Joe Lieberman, the first Jewish vice-presidential nominee of a major party, passed away at 82 due to complications from a fall in New York, according to his family’s statement. Lieberman’s journey in politics was marked by a strong conscience and an independent streak, leading him away from his Democratic Party roots.
The peak of Lieberman’s political career came in 2000 when he was chosen as Al Gore’s running mate, a historic moment for Jewish Americans. However, the election was eventually decided by the Supreme Court in favor of George W. Bush. Lieberman remained a mainstream Democrat on many issues, yet he became known as one of the last major statesmen of an era when bipartisan cooperation seemed more achievable.
Lieberman’s political evolution accelerated after the September 11, 2001, attacks, with his hawkish foreign policy views putting him increasingly at odds with his party. His strong support for the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 further distanced him from his fellow Democrats. Despite mounting his own campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, his refusal to repudiate the Iraq war led to his loss in the Democratic primary for his Senate seat in 2006. However, he ran as an independent and won, returning to the Senate.
In 2008, Lieberman drew ire from Democrats for supporting John McCain at the Republican National Convention and criticizing Barack Obama. McCain later regretted not choosing Lieberman as his vice presidential nominee instead of Sarah Palin. Lieberman’s move to the right represented a surprising political reinvention, though his condemnation of President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal in 1998 foreshadowed his later shifts.
Throughout his career, Lieberman was known for his observance of Orthodox Jewish faith, refusing to work on Shabbat. In a notable exception in 2009, he walked five miles to vote against a Republican attempt to cut Medicare spending. In his final years, Lieberman’s involvement with the No Labels Group raised concerns among Democrats, fearing it could split the vote and benefit Republican candidates.
