Hadassah Lieberman on GOP, McCain
Posted: Monday, September 01, 2008 8:27 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
When the Democratic Party picked Ned Lamont over Joe Lieberman, the Connecticut senator's wife felt “hurt.” Soon after, she changed her registration from Democrat to Independent, which is what she was before marrying Lieberman.
Earlier today, she spoke at a Republican Jewish Coalition luncheon. But Hadassah Lieberman is quick to tell you she's not there necessarily to support the Republican Party.
“I really don't know what I plan to do,” she said when asked if she will now be working with the Republican Jewish Coalition and not the National Jewish Democratic Council.
Lieberman has only attended one other convention -- in 2000 when her husband was the Democratic vice presidential nominee. Today, her purpose at the luncheon was with Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for breast cancer research, a financial beneficiary of the event.
“Our presence here on the eve of a political convention illustrates that efforts for breast cancer extend way beyond religions, races, parties,” Lieberman said. “We as women and men, who have honored us with their presence, gather with unity to fight for this important cause.”
In light of Hurricane Gustav, RJC's National Women's Council, which sponsored the luncheon, fashion show and silent auction in a Minneapolis Nieman Marcus, decided the money raised from the silent auction should help hurricane victims instead of Komen.
“Our intention was always to be helping people,” Nikki Shapiro, Southern California chair of National Women's Committee, said. “Now we're going to simply be shifting our focus.”
Congresswoman Virginia Fox was one of 237 who attended the event as well as breast cancer survivor Hala Moddelmog, who urged those in attendance to also help Komen. “Since I've been talking, about 43 people have died from cancer,” Moddelmog said, illustrating the importance of her message.
Between $30,000 and $40,000 was raised for the Red Cross for Hurricane Relief. A couple at the luncheon pledged to match that amount of money to donate to Komen so that organization would still benefit from the event.
Lieberman also thanked the women for helping her husband in the 2006 senate race. “A lot of you help him redeem it, so thanks a lot,” she said. “When he decided to run as an independent, a lot of you were out there and he did not forget that.”
According to Lieberman, her husband is now slated to speak on Tuesday night at the Republican convention.
When asked if she is endorsing McCain, Lieberman declined. "I love John. I hope he wins, but I'm not officially endorsing him because I'm not official."
