Actually, looking over Lieberman's record, he actually votes for liberal than he talks - he's hardly Wellstone but he is much better than someone like John Breux of Louisiana. I pulled various group ratings off of the Project Vote Smart list at http://www.vote-smart.org. Trimmed to get rid of the more obscure groups, Lieberman does have a very good record with the pro-choice, environmental, civil rights and gun control groups. He has a pretty solid labor, consumer and seniors voting record. And the anti-tax folks seem to hate his guts, so that is a good sign.
He is most conservative on foreign policy and on certain business areas - especially trade obviously to fit with the DLC Gore approach - but he actually has managed to vote a bit more liberal than his public image. For example (this from another source), his lifetime Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) rating is about 78, higher than a lot of other Democrats.
So here's the list of group ratings:
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Abortion / Family Planning 1999: On the votes that the National Right to Life Committee considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the Planned Parenthood considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the National Abortion Reproductive Rights Action League considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
Animal Issues 1999: On the votes that the The Humane Society of the United States considered to be the most important in 1999 , Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
Business 1999-2000: On the votes that the National Federation of Independent Business considered to be the most important in 1999-2000, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 22 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the Business-Industry Political Action Committee considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 11 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 47 percent of the time. 1998: On the votes that the The Small Business Survival Committee considered to be the most important in 1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 30 percent of the time. 1997-1998: On the votes that the National Federation of Independent Business considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 43 percent of the time.
Children 1999: On the votes that the Children's Defense Fund considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1998: On the votes that the Children's Defense Fund considered to be the most important in 1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
Christian Family Issues 1997-1998: On the votes that the Christian Coalition considered to be the most important in 1997-1998 , Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 9 percent of the time. 1991-1992: On the votes that the Christian Voice considered to be the most important in 1991-1992, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 21 percent of the time.
Civil Rights / Liberty 1999: On the votes that the American Civil Liberties Union considered to be the most important in 1999 , Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 50 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the Human Rights Campaign considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1997-1998: On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 80 percent of the time. 1991-1992: On the votes that the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force considered to be the most important in 1991-1992, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 64 percent of the time.
Conservative 1999: On the votes that the Conservative Index-The John Birch Society considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 10 percent of the time.
Consumers 1999: On the votes that the Consumer Federation of America considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 58 percent of the time.
Defense/Foreign 1999: On the votes that the Peace Action considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 38 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the Council for a Livable World considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 57 percent of the time. 1991: On the votes that the Professional's Coalition for Nuclear Arms Control considered to be the most important in 1991, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 69 percent of the time.
Economic Policy 1999: On the votes that the The Republican Liberty Caucus - Economic Policy considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 10 percent of the time. 1995: On the votes that the The Libertarian Party - Economic Freedom considered to be the most important in 1995, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 30 percent of the time. 1994: On the votes that the Competitive Enterprise Institute - Totals considered to be the most important in 1994, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 26 percent of the time. 1991: On the votes that the JustLife Education Fund - Economic Policy considered to be the most important in 1991, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
Education 1999: On the votes that the National Education Association considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 90 percent of the time. 1998: On the votes that the American Federation of Teachers considered to be the most important in 1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 70 percent of the time. 1995-1996: On the votes that the U.S. Student Association considered to be the most important in 1995-1996, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 73 percent of the time.
Environment / Consumer 1999: On the votes that the U.S. Public Interest Research Group considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 92 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the Sierra Club considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the League of Conservation Voters considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1994: On the votes that the Competitive Enterprise Institute - Environment considered to be the most important in 1994, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 22 percent of the time.
Gun Issues 1999: On the votes that the Gun Owners of America considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 9 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence considered to be the most important in 1999 , Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1993-1994: On the votes that the Handgun Control, Inc considered to be the most important in 1993-1994, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1993-1994: On the votes that the National Rifle Association considered to be the most important in 1993-1994, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.
