Obama Doesn't "Hold Any Grudges" Against Lieberman

Talking Points Memo:

President-Elect Barack Obama doesn't "hold any grudges" against Senator Joe Lieberman for opposing his presidential candidacy, and will not take any position on the question of whether Lieberman should be permitted to keep his plum chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee, an Obama spokesperson just confirmed to us.

"We aren't going to referee decisions about who should or should not be a committee chair," Obama transition spokesperson Stephanie Cutter emailed me, in response to questions about Obama's stance on Lieberman's future.

Read the whole story: Talking Points Memo

Comments

[Keith52]

It's not about grudges. He can not be trusted to do what he says he will do. He is not even an enemy. He is a narcissist. He is only out for himself, not America. He must go.

[Carsy]

I tend to hold grudges and now I realize how unproductive that kind of trait it. Obama is better, wiser person than me, that is why I voted for him.

[patianneb]

Obama may or may not have/express a personal grudge toward the turncoat, but neither is he a softie: Keep your friends close, your enemies closer. HOWEVER, Lieberman, a fearmonger and absolutist on the subject of I s r a el, our great ally and friend, yes, but a foreign country nonetheless, should NOT retain his chair of Homeland Security, whether or not he is permitted to remain on the committee. For that matter, he should not, under the Democratic banner, be head of ANY committee.

[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.

[mlrlmsw]

We won. Let it go. The democratic party needs to take the high road. Lieberman could support McCain just as Colin Powell could support President-elect Obama. He said some unfortunate things, but he does vote with the dems 90% of the time.

[eden4barack08]

Non, no, no, it's much more than that with Joe the Traitor, it's not as simple as just endorsing another candidate. This goes way back, and enough is enough.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-11-10/liebermans-empty-promises/1/

[Mister X]

Smart thinking. He wants Joe to stay in the caucus, but wont' "take a position" on his chairmanships, allowing them to be stripped.

I don't know if it's him, his advisors, or a combination, but it's very cunning.

[Foy]

If I had not known the Lord and Obama preached Christ to me, I would stop and listen to him, because he has the heart of Christ. He's gentle, he's calm and above all, he's forgiving. Now's that's a man with the qualities of president.

[IndySC]

Amen.

[Woodley56]

Seems to me that all of the Dems screaming for Lieberman's head now are the ones who said President-Elect Obama should have been attacking McCain in the debates, too.

I trust Obama's judgment.

[eden4barack08]

I wasn't, and I'm one who firmly believes Judas can caucus, but not keep the chairmanship. That's the consensus, it's very simple.

[shadow322]

During the campaign my biggest argument was that we can no longer afford to vote into power, those who spread lies and hatred. But now my leaders are cowing down to sen. Lieberman!! Maybe "Change" is just not possible yet and we need to keep looking for the right people. Lieberman must go because he called our candidates and issues communists, terrorists, socialists and threats to America and declared the Republicans were as pure as the driven snow! Just when will this demonizing your opponents stop? We elected the Democrats to clean up Washington manipulators - Lieberman Must Go!

[shadow322]

Our candidates were called terrorists, socialists, communists and threats to America. It is a matter of showing the public that there are consequences for such corruption. These were not differences of opinion. To not throw Lieberman out wold tell the public that it's still politics as usual on the hill and that "Change" was just a campaign slogan. Lieberman Must Go!

[MissKaren]

It will also make Holy Joe much indebted to Obama.

[shadow322]

He demonized our issues and our candidates! It was not a difference of opinion. It was fabricated lies, insinuations, unfounded accusations and playing on the weaknesses of others. Just when will this no longer be acceptable? Our integrity is now at stake and so is the momentum for the "Change" we said we would bring.

[shadow322]

It's a matter of our integrity! Lieberman campaigned against everything the Democratic Party stands for, demonized our candidates and issues - at the Republican Convention! Allowing him to keep his posts and caucus with us would show the public we are not serious about change and it's just politics as usual on the hill.

[Intelligentia]

My message to President (elect) Obama: Sir, any Democrat who is pushing for Lieberman to remain as the Chair of DHS is not to be trusted. You have to be careful, because they will undermine your administration! Keep your eyes open ( I trust you will). I know you do not want to meddle with Senate business in this matter; however, this is a matter of national security. You cannot have an individual who believes that you're a Maxist in charge of the DHS. If Reid will not do it, Mr. President (elect), then, disolve the DHS and have all the agencies go back to where they were before the creation of the DHS. You may not have the power to tell Ried what to do (Seperation of Powers), however, you have the power to reorganize the DHS. There is more than one way to skin a cat. This is not a vendatta or revenge against Lieberman, it's a matter of self-preservation and national security. The DHS is too important to leave in the hands of just anyone; especially, not Lieberman. However, whether Lieberman stays or not, Chertoff must go! General Honoree or General Shinseki should be considered as the Secretary of Homeland Security.

[villagertwist]

Politicians often say things publicly and work behind the scenes in a different direction. Obama has to seem forgiving where Lierberman is concerned...that is the image he's crafting...whether or not he wants to let by-gones be by-gones is a different story. The politicians I know never forget and never forgive. Obama may be different.

Anyway, his hands are publicly clean on this one. I doubt he'll shed tears about Lieberman's fate. The Dems don't need Lieberman and cutting out a tumor is usually the right decision. If Lieberman had an ounce of dignity, he'd go where his loyalties lie....with the GOP. But maybe the only real loyalty he has is to himself. He's been playing two ends against the middle for too long. Let's get this over with...so-long Joe...

[cyndeewi]

No I honestly believe that Obama is not working behind to scene to do anything to Lierberman and if you think so then you don't know Obama. This man has a lot on his shoulder and the last thing he needs is tit for tat stuff. This country is going down the toilet. This stuff is petty.

[Bitsko]

I agree. Too many folks getting all Peyton Place-y about this story.

[MissKaren]

It is very clever. When Obama needs something done, he goes to Joe Lieberman and says "You owe me."

[BarackstarObama]

The Dems still have a chance to hold 60 Senate seats, and Obama knows this... he's not going to burn any bridges now.

[condieshoes]

Liberman was floating rumors around that Obama was secretly a muslim, finally Obama had to pull this Liberman aside and pointedly asked him to stop. Lieberman shut his face about that, but campaigned his arse off for the Republican. Why do we need this man in powerful chairmanship duties? Why?

You can't trust the man. When it looked like Obama was going to win, he came out with a smarmy statement on how much he respected Obama....yeah right.

[cyndeewi]

Keep your enemies close!!!