Harry Reid: What Lieberman Did Was "Wrong"

Harry Reid told CNN Friday that he is unhappy with Joe Lieberman's passionate support of John McCain for president.

"Joe Lieberman has done something that I think was improper, wrong, and I'd like if we weren't on television, I'd use a stronger word of describing what he did," Reid told CNN's John King. "But Joe Lieberman votes with me a lot more than a lot of my senators. He didn't support us on military stuff and he didn't support us on Iraq stuff. You look at his record, it's pretty good."

Reid, the AP has reported, "is considering yanking Lieberman's chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as punishment."

Meanwhile the AP also reported today that GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has reached out to Lieberman about joining the Republican party.

Comments

[OliverTwist]

Lieberman should be given the opportunity to be the freshman Independent that he really is.

If he wants to vote with the Democratic majority he can.

There is no need to be concerned that Lieberman will develop loyalties.

[CalliDem]

Unless we reach that magic number of "60" we may need him. End of story. Let's not be reactionary
and get rid of him when he may be able to help us in the future.

[montemalone]

The only help he'll provide is for himself.

[riverhouse]

At this point, Lieberman is totally unnecessary to the Democratic Party. There is absolutely no need to kiss his ass any longer in order to get some imaginary numerical superiority. He needs to go.

[old lady]

If we never reach 60 we would be ill advised to depend on the weakest link in our ranks.

[piul05]

This is like a very bad soap opera....

[MiddleRiver]

OK, I am as disgusted with JL as any of you for the obvious reasons. However, revenge is usually a delf-defeating motive. President Obama campaigned on Unity. Clearly JL does not agree with the Dems on defense and security, so he should not chair his current committee. Can Sen. Reid find a lesser committee to give him where he honestly agrees with the Majority and the President. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but it may show that Dems are magnanimous and it may lead to some useful work being done in his new committee.

But to be sure, it must be a MUCH less important committee. The message will be clear. Oh, and a lot of cold shoulders from his former colleagues IS in order!

[mkeane1949]

There are lots of people in Connecticut who see Joe as a traitor - we didn't re-elect him as an Independent to watch him on the GOP campaign trail. Maybe he should move to Arizona, because we don;t want him back.

[instagladiator]

So, in other words the vote is more important than the character of Lee-burr-min?

[NPA]

Lieberman placed all his eggs in the wrong basket! Dump him, swiftly, and now dammit!

[bngood40]

The people of Connecticut are the only ones who can extend or suspend Joe Lieberman's political career. Lieberman is riding the political fence so that he can lean either way depending on which political party is in power. The voters need to let him know that they will not tolerate his ambiguous political affiliation and since he has revealed his treasonous behaviour then his political career is in a terminal state which will see it's demise in the next senate election.

[escobar]

Too bad he just got re-elected.

[riverhouse]

I don't believe LIeberman was up for reelection this cycle.

[escobar]

Not this election, thank God, but last time around.

[catzoned]

I think if Conn. was going to dump Leiberman they would have done it by now. I'd like to hear from our friends there to see what they think and if they have a recall motion planned. It may be too expensive right now to do that sort of thing.

[KateinAZ]

If I remember correctly it was actually the Republicans that voted for Lieberman and put him back in the Senate when he lost the Democratic primary and went Independant.

[grey sells]

Mr. Lieberman should be a man and take his medicine. You pooped in your own back yard and you lost. Step aside.

[haighal]

Lieberman ran as an independent after being rejected as a Dem in CT. He was accepted by the Dems in a marriage of convenience as they sought his cooperation. He was not cooperative in this election, going far beyond merely endorsing a friend. It was his decision and he should be held accountable, not as a matter of revenge but just practical politics. Reward a true Democrat with the chairmanship as their is only so much to go around.

If Lieberman responds by changing his political agenda it will only show him to be a pathetic and vindictive man, devoid of true convictions. Some already believe his actions have been motivated by the desire for revenge against the Dems who wouldn't support him after he lost the '04 primary.

This is not about reaching across the aisle, it is about getting your own aisle in order and maintaining party discipline. Reach across the aisle when you begin to legislate.

[reno1190]

NOT TRUE OBAMA WAS THE VERY ONE WHO DID SUPPORT HIM AS HILLARY DID WHEN SO MANY DEMS WERE NOT WITH HIM ,IN 04 OBAMA WENT THERE CAMPAIGNED FOR HIM AND WHAT DID HE GET IN RETURN A SWIFT KICK DOWN WITH JUDAS WE WILL SURVIVE

[old lady]

He ran as independent after losing his place on Dem ticket while running as Gore's VP pick. He did not revert to Dem status after that. He has not changed his political agenda - it has always been vapid and self-serving.
Why are we all so naively surprised when leopards reveal their spots?

[Topo]

Believe me, Lieberman doesn't belong to Democrat. Neither he belong to Republic.
Cause he belong to Likud.

[gda216]

Isn't this exactly what the Republicans would do to Chuck Hagel or other R's that supported Barack. The Democrats have promised a break from the past, so let's not do it the old Republican way.

Yes there should be a penalty for his poor judgment and disloyalty but we must find a way to enforce order without making things worse. Why as Democrats would we spend millions of dollars to get someone elected but not do what we can to keep one we already have? Yes I know Lieberman is an Independent but when he is voting your way most of the time you can't just turn your back on that fact. Run someone better in 2010 that is a fair way to handle the problem but for now keep the strongest team possible.

We can not let our new found power corrupt the message, our actions must match our words.

[reno1190]

IS CHUCK RUNNING FOR ANYTHING?

[zippy01]

Glad to see the Democratic party is the big tent and the left is so accepting of different views. March in lockstep or be punished. Good little sheeple.

[MaybeMilo]

Suck it up and face your total defeat like an adult.

[escobar]

A big tent , but with no neo-con traitors to America.
It is the GOP that has marched in lock step for over 25 years bring the country to disgrace and ruin. The neo-cons have pretty much had their say.
They still broadcat 24/7 over the Fm and on Fox.
Neo-cons should be grateful a good number of them are not being put on trial !
Instead, we hear talk about stopping the bleeding.
Be Happy!

[Inthematrix]

I'm still not sure what purpose Lieberman serves in the senate!
http://inthematrix.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/celebrate-good-times-cmon/

[nowarpleez]

Do they have a candidate ready to kick Lieb's butt in 2010? I want him out on his behind.