Senator Lieberman Discusses the Politics of Getting Elected

by Jessica Bernhard

"It's a strange life, but I love it!" Senator Joseph Lieberman told me during a telephone interview. A leader in the United States Senate, currently in his second term of office, Senator Lieberman enjoys the respect of both his Democratic and Republican colleagues.

What comes out of my interview with him is his belief that politicians must be honest with their constituents, even if the constituents don't agree with what a politician believes in. That may sound strange, but Senator Lieberman believes that the American public is very sensible, and "If they feel you are working hard, and you are being sincere, and you are trying to do what you think is right, if they disagree with you some of the time, they';ll still feel you are doing a good job."

Author of five books, THE POWER BROKER, THE SCORPION AND THE TARANTULA, THE LEGACY, CHILD SUPPORT IN AMERICA, Senator Lieberman's most recent book, IN PRAISE OF PUBLIC LIFE is recommended reading for everyone, especially teens. In this book Senator Lieberman hopes to dispel the rising amount of cynicism in relation to taking a job in politics. By sharing the experiences he has had in the past 30 years of his life in public service, Senator Lieberman reinforces the benefits of working in public service, giving back to the society that has been so generous to us.

What follows are his comments on how the media, advertising, campaign finance reform and the internet, impact the electability of a president.