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

[Nick127]

I have no problem with Lieberman supporting McCain.Hes his friend just like Vernon Jordan supported Hillary.The difference is Lieberman co-signed hate,lies and mis info that came out of that camp and is seen booing with with the crowd. When the question of if Obama was anti-american was asked of him he danced around it.After further thought as much as I would like to see this clown loose his chairs I say leave him be.Let the voters of his home state take care of him.

[Huffan1]

Come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a, come-a, ca-me-leon,
He comes and goes, he comes and go-o-o-oes...

[AtlantaBill]

Well, I think JL should get the boot without hesitation. Not only did he choose to support Senator McCain, JL openly went out on the campaign trail and advocated for the the other guy. That type of behavior not only shows disrespect but also shows where the man's heart really is. We've had one closet republican in the past (zell miller of ga) and now is not the time to gamble on JL becoming something he is not. McCain placed his bet on Joe The Plumber and that did not work out so well. Betting on Joe The Senator would be an equally bad decision.

I think Senator Reid should promptly let Joe go and perhaps consider reaching out to one or both of the senators from Maine, Collins and Snowe. These two Senators are from a solidly democratic state and in my opinion would be open to supporting a democratic president.

[zannamar]

Zell Miller was a Dixiecrat. Democrat in name because of Lincoln being a republican.

[Pegi]

Agreed completely with your assessment. How could the dems including President Obama ever trust anything that came out of that man's mouth? How do they know he won't go running to the rethugs, i.e., co-hort Lindsay Graham and report everthing going on inside the "ranks"? Cut him loose, send a message to the people that this sort of behaviour is NOT ok and reach out to the Maine Republicans. That's the proper way to go. And you Ct.. voters out there, remember what he did and you know what you have to do when he is up for re-election!!

[Sezza]

Wow. That's the change we are looking for.

[BigHeadTodd]

Give 'em hell, Harry! Joe the Traitor can go shill for the REACTIONARY party now.

[IsaacKuo]

I know my opinion won't be popular here, but I think Lieberman should go unpunished.

I think that President Elect Obama should make a (private) personal plea to Senator Reid to not punish Senator Lieberman. I think Senator Reid should (publicly) accept this plea.

This would be a very powerful way for Obama to deliver on his promise for a new way of doing politics. Reaching across the aisle to his former opponent Senator McCain is just standard protocol. Embracing Senator Lieberman would show Obama really means it.

As one of Obama's role models once said, "The best way to destroy and enemy is to make him a friend." He really meant it also, filling his cabinet with former enemies.

[mick7191]

Unfortunately, Tail Gunner Joe is needed to help effect the change envisioned by President Obama (nice ring, huh?). We need all hands on deck for this toughest of times. We have a lot of work to do, like kicking the oil habit and making the United States of America the center of the green manufacturing world.

[exhale09]

The way I see it, Lieberman has the right to disagree with his Party's position from time to time, that isn't what the problem is...it's the way he did it that was so offensive, and out of line.

Lieberman didn't just disagree and vote his conscious..he stood side by side with John McCain, following him around like a puppy dog, publicly campaigning AGAINST his own Parties nominee, remaining silent, and smuggly smiling as McCain lied and smeared the Democtratic nominee, with hideous hateful violence inciting accusations.... remaining silent about the totally unqualified choice of Sara Palin for McCain's VP candidate...who in my opinion, was a National Security threat had she been entrusted with the second highest, possibly even HIGHEST, office in our Nation.

LIEBERMAN SUPPORTED SARA PALIN FOR VP, OVER JOE BIDEN! JOE BIDEN..one of the most knowledgable Senators in Congress in Foreign affairs, 36 years experience in our Government, a better family man you will not find, a man everyone respects, not to mention, a long time friend of Lieberman!

Lieberman stood at the Repubican Convention and gave a speech supporting the REBUBLICAN ticket. No one made him go that far against his own Party.
Joe ENJOYED that limelight and attention, and you can bet, had McCain won, Joe would have been waiting in the line for his cushy appointment from John McCain....thumbing his nose at his own Party, because THAT is what it was really about, due to HIS own ego and ambition.

[Kaprazatos11]

Nothing to do with HIS own ego and ambition, Exhaleo9, everything to do with HIS percieved interest of what he thought to be best for Israel. How wrong can he be!?

