Lieberman’s Alito Vote Creates an Awkward Moment

WSJ




Laura Meckler reports from Cartagena, Colombia, on the presidential race.

Sen. John McCain says he’s outraged that presidential rival Barack Obama opposed the Senate confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts. He seemed a lot less interested in criticizing close friend and ally Joe Lieberman for opposing Roberts as well.

McCain spoke with reporters today for the first time on his new flying “Straight Talk Express” airplane, en route to Colombia. The issue of the Supreme Court came up after McCain charged that Obama-appointed justices would be expected to issue rulings like one that both men opposed, saying the death penalty was not appropriate for child rapists.

On his plane, McCain railed on Obama for employing ideology in opposing Roberts and Alito. Both men were qualified, McCain said, but Obama voted no because he didn’t like the way they would rule.

“He argued that he was afraid more conservative decisions would come down, that was his argument,” McCain said. McCain added that he had voted for liberal judges because they were qualified even though he disagreed with their views. “Sen. Obama seems to have set a new, ideological standard for nominees.”

At that point, Washington Wire began wondering about Lieberman, a one-time Democrat who accompanied McCain to Colombia and was standing to the side, and asked how he voted on these nominations. Lieberman said he voted to confirm Roberts but against Alito. He said his objections to Alito dealt with concerns over regulatory matters......