By SID SINGER
Senior Editor
zipple.com
August 28, 2000
CHICAGO—One thing’s for sure: Illinois Democrats like Joe Lieberman.
Speaking before an estimated crowd of 2,000 in Chicago’s Plumbers Hall,
Lieberman delivered a speech significant not for raising new campaign themes,
but for simply giving the crowd its first up close and personal look at the
candidate.
Lieberman took the podium to a thunderous roar of “Go, Joe, Go,”
prompting his remark, “Hey, I could get used to this.”
Lieberman referred to the roots he mentioned in his convention acceptance speech—his
father working on a bakery truck, and his wife’s parents surviving the
Holocaust.
“The fact that I’m standing on this stage today” as a candidate
for vice president, he told the crowd in the labor union hall, is a testament
“to the continuing power of the American dream.” There were kippot
sprinkled throughout the crowd, a cross-section of whites and African-Americans,
young and elderly, with many union workers in attendance.
Sounding another campaign theme–criticism of the Bush tax cut–Lieberman
said that there’s nothing wrong with being rich. “But we shouldn’t
help those who need it least at the expense of those who need it most,”
he said to a loud roar.
The Connecticut senator said that Bush and Cheney don’t have a legitimate
plan to help seniors pay for prescriptions, and that the Republican ticket had
unveiled television commercials criticizing the Democratic prescription plan.
Lieberman issued a challenge to his opponents on the issue. “Take those
ads off the air and put your plan on the table,” he said.
Not surprisingly, attendees expressed support after the speech. “He came
off as being open and honest,” said Clint Brown, an African-American field
director with the United Food & Commercial Workers, Local 881 chapter. “He
showed that regardless of your background, you can make it to the top. Maybe
he can be president one day.”
A number of supporters stood on stage behind Lieberman along with Illinois
politicians. One was Kay Greenbaum—age 93.
“I’m very proud of us,” she said after the speech, referring
to Lieberman being the first Jewish candidate. “It’s been a long time
coming.” She also appreciated Lieberman’s points about helping seniors
pay for prescriptions. “I bought two prescriptions to be filled—and
they were $161. And that’s just for 30 days,” she said.
During the introductions, Congressman Danny Davis remarked that winning Illinois
means winning the election. Michael Madigan, Speaker of the Illinois House of
Representatives, spoke of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s central role in
securing a Democratic win in Illinois.
Lieberman later thanked Madigan for making clear the mayor’s role. “You
have told him that the future of America is on his shoulders,” Lieberman
joked.
Lieberman also kept his humor about him when meeting the attendees. Rabbi Moshe
Kushner, interim executive director of the Chicago Rabbinical Council, was among
those standing on stage behind Lieberman. Introducing himself to Lieberman,
Kushner added that he was a local mohel (someone who performs circumcisions).
According to Kushner, Lieberman turned to the next person and remarked, “Watch
out for this guy.”
The event also produced an unusual metaphor for a campaign in which much has
been made of Lieberman’s religion—his Shabbat observance and his kosher
diet. Don Turner, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, said the Gore-Lieberman
team “has a history of delivering the bacon for working families.”
Earlier in the day Lieberman met with religious leaders from the Chicago area
at an interfaith breakfast, where he called on them to encourage people to vote.