[nhplanner]

I'm no fan of Joe Lieberman. I think he said some very nasty things about Obama during the campaign (so did Hillary)--that's politics. If the Democrats want to maintain the majority, they need to continue to be the 'big tent' party, or they risk alienating their more conservative, 'blue dog' colleagues. Democrats should not become vengeful, this a losing strategy and it is wrong. Let Connecticut decide Lieberman's fate in the next election.

[Steamboater]

Dems need to be a big tent party but there should no room for a turncoat to the party. There's a great difference between disagreeing with the overall party on issues and even voting that way and supporting the opposition's party and speaking at their convention. That IS crossing the line. Lieberman really has no options, even if he's trying to spin it that way. If he joins the GOP, CT voters who voted for him will see that as the last straw ( if they don't already see his support of McCain as the last straw) and he's finished. All Lieberman has now is to sit back and take all the slaps in the face he so rightly deserves and that includes throwing his chairmanship out.

[Jesster]

Agreed nhplanner - Lieberman has always gotten on my nerves - even long before his distasteful "Sammy Davis" like display of devotion to McCain. He always seems to be simultaneously annoyingly self-righteous and yet in another way, he somehow comes across as a bumbling buffoon...

That said - they need his vote - and from a pragmatic/practical standpoint - they should just hold their noses, grin and bear it until they can get a solid 60+ majority in the Senate.

And as nhplanner wisely notes vengenance is a loser - Let the voters in Connecticut decide what do do with this guy.

[clancy11]

Call your senators on the steering committee and tell them to throw Lieberman off
of the Homeland Security committee........HE IS UNACCEPTABLE. I also signed
the petition at Fire Dog Lake to let Joe go!!! It is time to act.

[vegas9999]

RIGHT YOU ARE!!

[deschl]

Lieberman not only supported McCain, but vigorously campaigned with him and went out of his way to disparage Obama — even agreeing to be a featured speaker at the Republican National Convention.

This occurred two years after Lieberman, according to party insiders, begged Obama to come to Connecticut to support him in his bid against upstart Ned Lamont. Obama agreed to be the keynote speaker at the Jefferson-Jackson-Bailey dinner in Hartford.

Lieberman repaid Obama by trying to undermine his presidential campaign. He took a calculated risk in campaigning for McCain, understood the repercussions if McCain lost — and clearly relished his role as the Republican's attack dog. He's gotta go now.

[instarx]

Leiberman had an agreement with Reid to be allowed to speak at the RNC without punishment as long as he did not trash Sen. Obama. Lieberman then proceeded to do just that. Lieberman cannot be relied on. Reid should deal with Lieberman just like he would deal with a car he can't rely on - get rid of it.

[Nepe]

This is a prime example to why we should abolish the two party system (I know, will never happen). I think our nation would be best served if politicians voted based on the values of their constituents and stop making back handed deals. (yes, I'm naive) I thought we are suppose to work together for change, not getting revenge on someone who happened to disagree with the Democrat choice of candidate. Lets move on from this; besides Lieberman will probably continue to vote more inline with the democrat ideas anyway. The GOP is bickering among themselves and the Democrats do not need to go through the same thing.

[catzoned]

I agree with abolishing the two party system as well but what did you have in mind to replace it? I want to see candidates from the conservatives, populists, and progressives running for president.

[Nepe]

I see what you mean; that is the million dollar question. We could have either multiple party system as a replacement, but that wouldn't work since the party system usually tends to polarize. How about people running without labels? I wonder how elections would go if there was not a party affiliation next to their name on the ticket.

[deschl]

the chickens coming home to roost, what did you do with your 30 pieces of silver joe, off with his head you judas

[moreupnorth]

"off with his head you judas" When did you become an uneducated bigoted violent McCain supporter. That comment was even stupider than the the McCain supporters as there is no mindless Alaskan whiping you into a frenzy.

[nubret2008]

Lieberman has to go, you can't trust somebody who stabbed you in the back!

[editor]

The democrats must boot him out of our party quickly. Show some spine.

[exhale09]

Joe Lieberman is not even IN OUR PARTY. He booted his own self out. He calls himself an INDEPENDENT...campaigns for the Republican nominee, and then expects to CHAIR Democratic Commitees of PRESITIGE?!

Give me a break Harry. Any Loyality Democrats may think they OWED Lieberman was wiped out the minute Joe got up on that stage at the Republican Convention...and smiled as they trashed the Democrtaic candidate.

Joe made his CHOICE. Wish him well, and say bye bye. He can "vote his conscious" from the other side of the isle too, can't he?

[beeper]

I think along with everything else he has proven to be, he was also the worst VP candidate ever.
What was Gore thinking?