Enemy in the ranks

Matt Berger NBC/National Journal Reporter

When Sen. Joe Lieberman, I/D-Conn., walked into the annual dinner of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee last week, he began almost immediately to hold court among his many admirers. "Our table was swamped all night," said Lonnie Kaplan, Lieberman's host and a former AIPAC president. "To get him to the table was a major effort."

While Lieberman's national stature has faded since he became the first Jew to run on a major party ticket for vice president in 2000, he remains akin to a rock star in the American Jewish world, especially among national security hawks. But now, the former Democrat — who became an independent in 2006 after losing his party's nomination for re-election to the Senate in Connecticut — is raising eyebrows among some of his biggest fans.

Lieberman surprised many in December when he endorsed Republican John McCain for president, but others dismissed it as just another step in Lieberman's march to the right, spurred by a mix of support for the Iraq war and frustration with Democrats who did not support him after his primary loss. The real confusion, however, has come in recent weeks, as Lieberman has gone on the offensive against Democratic candidate Barack Obama, suggesting he is "naive" on U.S. policy toward Iran and its president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"If... anybody thinks you can go over there and sort of talk reason, and hug and kiss Ahmadinejad, and he's... just going to act better, that's just naive," Lieberman told FOX News on May 20. "It's very naive of Senator Obama."

Video   On the record with Joe Lieberman Feb. 5: Sen. Joe Lieberman talks with Brian Williams about his endorsement of John McCain. Nightly News

After Obama spoke to AIPAC last week, Lieberman participated in a McCain campaign conference call with reporters, where he said Obama was blaming American foreign policy for the current situation in Iran.

His comments play into hesitation some Jews already have about Obama's commitment to Israel and his policies toward Iran, raising hope in Republican circles that McCain can garner more American Jewish support than the 25 percent President Bush won in 2004.

"Lieberman can certainly help with those who are teetering and normally vote Democratic but have some concerns or questions" about Obama, said Jay Footlik, who served as Lieberman's liaison to the Jewish community in his 2004 presidential bid and later played the same role for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.

While Jews largely back Democrats on social issues, support for Israel often serves as a litmus test for candidates. Obama is seen by some as vulnerable and inexperienced on the Middle East, and McCain's relatively moderate social positions could push more Jews to the right. Lieberman knows the issues and code words that can strike fear in many Jewish voters.

"I do believe that generally Republicans like to put support of Israel as the issue to divide the Jewish community, and Democrats try to take it off the table," said Kaplan, a Democratic fundraiser who has backed pro-Israel Republicans. "Both sides will try to do that this time."

Several American Jewish leaders said they were concerned about Lieberman actively campaigning against Obama. While they said they expected Lieberman to tout McCain's perceived virtues on the Middle East and other issues the community cares about, they didn't anticipate that he would directly criticize the presumed Democratic nominee.

"I'm a bit surprised and disappointed that Joe has gone this negative," said one Jewish political operative, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "I didn't think it was in his character."

Lieberman's office declined requests for comment.

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