President Joe Biden called former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman a “good man” one day after the former Democratic vice presidential candidate died at the age of 82 from complications resulting from a fall.
“He was a good man,” Biden told the Washington Examiner on Thursday.
Biden made the brief comments before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, adding that he had spoken to Lieberman’s wife, Hadassah.
A former member of the Democratic Party, Lieberman was its 2000 vice presidential nominee with then-presidential candidate Al Gore. A senator from 1989 to 2013, he was an independent during his final term in office, though he continued to caucus with Democrats.
The White House did not release a statement regarding Lieberman in the hours after his death but has historically taken its time before commenting on notable passings. On Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that “the president and Sen. Lieberman served together in the U.S. Senate for 20 years.”
“Sen. Lieberman was principled and unafraid to stand up to what he thought was right,” she added.
Former President Barack Obama also commented on his death despite past tensions. Lieberman endorsed the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain over Obama in 2008, and Lieberman’s opposition to a public health insurance option was critical to the decision to exclude it from Obamacare.
“Joe Lieberman and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but he had an extraordinary career in public service, including four decades spent fighting for the people of Connecticut,” Obama wrote on Wednesday. “He also worked hard to repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ and helped us pass the Affordable Care Act.”
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“In both cases the politics were difficult, but he stuck to his principles because he knew it was the right thing to do,” he added. “Michelle and I extend our deepest condolences to Hadassah and the Lieberman family.”
Biden is en route to New York City for a joint fundraiser with Obama and former President Bill Clinton that is expected to raise more than $25 million.
