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AFP
AFP
Washington (AFP) – Joe Lieberman, who made history as the first Jewish vice presidential candidate for a major US party and lately returned to the spotlight as a leader of a push for a third candidate in the 2024 election, died Wednesday, US media reports said. Lieberman died in New York City at the age of 82 “due to complications from a fall,” his family said in a statement carried by US media. Lieberman, a longtime senator from Connecticut, was most famous for his role at the heart of one of the most tense US elections in history, when he ran for vice president in Democrat Al Gore’s 2000 bid…
The Republican Jewish Coalition issued this comment:
RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman said:
Joe Lieberman was a true mensch and a great American. It was a pleasure and an honor to work with him in the Senate. He built a successful political career while staying true to what he felt was right. Time and again, Senator Lieberman put principle over politics. He was a shining example of all that’s good and decent about public service. And he was a committed and proud Jew who served his country with distinction.
Joe Lieberman was called the last of the Scoop Jackson Democrats. We miss those Democrats who took the defense of liberty seriously, and who worked with their colleagues across the aisle to keep America – and our ally Israel – safe.
I am proud to have known Joe and the Republican Jewish Coalition was proud to work with him over the years. We will miss his friendship, his leadership, and the integrity he demonstrated during more than two decades in the Senate. May his memory be a blessing.
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The Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) issued the following statement:
We mourn the passing of Joe Lieberman, a former U.S. Senator, and a longtime member of JINSA’s Board of Advisors. Joe Lieberman was an outstanding public servant, a true American statesman, very smart and thoughtful, who genuinely put his country first above party and personal ambition. He was a rare breed who sought bipartisan solutions to problems. A 1997 recipient of JINSA’s Henry “Scoop” Jackson Award, he was, like that great Democratic Senator from Washington State, dedicated to a robust U.S. national security and a strong Israel, and believed that U.S. foreign policy should be influenced by American values. A devout Jew, Joe Lieberman observed his Jewish principles while fulfilling the demands of the U.S. Senate. And he was a real mensch in his personal behavior—always polite, decent, humble, friendly, and respectful of others. He was a model politician and person, who we will sorely miss. We convey our condolences to his wife Hadassah and his whole family. May his memory be a blessing.
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WJC President Ronald S. Lauder released the following statement on the passing of former United States Senator Joseph Lieberman: “It is with profound sadness that the World Jewish Congress mourns the loss of former Senator Joseph Lieberman, a trailblazer for Jewish public servants in the United States who wore his faith on his sleeve. Senator Lieberman’s career was a beacon of dedication to public service, characterized by his deep commitment to Jewish principles, and an unwavering support for the fight against antisemitism.I had the privilege of knowing Senator Lieberman personally. While we might not have agreed on every issue, his integrity, and devotion to the Jewish community and to strengthening Israel-U.S. relations were always a constant.Senator Liberman was a true mensch, whose legacy of leadership and service will continue to inspire future generations.We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who were touched by his remarkable life. May his memory be a blessing.”