Sen. Joe Lieberman isn’t often on the receiving end of gushing praise or plaudits from the rest of Connecticut’s almost all-Democratic Congressional delegation.
Indeed, Lieberman, the state’s lone independent in Congress, has drawn various rebukes from his home-state colleagues, for his threats to filibuster health reform and his stand with the GOP on tax cuts.
That’s why a press release from Rep. John Larson, extolling Lieberman’s successful efforts to push for the repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in the military, is so noteworthy. The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which Lieberman championed, passed the Senate on Saturday in dramatic final vote.
“I want to thank Senator Lieberman, whose persistent leadership on this vital national security issue led to Saturday’s historic vote,” Larson, D-1st District, said in a statement Monday.
“This issue has truly been a labor of commitment for Senator Lieberman. He made a promise to himself, his colleagues, but more importantly, our military, that he would get this legislation passed this year,” Larson added. “President Obama will sign this long overdue legislation into law this week, and credit is due to all members of Congress who voted in favor of it. But, let us not forget, it was Senator Lieberman who carried this legislation through the Senate to the President’s desk.”
This is from the same Rep. Larson who just a few months ago accused Lieberman of “auditioning for the Republican Party.”