Clintons Deny Pushing For Lieberman To Stay In Caucus

Reports emerged on Monday afternoon that Bill Clinton was placing calls to Senate Democrats on behalf of Joe Lieberman, making the case that the Connecticut Senator should remain in the caucus.

The story sent immediate ripples throughout Democratic circles, which have been debating Lieberman's future in the party and, more specifically, whether he would continue to serve as chair of the Homeland Security and Government Reform Committee.

Almost immediately after, however, there was push back from Clinton's camp.

"It's completely false," said Matt McKenna, a spokesman for the former president.

Another former Clinton confidant said she would be incredibly surprised if Bill Clinton were weighing in on this matter. The two figures were famously at odds during the waning years of the Clinton administration -- Lieberman was the foremost Democratic critic of his conduct during the Lewinsky affair. Moreover, there is practically nothing for Clinton to gain by pushing this issue in the Senate.

Nevertheless, news that Bill Clinton was going to bat on behalf of the beleaguered Connecticut independent raised a secondary question: what is Hillary Clinton's position on the matter?

Two aides to the New York Democrat said she is not making calls on Lieberman's behalf. "Hillary isn't doing anything," one said. "She is leaving it up to Reid."

At the same time, as Glenn Thrush at Politico notes, she wasn't leading the charge to oust Lieberman from the caucus either.

"What does she have to gain by making any enemies -- even Joe?" Thrush quotes an ex-staffer as saying. "She's got her own agenda to push... she doesn't need a fight."

Comments

[noesis]

Why would you reward someone who has stabbed you in the back? Very lame. No doubt that they should strip him of his chairmanship, but give him the option of staying in the caucus.

[majorteddy]

It wouldn't matter if they were behind Lieberman. Obama says let him stay anyway, so the Clinton's power has been sucked dry on this one.

[DefeatAllNeocons]

We cannot reward bad behavior. It's time to start holding people accountable. Joe cannot remain as chairman of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He refuses hold people to account for Katrina or investigate the Bush crime family. He refused to investigate Gonzales. As head of Governmental Affairs, he can choose to push investigations of Obama. Please Senate Caucas, vote to make Joe irrelevant.

[who38]

Hear, hear. Those Chairmanships need to go to worthy Dems.....also the other Chairmanship that Joe is in line for. Aren't these appointments based on seniority in the Senate? Isn't Joe a freshman Independent Senator from Connecticut? If there is no challenge to this within the Dem party, aren't they all hypocrites? Censoring MoveOn and pandering to Joe! Let Joe caucus wherever he wants but no Committee appointments, please.

[BWonka]

Lieberman should be made to share a desk with McCain.

[tyger]

Good one. LMAO

[WritusMaximus]

I think this rumor has no basis. The story needs a dem senator to step up and confirm that Bill called said senator to get support for Lieberman, which I doubt will happen.

[who38]

No Dem Senator will do this because of the denial and retaliation that would occur.

[eden4barack08]

*The vote on Joe the Judas' chairmanship in the Democratic Caucus is seven days away, we have some good chances of prevailing, but they can be better if we keep contacting our Senators. You can do so with the following easy link:

http://tools.advomatic.com/7/kickjoe

Joe can caucus all he wants with us, but we cannot entrust such an important chairmanship in the hands of someone who votes the total opposite of us on the subject, and frankly he also has been lousy at that post. If he doesn't like it, it's his choice to leave.

[mymy1]

What is wrong with Democrats? Where is the party discipline? No balls or afraid of the special interest group supporting Liberman? Liberman is a warmonger and was one of the drivers of the war and will continue to do that as long as he's the chairman of the homeland security committee. At least, he should be stripped of the charmanship.

[AgathaX]

In the past 2 years Lieberman has voted with the Dems more than Bayh, McCaskill or Landrieu. I'm inclined to agree that he should be stripped, but something to keep in mind.

[reliant1]

I wonder if President Obama prefers to retain Lieberman...before saying he wasn't holding a grudge he was saying he should not be tossed. Perhaps he sees a tool that he can make use of and would prefer to keep him in his tool box.

Pragmatism is his watch word, along with waste not want not.

[AgathaX]

Yeh. I've been all over the map on this one. I think it's important for Obama to say that there is no grudge and for any action to be taken based on pragmatism and not passion. That said, it may be that the pragmatic thing is to remove him. At this point there is no reason to believe that he would be reliable in any situation. Moreover, his main argument for retaining his chairmanship is that if it is taken away, he will hold a grudge. I don't find that compelling. If he is going to vote against the interests of the people of Connecticut in a fit of peak, he is not reliable anyway.

