newYou can now listen to Fox News articles.
Like all of Joe Lieberman’s family and friends, I have been grappling with the news of his sudden passing. To say I was shocked is an understatement. As I mourn his death along with many others, I am also reflecting on his wonderful life.
He was a man of deep convictions, guided by his faith and rooted in family and a sense of duty that transcended the political moment. He was a quiet man with a witty and charming disposition, full of kindness and a steely determination that we must all learn from our past mistakes.
To know Joe is to understand on a fundamental level that without his beloved wife, Hadassah, there is no Joe. Hadassah and Joe were a great example of a loving couple who valued each other’s opinions and always had each other’s backs. Their children and grandchildren were his North Star.
Senator Joseph Lieberman, accompanied by his wife Hadassah, announced his retirement from the Senate in 2012. (AP)
Since Joe passed away, I have read many words of praise from prominent politicians on both sides of the aisle. As people remember his life, we understand who Joe Lieberman was at his core, and people of all stripes, regardless of political affiliation, celebrate Joe’s character, intelligence, and kind nature as they testify to his character, intelligence, and kind nature. It was a great comfort to hear what he was doing.
Joe Lieberman’s exclusive perspective on rising anti-Semitic hatred
Joe brought people together, almost mirroring the closeness of families in outside life.
Any rational analysis of Joe’s political career would reveal that he was an unashamed social liberal. As was common within the party at the time, he was always strong on the military and believed in a solid foreign policy similar to Scoop Jackson-Ronald Reagan. He personally understood that the forces of evil needed to be confronted early on and what would happen if they didn’t. Hadassah’s parents were Holocaust survivors.
Joe Lieberman was Al Gore’s running mate in the 2000 presidential election. He was within 537 votes of the Democratic vice presidential nominee in Florida. Just a few years later, in 2008, Joe became an ally of Sen. John McCain, breaking with his party to support John for president.
I don’t think that would happen in today’s bipartisan environment. But in my opinion, it can be explained by one event.
Simply “Lieberman”: The independent and mysterious politics of the late Connecticut Democratic Party.
Missing from the discussion of Joe’s life and accomplishments, and what was clear from our travels together, is how deeply he was affected by the attacks of September 11, 2001. My small contribution in honor of my dear friend is to point out how committed he has been to society. By becoming strong against evil, we will protect our country and our beloved Israel.
He wholeheartedly supported President Bush’s efforts to deal with extremist regimes in the Middle East and go on the offensive regarding Islamic extremism.
His decision to support the Iraq surge was highly unpopular among Democrats as well as the general public. The Three Amigos (now known as Me, John, and Joe) fully supported President Bush’s efforts in Iraq as he was losing ground.
Liberman criticizes Schumer over Netanyahu’s comments: Would he do that to Sunak or Zelensky?
This put Senator Lieberman at odds with his own party and the majority of Americans. But through it all, Joe developed an unbreakable bond with John. And I was fortunate to be in the presence of two true American heroes: John McCain and Joe Lieberman. They made sacrifices for the country in many ways and always put the country above any politics.
Sen. John McCain, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Sen. Joe Lieberman during the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center on September 4, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sen. McCain is expected to accept his party’s presidential nomination in a speech tonight. (Keith Bedford/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Sen. Lieberman sensed in Sen. McCain a determination to win a war we couldn’t afford to lose. This reinforced Sen. McCain’s belief that America must be strong against invasion not only from Islamic extremists but also from bad actors like Putin and the Ayatollahs of Iran.
Sen. Lieberman then vehemently opposed President Obama’s decision to withdraw troops from Iraq and President Biden’s decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Joe realized that neglected Islamic extremism would come back again. He knew it was better to fight them over there than to fight them on our land.
Joe also always believed that the Ayatollah of Iran was the Great Satan. Through his leadership of the Iranian Anti-Nuclear Coalition, which he co-founded, he constantly reminded us how the world would change for the worse if the Ayatollahs acquired nuclear weapons.
Joseph Lieberman and Lindsey Graham attend the Republican National Convention on September 4, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Keith Bedford/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
For more FOX News opinions, click here
Senator Lieberman was guided by these firm principles, which influenced my views in the Senate. The best thing I can do now to honor and remember Joe is to keep fighting.
For as long as I can, I will continue to fight against left-wing forces that seek to alienate the Jewish state and weaken us at home. With similar vigor, I will confront the isolationist forces of the Republican Party, which do not seem to understand the threats facing Islamic extremists, Putin, Iran, and China, and seek to withdraw them from the world at their own peril. intend to.
My final conversation with Senator Lieberman was a reminder to a younger generation that understands that The Squad is off base and that calls for withdrawal from the world will not ensure our safety. It was about how impressed I was with Republicans and Democrats.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
I’m glad we had this conversation before Joe passed away. I was able to tell him that what he has done and continues to do is making a difference for younger generations.
What better legacy could a public servant leave than this? Rest in peace, dear Amigo. Until the day we all meet again.
Click here for more information about SEN.lindsay graham