Health 1999: On the votes that the American Public Health Association considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 83 percent of the time. 1997-1998: On the votes that the AIDS Action Council considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 80 percent of the time.
Immigration 1996: On the votes that the American Immigration Control considered to be the most important in 1996, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 15 percent of the time. 1996: On the votes that the Federation for American Immigration Reform (Senate) considered to be the most important in 1996, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 25 percent of the time.
Labor 1999: On the votes that the AFL-CIO considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 78 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 33 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the United Auto Workers considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 92 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the American Federation of Government Employees considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 81 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1998: On the votes that the Communications Workers of America considered to be the most important in 1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 71 percent of the time. 1998: On the votes that the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers considered to be the most important in 1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 67 percent of the time. 1997-1998: On the votes that the The Teamsters considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 67 percent of the time. 1997: On the votes that the United Food & Commercial Workers considered to be the most important in 1997, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 58 percent of the time. 1995: On the votes that the Transportation Communications Union considered to be the most important in 1995, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 90 percent of the time. 1991: On the votes that the American Postal Workers Union considered to be the most important in 1991, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 80 percent of the time. 1989-1990: On the votes that the National Federation of Federal Employees considered to be the most important in 1989-1990, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 75 percent of the time. 1989: On the votes that the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League considered to be the most important in 1989, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
Liberal 1999: On the votes that the Americans for Democratic Action considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 95 percent of the time. 1997-1998: On the votes that the Public Citizen's Congress Watch considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 75 percent of the time. 1997-1998: On the votes that the National Committee for an Effective Congress considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 75 percent of the time.
Property 1999: On the votes that the League of Private Property Voters considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 22 percent of the time.
Regulation 1994: On the votes that the Competitive Enterprise Institute - Deregulation considered to be the most important in 1994, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.
Seniors 1998: On the votes that the National Council of Senior Citizens considered to be the most important in 1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time. 1997-1998: On the votes that the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 69 percent of the time. 1995-1996: On the votes that the National Association of Retired Federal Employees considered to be the most important in 1995-1996, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 80 percent of the time.
Social Policy 1999: On the votes that the Friends Comm. on Nat'l Leg. considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 67 percent of the time. 1999: On the votes that the The Republican Liberty Caucus - Social Policy considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 22 percent of the time. 1995: On the votes that the The Libertarian Party - Personal Freedom considered to be the most important in 1995, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 40 percent of the time.
Taxes 1999: On the votes that the Americans for Tax Reform considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 5 percent of the time.
Taxes / Spending 1999: On the votes that the Citizens Against Government Waste considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 14 percent of the time. 1998: On the votes that the Taxpayers for Common Sense considered to be the most important in 1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 36 percent of the time. 1997-1998: On the votes that the National Tax-Limitation Committee considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 25 percent of the time. 1994: On the votes that the Competitive Enterprise Institute - Spending considered to be the most important in 1994, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 23 percent of the time. 1994: On the votes that the Competitive Enterprise Institute - Budget considered to be the most important in 1994, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 19 percent of the time. 1994: On the votes that the Competitive Enterprise Institute - Taxes considered to be the most important in 1994, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.
Technology 1999: On the votes that the Information Technology Industry Council considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
Tobacco 1995-1996: On the votes that the Smokefree Action considered to be the most important in 1995-1996, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 66 percent of the time.
Trade 1994: On the votes that the Competitive Enterprise Institute - Trade considered to be the most important in 1994, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
Women 1999: On the votes that the American Association of University Women considered to be the most important in 1999, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 87 percent of the time. 1998: On the votes that the National Organization for Women considered to be the most important in 1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 60 percent of the time. 1997-1998: On the votes that the Concerned Women for America considered to be the most important in 1997-1998, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 25 percent of the time. 1989-1990: On the votes that the National Women's Political Caucus considered to be the most important in 1989-1990, Senator Lieberman voted their preferred position 95 percent of the time.