Two Senators Speak Out: Lieberman Should Lose Chair

WASHINGTON — Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman's chances of holding onto his committee chairmanship suffered a blow Friday when two key New England Democratic senators came out against him.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy and his Vermont colleague, Sen. Bernie Sanders, said Democrat-turned-independent Lieberman doesn't deserve to keep his Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs chairmanship because of his campaign attacks on President-elect Barack Obama.

Lieberman angered many Democrats by supporting Republican John McCain and criticizing Obama during the presidential contest.

Liberal activists are urging the party's caucus to strip Lieberman's chairmanship when caucus members meet next week. Senate Democrats are scheduled to meet next Tuesday to decide what to do.

"I am one who does not feel that somebody should be rewarded with a major chairmanship after doing what he did," Leahy, D-Vt., said in a Vermont Public Radio interview on Friday. "I never ask people, well you must vote for this person or that person. Everybody has to make up their mind."

Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said he hopes Lieberman will remain in the party caucus and work to regain the trust of those he has disappointed.

"To reward Senator Lieberman with a major committee chairmanship would be a slap in the face of millions of Americans who worked tirelessly for Barack Obama and who want to see real change in our country," Sanders said in a statement. "Appointing someone to a major post who led the opposition to everything we are fighting for is not 'change we can believe in.'"

The issue of whether to punish Lieberman is a sensitive one for Democrats, given Obama's calls for bipartisanship during the 2008 race. Lesser penalties are also being considered involving Lieberman's committee and subcommittee posts.

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Some of Lieberman's attacks on Obama "went beyond the pale," Leahy said.

"I would feel that had I done something similar that I would not be chairman of Senate Judiciary Committee in the next Congress," Leahy said.

Lieberman, who was Democrat Al Gore's running mate in 2000, was re-elected in 2006 as an independent after losing his state's Democratic primary. He remains a registered Democrat and aligns himself with Senate Democrats.

Obama has told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada it would hurt the message of unity that he wants for his new administration if Lieberman leaves the Democratic caucus. Reid met with Lieberman last week and was initially inclined to strip him of the Homeland Security Committee chairmanship, according to a leadership aide.

Since then Reid has been working to find a compromise with Democratic supporters of Lieberman, including Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. Dodd and Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., have said it would be a mistake if any punishment by the party causes Lieberman to bolt to the Republican side.

Lieberman also spoke last week with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. Key Republicans, including Sens. John Ensign of Nevada and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, have said they would welcome Lieberman to the GOP caucus.

Lieberman's presence in the Democratic caucus was essential to the party's control of the Senate because he gave them a 51-49 edge over Republicans. But Democrats expanded their majority in the Nov. 4 elections and won't need Lieberman to control the chamber when the new Congress convenes.

Comments

[exhale09]

To me the decision is simple. Joe Lieberman is not capable of putting National Homeland Security ABOVE Politics.

He allowed his political partisanship to interfere with doing his job for the Country.

His MAIN job...entrusted TO HIM by Democrats...the job he expects to RETAIN.... was as Committee Chair of Homeland Security and Governmenet Affairs. It was NOT to spend all his time to go around campaigning for REPUBLICAN John McCain and insulting the Democratic candidate.

Here's what I have to say to Joe Lieberman....WHAT CHUTZPUH!

[FZliveson]

If you're gonna try to sling Yiddish lingo, do a spell check. It makes
you appear to be such a klutz!

[TequilaMockingbird]

The 'U' instead of an 'A' nonwithstanding.. having Chutzpah would imply that Lieberman has beytsim between his legs.. and as he is clearly comfortable straddling fences... The evidence would conclude that he clearly does not.. I believe the word our friend is looking for is.. Joe Lieberman.. What Pakhdones!!! Feh....

[who38]

Guess you have some of your own....chutzpah, I mean.

[FZliveson]

Wow, Davie6...just joined us huh?
New name for an old face, afraid to be identified here?
Neo-Huber-conservative?

[boing007]

Just have a caucus vote. Yay or Nay.

[squander123]

I wonder if it would be possible to have less headlines with the words 'Lieberman' and 'strip' in close proximity? It's not a pleasant image...

[who38]

Well, in some ways it is.

[orangepetal]

Millions of Americans worked tirelessly for Clinton and for McCain, if you want to minimize the oppositin you might not want to slap them in the face, but whatever. I wonder what Republicans are doing to make Hagels life hell ?

[jaielaw]

Did I miss the Save Lieberman bakesale at the last Clinton rally or was I just not invited? How exactly is (not) letting Lieberman keep his chairmanship an insult to either Clinton or her supporters. I am baffled by the connection. Please explain.

[who38]

Well, she and Bill have been among Joe's primary supporters. And you may have not been invited to the bakesale. Sorry.

[JennyJay]

If Lieberman gets to keep his chairmanships - - then the entire Senate is the just the
biggest bunch of gutless, fanny kissers who ever walked the earth.
The Senate should be doing things TO IMPROVE it's public image, not destroy it further.
Are they so out of touch, that they just don't get it?

[who38]

Think that is an apt description of much of the Senate. There is a reason why they have limited public confidence...what are the numbers? 14%!

[david6]

You ranters need to relax. Joe ain't going anywhere. In fact, I'd predict he'll be instrumental in passing the 'Strait of Hormuz Resolution' of 2010, authorizing use of nuclear weapons against Iran's civilian population....

Obama/Hilary: Yes we can - obliterate Iran!

[who38]

Unfortunately, you may need to change your moniker to Cassandra2.

