose to an Independent then a Democrat. The Democrats need six seats to take control of the Senate and an Independent isn't a Democrat. If the Democrats pick up five seats and an Independent wins the sixth the Republicans will maintain control of the Senate.

That means that the Republicans will head all of the committees and retain the Majority leader since the deciding Vote will be cast by the Vice President. That would be the case if the breakdown was 49 - 49 - 2.  James Jeffords (I  Vt.)  is the only Independent at the present time. Joe Lieberman would be the second making a 49-49-2 split possible

If Joe Lieberman were truly a party Democrat he would drop out of the race. I respect Joe Lieberman but I feel for the good of the country he should drop out of the race. I agree with him that we can't pull out of Iraq but I don't feel that there is any chance that we will no matter which party is in power. I do believe the Democrats will have a different plan to win the war and I feel we need a new approach.