Reid Reconsidering Lieberman's Position In The Party

Senator Joseph Lieberman's decision to speak at the upcoming Republican National Convention is being met with deep consternation among Democrats and is compelling leadership to reassess his political assignments and future within the party.

"[Majority Leader Harry] Reid has indicated that he will take another look at things after the election specifically regarding committee assignments," said a well-connected Hill aide.

It has long been expected that Connecticut Independent Democrat's antics and surrogacy on behalf of John McCain would endanger his standing among Democrats. But for the most part, Reid and company have shied away from discussing whether Lieberman would retain his chairmanship for the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Asked in May if Lieberman's position was at risk, the Senate Majority Leader said "no." Later he said, without elaboration, that such a scenario was possible but very unlikely.

"He is non-committal now, said the Hill aide on Wednesday, describing it as a shift towards a more hard line stance. "He is going to take a look at things after the election."

The possibility that Lieberman would address the GOP convention has been kicked around for weeks. Democratic activists have responded by pinning for the party to kick its 2000 vice presidential nominee out of the caucus. But with the party's Senate majority at a scant one vote, it seemed nearly impossible that they would sever ties. And so, leadership, advisers, and former Lieberman supporters have been forced to swallow their pride and stomach his behavior.

"The party is clearly in a tough place," said Steve Rabinowitz, a long time Democratic media consultant. "I used to personally be there. It was a dilemma for me when Joe lost his primary for Senate and I am a big partisan Democrat. But I sucked it up and pretended to support him in the general election and he promised a million times that he would caucus with the Democrats that he would stay a Democrat. This thing, that he is supporting McCain because he is a friend -- there are a million Senators who are good best friends and drinking buddies with folks form the other side of the aisle -- they never endorse them for president, campaign for them, and trash their opponents. He really lost me with the McCain endorsement. And now I am done personally."

On Wednesday it was reported that Lieberman would be speaking at the GOP convention on Monday evening -- on the first day, but not in the most prestigious slot. The Senator is expected to continue his sharp advocacy on behalf of McCain. Whether he attacks Barack Obama's patriotism, which he has done in the past, could go a long way in determining how the Democratic Party handles the situation going forward.

Comments

[dejtemper]

02:51 PM on 08/21/2008

I said a long time age - kick his butt out. The "scant majority" in the Senate did not do a thing, so they should have been done with him. Now the Dems once again look like weak fools while he rubs their noses in it.

[LWkcma]

02:09 PM on 08/21/2008

The AP had it right. Lieberman is a "prick". %^&* Joe.

[Cynth]

01:47 PM on 08/21/2008

Still considerin­g? Why nurture the enemy within? I only hope that perhaps this is just Reid and his staff not wanting to confirm this decision prematurel­y and generate a distractio­n from the election, but it should be already have been agreed among the Deomcratic leadership that in January Lieberman has absolutely no standing and no role within their party. Simple, realisitic­, and sound move.

[mlaiuppa]

01:30 PM on 08/21/2008

Liebermans­' position within the Party? Lieberman doesn't have a position in the Party. He's an INDEPENDEN­T. He is no longer a member of the Democratic party and should be treated accordingl­y. And he's campaignin­g for the Republican nominee.

Get a clue.

[Transcendentobserver]

03:01 PM on 08/21/2008

mlaiuppa, the consummate myopia: Absent the 2 Independen­t senators, the Democratic caucus has a total of 49 votes, and the Republican caucus has an equal # of votes. With VP Cheney's vote to organize the Senate, the Majority Leader thereby is demoted to the position of Minority Leader who then becomes the Majority Leader: Sen Lieberman remains Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, and all committee chairmansh­ips now chaired by Democrats are chaired by Republican­s. So much for the investigat­ive powers and agenda control, marginal as it is currently!

What our cause needs are more clues like yours.

[walk0nwalls]

12:10 PM on 08/21/2008

In other news, Reid is also reconsider­ing the burrito he had last month that gave him food poisoning. Aides suggest that he now thinks that perhaps that burrito was a bad idea.

[MyNameIsJames]

11:18 AM on 08/21/2008

How ironic it is that Reid who has to consider whether Lie - berman should be tossed. I don't like Lie berman but Reid needs to get the BEAM out of his own eye before attempting to remove anything from Joe Lie -berman

[mistlesuede]

11:28 AM on 08/21/2008

What are you talking about?

[KillTheMessenger]

01:09 PM on 08/21/2008

The beam in his own eye, of course. He just said so.

;-)

[pizzmoe]

10:52 AM on 08/21/2008

What does this guy have to do to get tossed?

[KillTheMessenger]

01:10 PM on 08/21/2008

As you know not even the Republican­s can toss a guy who is looking for a gay quicky on toilets. What do you expect the Democrats to do?

[JimR]

10:41 AM on 08/21/2008

Spineless.­... Reid has got to go.

[Whinger]

08:10 AM on 08/21/2008

Still Thinking! Still Considerin­g! Still Dithering! Still Wont Do His Duty! The Democrat Disease!

[totaldisbelief]

07:49 AM on 08/21/2008

Hey Harry.... Consider ,UNDER A BUS.. for Lieberman'­s position

[supergranny]

07:26 AM on 08/21/2008

Oh yeah, I bet Lieberman is shaking in his boots over the thought of Reid 'perhaps' showing him the door. What a great turning point in our political process. This has to be the most boring sitcom yet.

[Bettysdad]

03:28 AM on 08/21/2008

Lieberman'­s position should be on his knees, forehead on the floor.

[iswideopen]

03:07 AM on 08/21/2008

Joe Lieberman needs to go now. He is NOT a democrat. I will sit back and watch when the republican­s kick him to the curb and he attempts to return "home", so to speak. Can't wait. Karma is a b****.

[mistlesuede]

11:36 AM on 08/21/2008

Oh how I hope you are right!

[RGKahn]

11:43 PM on 08/20/2008

"Reid Reconsider­ing Lieberman'­s Position In The Party" He doesn't have one. He should have been kicked out when he was elected as "an independen­t" for Connecticu­t in 2006. I have been calling Harry Reid's office from that time on and have alway been told that the chairmansh­ips were voted on at the start of the 110th Congress and can't be changed until the 111th Congress is sworn in.

[fourex]

11:10 PM on 08/20/2008

Doesn't Liberman's betrayals indicate that Harry Reid's position in the party needs to be reconsider­ed?

[alvdh1]

12:18 AM on 08/21/2008

Doesn't the atate need to reconsider lieberman and seek a recall.