Lieberman could snag cabinet post if McCain elected Nick Juliano

Published: Tuesday March 11, 2008



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Print This Email This If Sen. John McCain (D-AZ) prevails in his bid to keep the White House in Republican hands for the next four years, one of his most hawkish colleagues could find himself overseeing the Department of Defense, State or Homeland Security within a McCain White House. Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the Democrats' onetime vice presidential nominee who left the party last year, is seen as a likely McCain pick for a cabinet level appointment, according to Roll Call: Atop McCains short list, according to closely aligned Republican Senators and aides, likely would be two of the Arizonans most vocal supporters: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) for attorney general or Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) as secretary of State, Defense or Homeland Security. Graham and Lieberman have been stumping for McCain for months and are considered two of the most loyal and ardent backers of his Iraq War policy.



Those are two of the most obvious choices from the Senate, observed one Republican Senate aide.



Other long-shot possibilities for McCain could include Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) at Treasury or Justice, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) at Veterans Affairs, or even conservative Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who is retiring in 2010, as attorney general or secretary of Health and Human Services. Several GOP sources advised that a Brownback selection is unlikely, however, since Kansas is home to a Democratic governor and Obama supporter in Kathleen Sebelius. Lieberman remains one of the most ardently supportive voices for President Bush's war effort in the Senate, and he has suggested expanding the war from Iraq to Iran. In the Senate, Lieberman supported the Patriot Act and its renewal, and he's voted in favor of a measure to expand the government's domestic surveillance authority. He also has defended waterboarding as a legitimate interrogation tool in certain instances; on this issue he is at odds with McCain, who considers the tactic torture. As Secretary of State or Defense, he would be given authority in shaping US military or diplomatic policy toward the Middle East and the rest of the world.