He's rather a pathetic figure. If I thought a bit of grace would truly bring him back into the fold, I'd be all for it. But he's given no reason to believe that is the case.

[Audreyce]

Well said...

[Lakrosse]

Ariana, can your site stop with the hitjobs on the Clintons?

[DBtv]

The "hit jobs" are not undeserved.

The truth hurts. . . .the guilty.

[Lakrosse]

unsubstantiated rumours are not deserved. The Clintons are godly and honourable people.

[PaceSetter]

LIEberman as Chair of the Homeland Security and GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IS AUTHORIZED TO STUDY OR INVESTIGATE --

(A) the efficiency and economy of operations of all branches of the Government including the possible existence of fraud, misfeasance, malfeasance, collusion, mismanagement, incompetence, corruption, or unethical practices, waste, extravagance, conflicts of interest, and the improper expenditure of Government funds in transactions, contracts, and activities of the Government or of Government officials and employees and any and all such improper practices between Government personnel and corporations, individuals, companies, or persons affiliated therewith, doing business with the Government; and the compliance or noncompliance of such corporations, companies, or individuals or other entities with the rules, regulations, and laws governing the various governmental agencies and its relationships with the public;

Hill and Bill want their boy to be able to investigate any and all aspects of the Obama administration.

Per conservative Michael Regan and his call for impeachment already (!) : http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/11/10809_michael_reagan_democrats_sex.html

...YOU AND I will be there every step of the way, making sure that no stone is left unturned, every dark corner is filled with light, and every illegal act is paid for with censure, impeachment, recalls, investigations, and jail time for every criminal we expose in Washington, D.C.

Triangulation for her run in 2012.

[DBtv]

Hil, Bill and lying joe, DINO's all.

[MetalCanuck]

GET RID OF THE CRIMINAL

[Yola]

When will they vote? Lieberman and Dodd are my senators and they are big friends but I will start emailing Sen. Dodd tonight to let him know that he BETTER vote with his constituents and that means kicking Lieberman off his perch! No rewarding bad behavior and Dodd should look at how we got rid of Shays to know that we in CT will not reward bad behavior. Lieberman OUT!

[eden4barack08]

They vote in seven days. You really need to talk to Dodd, keep calling, emailing, until next week, because so far he's one of Joe's stronger supporters, he's being unprofessional, letting his long personal relationship cloud his judgement.

[billsmile]

I'm calling Dodd tomorrow. Lieberman is a complicit part of our national nightmare. Make no mistake about it. Lieberman is the problem & not the solution!!!

[WFV]

I will never forget how Bill tried to undermind Obama's candidacy, and think he still harbors ill feelings toward him for beating Hillary out of her big show. Remember their entitlement issues? I know he still is burning, and revenge is one of their favorite tactics.

I think they should be kept at arms' length throughout the Presidency.

[ThePoetryMan]

Oh! Joe!
You are a predator.
Must we endure
Your suffering?
Must we attend
Your pandering,
Swill with you
the juice of failure,
March
In off-step reality,
Seize neck
And snap it?

You’ve lost
Your people
Rallied behind
The right
Of most
Inopportune
The blood may stain
All our hands
But you’re bathing
In its effervescence

Swiftly, Joe.
Surely, Joe.
Leaning your
Traded head
To block.
No ones fault
But your own.
Heaping praise
Upon lies
Is not
Where you need
Lead.

You have sold
Your stake,
Forfeited
Your claim!
You're the worst
kind of predator;
Shallow.

[Yola]

Yeah, yeah! Obama may not hold a grudge but the senators better represent those of us who are not ready to forgive Lieberman! I would have been fine with Lieberman saying great things about McCain but what he did to Obama CANNOT be rewarded! I will be highly upset if he is left with his great big post! I can honestly say that we, in CT, cannot wait for 2010 to vote his butt out!

[eden4barack08]

Actually, and sadly, it's 2012 before you can vote him out. But for the rest I agree.

Contact your Senators folks, tell them to vote to strip Joe's of his chair.

http://tools.advomatic.com/7/kickjoe

[NotMcCain]

If he loses his chairmanship AND follows through on his threat to then caucus with the Republicans hopefully he will be OUT in 2010.