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PrintThe Hiller Instinct: Lieberman’s Push
While Joe Lieberman was in Manchester, New Hampshire today, Howard Dean's ears may have been burning. Because what Lieberman's aides called a major speech turned out to be a major attack on the front runner…
"He seems to believe if your are just against everything, that's enough. Against removing Saddam Hussein. Against middle class tax cuts... If I could sum it up, Dr. Dean has become ‘Doctor No’."Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D) Presidential Candidate
No surprise the capture of Saddam Hussein was exhibit-A in Lieberman's case against Dean.
"With Howard Dean, Saddam would be in power. With me, he would be where he is now, locked up in prison."Sen. Joseph Lieberman
Then Lieberman widened his foreign policy assault on Dean beyond Iraq…
"Governor Dean has made a series of dubious judgments and irresponsible statements in this campaign that, together, signal he would take us back to the days when we Democrats were not trusted to defend our security."Sen. Joseph Lieberman
Lieberman also assailed Dean's domestic policies, calling them "backward" ending his assault with a slap at Dean's campaign…
"I will unite us, not seek to divide us with anger or extremism."Sen. Joseph Lieberman
At a news conference right after the speech, I asked Lieberman whether he could be dividing Democrats.
"This is what the people of New Hampshire expect. I mean, we're having a campaign here, a debate."Sen. Joseph Lieberman
And Lieberman believes his time is now…
"To me, this race has crystallized between Howard Dean and me."Sen. Joseph Lieberman
Unfortunately, the only one who sees this as a Dean-Lieberman race is Joe Lieberman… And maybe his wife. But Lieberman is so committed to moving up in New Hampshire, he's moving into an apartment in Manchester on New Year's Day. So he'll be there in person to see whether he's uniting, dividing or, most important, surviving.