AL GORE: Taps Lieberman for Veep Slot
As expected, Vice President Al Gore selected Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) as his running mate, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. After receiving the news, Lieberman said, "Miracles happen." Democrats and even some Republicans hailed Gore's choice, citing Lieberman's "moral rectitude and centrist positions" (Goldstein/Enda, 8/8). But the Connecticut senator has often taken stands "at odds" with the vice president and important Democratic groups on issues such as patients' rights and universal health care. Last year, Lieberman joined a bipartisan group that tried to break a stalemate between the Clinton administration and Republican senators over managed care regulations. The administration, as well as consumer groups, argued that the bill favored by Lieberman would "have been too generous" to insurance companies (Rosenbaum, New York Times, 8/8). In 1994, Lieberman opposed Clinton's universal health care plan, backing a more limited plan proposed by the insurance industry, a major financial supporter in his campaigns (New York Post, 8/8). Ari Fliescher, a spokesperson for Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R) called Lieberman "a good man whom Gov. Bush and (former Defense) Secretary [Dick] Cheney respect," but added, "Al Gore has chosen a man whose positions are more similar to Gov. Bush's than to his own" (Connolly, Washington Post, 8/8).
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