U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman described the Democratic Party as hyper partisan, this Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

“It’s not the Bill Clinton-Al Gore party, which was strong internationalists, strong on defense, pro-trade, pro-reform in our domestic government,” he said. “It’s been effectively taken over by a small group on the left of the party that is protectionist, isolationist and very, very hyperpartisan.”

U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-1, said Monday following a press conference at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford that while he had not heard Sen. Lieberman’s statements this weekend, he continues to find himself at odds with Lieberman.

Larson said he has a hard time understanding Lieberman’s continued support for the war and Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain. “I can’t speculate why he says the things he does, except that he believes them,” Larson said. As for Lieberman’s future in the party, Larson said that’s up to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to decide.