[sisteract]

Reconciliation is one thing. Allowing a known traitor to have power is something else. Lieberman showed his self-serving nature and his contempt for the party by campaigning for John McCain. He does not deserve to keep his power under these circumstances. If he leaves the party because he is given reasonable consequences for his actions, then he did not want to be a democrat in the first place.

[who38]

But Joe would have made a great SOS in the McCain cabinet. Doesn't he deserve a consolation prize?

[Indie2008]

Finally, a Senator with enough courage to state the obvious. Reaching out to the other side does not mean welcoming someone back into the caucus who went out of their way to disparage the Presidential nominee of the Democratic party.

[who38]

Hope Leahy and Sanders have a life outside of politics. There will be repercussions.

[Sketchartist]

It shocks me that anyone would even consider letting Lieberman keep his posts. Having someone we all know we CANNOT TRUST overseeing HOMELAND SECURITY?? It's like saying, "We all know the fox has eaten several chickens, but we still need to keep him guarding the henhouse or he might get mad at us".

Regretfully, I have to agree with the comment that Obama is signalling naivete' and weakness in this instance. (Something tells me that someone from the DLC has been whispering in his ear).

[MossyOak]

Naivete' and weakness are two qualities Obama has never shown. He ascribes to the "Hold your friends close and your enemies closer" mantra, which you can translate into a single word "bipartisan." It's the hardest concept for us to get our heads around because we're all so angry and fed up, but it is the true sign of every great leader.

[blueskybigstar]

That "mantra" didn't help Lincoln.

[Lemeritus]

I don't believe Obama said anything about Lieberman keeping his chairmanships and I think it's telling that he hasn't. No one is trying to push Lieberman out of the party (although technically he left when he couldn't win as a Democrat and used Republican resources to run as an independent -- good for him!) The issue is whether this little Judas should keep his seat at the head of the Homeland Security and Government Affair tables. Obama has offered an olive branch; the Senate Democrats, however, are not bound to be as -- uh -- "politic".

[LisaJeanM]

It absolutely would show weakness and naivete, and I'm in dread of what is going to happen on Tuesday. If the Senators do some sort of phoney handslap but allow Joe to keep the chairmanship, we know we're in some deep trouble, and we've got ourselves another weak leader.

[boing007]

Just because President-Elect says that he wants Senator Lieberman to stay doesn't mean that he will be upset if the Democrats throw him out.

[hatethehype]

Lieberman must expect some sort of sanctions for his over-the-top support of the Republican candidate.
I think Obama needs to send the only message that Lieberman's betrayal warrants:
Strip him of both his Chairmanships. Lieberman has shown that he lacks the character & integrity deserving of these posts.
(But then, if Obama did everything that I thought, he may not have won the General Election).

[tedskid]

I'm so tired of Lieberman calling the shots. The democrats need to show courage and throw him out.

[Cookie100]

This is what Sanders says, it's perfect!

Bernie Sanders, also of Vermont, sent us a hard-hitting statement demanding that Lieberman get the push -- and strikingly, he said that if Dems didn't remove him, it would be an insult to Barack Obama's supporters and a betrayal of the change mandate voters delivered to the President-elect.

"To reward Senator Lieberman with a major committee chairmanship would be a slap in the face of millions of Americans who worked tirelessly for Barack Obama and who want to see real change in our country," Sanders in the statement sent our way by his office.

"Appointing someone to a major post who led the opposition to everything we are fighting for is not 'change we can believe in,'" Sanders continued. "I very much hope that Senator Lieberman stays in the Democratic caucus and is successful in regaining the confidence of those whom he has disappointed. This is not a time, however, in which he should be rewarded with a major committee chairmanship."

[who38]

I am sending a check to this man today. Finally, someone who represents me.

[blueskybigstar]

I so like the way that he is taking on Obama and is right in every way. I fear that Obama may be a classic bleeding heart liberal who makes nice with his enemies just to get betrayed. Didn't Lieberman already betray him once? Didn't Obama campaign for him as an independent and without his help would not have been re-elected?

[insightfulman]

Worse, it is a slap in the face to the Democrats who voted for Ned Lamont in Connecticut.

[Loki11467]

The real question is the next 2 years. If Obama and Congress perform like we hope them too they will keep or even expand their control of the Senate. And based on the recent election if Lieberman does go to the GOP he will have two choices. First is being in their caucus yet voting with the Dems on all issues he has in the past and then be GOP in name only. Or he can truly vote always with the GOP. His second choice gets him booted by Ct in 4 years. So it might be a good thing to let him cross over.

[boing007]

hopefullee

I don't think it's up to Obama to let Lieberman stay or not. Separation of powers and all.

Then it's all up to us to pressure the Democratic Senators to throw Joe's ass out the door.

[boing007]

What President-Elect Obama thinks he can do about Lieberman and whether he will succeed at controlling him none of us can say. Obama could be wrong. What you've read in a book doesn't necessarily stay true to form in the real world. Lieberman is as slippery as an eel. I don't trust him. Throw him out!

[Johnniedog]

I don't care what Obama says!! Lieberman should be kicked out and kept out of any Democratic activities. He has been a thorn in the side for a very long time. Not only does he vote as a Jew first and an American second, but, he has stabbed the Dems in the back several times, in the past, and got away with it. He will never again be the Dem he once was. I believe he will always be positioning himself for a spot in the Republican Caucus...including spying for the Republicans and reporting everything to them. The trust is gone...kick him out!