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

[rubyjewel]

As chair of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Lieberman blocked hearings on the failures associated with the FEMA "response" to Hurricane Katrina. In his roles as unrepentant, neocon warmonger, McCain/Palin campaign cheerleader and Bush/Cheney apologist and cover-up strategist he demonstrates his partisanship. There are many accomplished Democratic Senators who could chair Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Remove Lieberman and award this responsibility to a deserving Democrat. Though Liebeman blocked any investigation of Bush/Cheney failures he will use his authority (if allowed to keep this chair) to vigorously investigate and persecute the Obama/Biden administration.

[Ramus]

agree with ruby here

[who38]

Who would be in line to receive that Chairmanship. We need to name names of those deserving Democrats....and they are out there. Why aren't they speaking up? Fear? Of whom?

[DinkSinger]

Don't forget Lieberman has the deciding vote at the moment. If the Democratic caucus strips his committee chairmanship next week, he gets mad and goes over to the Republicans, they become the majority party. The Democrats lose every chairmanship and Mitch McConnell will be the Majority Leader until January. Might be a good idea to string him along until the reinforcements arrive.

[Blain]

Although I agree with the concensus here, Joe the worm should go, your comment makes more sense than any I've read. Doesn't make sense to do it now, make the decision after new congress convenes.

[SERGIOUK]

I think thats the plan.

[JimBozo]

I can't believe that there aren't some sane Republicans who will vote with the Democratic side on important issues. Kick that Quisling Leiberman out of the Democratic caucus, and strip him of his committee chairmanship, if only from a sense of justice.

[RogerOThornhill]

Good point actually. That may be what we were seeing from Obama's camp...

[Cybersquirt]

The only problem is he cannot be trusted. . .

[anvil46]

out out out kick him out

[LisaJeanM]

If Joe Lieberman is not stripped of his Chairmanship next week then we will all have a terribly sad realization: the Neo-cons are still firmly in charge of our foreign policy.

We will know that corruption still rules in D.C. and nothing is going to change.

[who38]

I have had those thoughts; they look worse in print but guess that they can't be ducked.

Peace.

[AquaBoogy]

Good!! I am glad to see that some in the senate are showing some backbone and standing up to Lieberman's nasty antics. I am also one who believes that the behavior of Liebermann shoudln't be rewarded with those high ranking positions. HE shodl br stripped of his positions and allowed to wallow in the mud with the rest of those Republican Pigs.

[who38]

Have you contacted your Senators? I have contacted mine and assume that I will get a general response that could be sent to consitituents on practically any issue. Boxer's telephone message box was full; she will probably delete the messages on Wednesday.

[NGuarente]

Imagine what Lieberman would be saying now if McCain has won.

[who38]

He would be saying, "John McCain has reached across the aisle and asked me to be SOS, and I have accepted."

[kfdan]

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

Lieberman should be stripped of his committees! He did go beyond the pale and should be relegated to the same condition that the GOP has been placed in ... Lieberman is not change you can believe in, he's more of the same we had with Bush !

[SERGIOUK]

My abiding memory of Lieberman is him grinning at every event Mccain was involved in. Even when Mccain was on a plane being questioned by reporters,there was old Joe "THE PLUMBER" Lieberman grinning inanely in the background. Send him packing I say.

[GrkAm]

The thought that comes to mind is "physician heal thyself". We will be having a new Congress in both houses in 2009. The body of the Senate should definitely decide what kind of reprimand they feel necessary, and build off of that to become to become a strong legislative branch once again.

I think that people will be upset to see someone else go "scot-free", while the rest of America abides by rules and regulations. This nation voted for change, and saw the democratic system work.

The time to turn things around is now!

[LisaJeanM]

I'm moving to Vermont! Good for these two Senators for showing some character and principal. It's nice to know not everyone in the Senate is owned by AIPAC and corporate interests.

[MJ6]

The man made his Republican bed -- now let him sleep in it! In short : DUMP THE BACKSTABBING SCHLUMP!!

[Janelynne]

Joe cannot be trusted. He will undermine the President. He is insubordinate and does not put the country first. Joe always puts his own interests ahead of all else. If taking the Chair away from him means that Joe will in turn retaliate, and blackmail the party, then the Democrats must cut their losses.

[macweenie]

Look, Joe Lieberman left the Democratic party - we didn't leave him! He chose to turn traitor and he should reap his reward.

STRIP HIM OF HIS COMITTEE CHAIR NOW!!!

If he stops caucusing with the Democrats then he isn't a democrat, and since we know he ISN'T a Democrat then who cares? Why pretend he is anything other than an opportunistic bug?

[americancolonyinhell]

Saving Lieberman's skin, then offering HRC the SoS job is an inauspicious beginning indeed for president-elect Obama. Unity is one thing, stupidity another. What would Jesus have done, forgiven Judas? Ok, bad example.

[who38]

Jesus would have seen Joe and Hill as the Philistines that they are. You are absolutely correct about Obama's inauspicious beginning.

[Hallucinocynic]

Having campaigned for the opposition, with enthusiasm and some rancor, what is there about the Democratic Party or the Obama administration that Lieberman could or would support?

As has been stated numerous times, Lieberman needs to publicly apologize to PE Obama and Democratic party members before he is allowed to caucus with them, much less chair any committee.

[who38]

According to Reid, Joe votes with the Dems.....on all irrelevant issues.