New Dem Senator Merkley "Profoundly Hurt" By Lieberman

Aides to Senator-elect Jeff Merkley said the newly elected Oregonian Democrat was "profoundly hurt" by Joe Lieberman's conduct during the 2008 presidential campaign and added that being a committee chair was an honor that came with certain responsibilities.

Nevertheless, they added, the Senator-elect would respect the secrecy of the Tuesday vote that kept Lieberman in his post as Homeland Security chair.

"He did speak at the meeting," said Julie Edwards, Merkley's communications director. "He is someone who cheered for Joe Lieberman in 2000 and Lieberman's words and actions this year were profoundly hurtful to him... The committee chairmanship is a privilege and not a entitlement and Senator-elect Merkley believes that being a member of the leadership comes with certain responsibilities. But at this point he does look forward to putting this behind us."

Sources familiar with today's meeting say that Merkley was one of the few Senators to speak out critically about Lieberman's campaign antics. Both Senators from Vermont -- Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders -- also expressed criticism of the Connecticut independent

"I spoke against the Lieberman motion and voted against it," read a statement from Sanders. "For me, the bottom line is that millions of Americans, with unprecedented energy, worked day and night to get Barack Obama elected and to move our country in a very new direction. I think it's a slap in the face to these activists that someone who opposed those efforts in a very prominent way is awarded with a major committee. Having said that, there is an enormous amount of work that is facing the Senate and we all have to move on and work together to address these issues."

Ultimately, however, Lieberman's fate as a caucusing Democrat was secured as the majority of his colleagues voted to keep him atop the homeland security committee. The resolution agreed upon - which stripped the Senator of his position on an environmental and public works subcommittee - was passed by a 42-13 margin. Addressing reporters after the vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid said of Lieberman: "He's part of this caucus... We are not looking back. We are looking forward."

Senator Dianne Feinstein, meanwhile said her "hope" for Lieberman was "that he becomes a Democrat again."

Comments

[zest]

Lieberman will get his comeuppance eventually. His ineffective campaigning for McCain which was solely about supporting Israel, show how little influence he has as a spoiler. Stripping him of his commitee chairmanship is of little consequence, other than a more loyal democrate should be allowed to serve.

[Ronju01]

This is machiavellian change we can believe in.

[RRoadrunner]

It’s business as usual. R or D it's the same old nonsense. We voted for change and congress wants status quo. Without a strong third party we will stay in this quagmire.

[viflyer]

The problem is that this only contributates to the view that Democrats have no principles. I for one want some statesmen in the Senate not just politicians looking out for their jobs

Don't count on any progresive movement in the Senate. These people will talk the talk and line up with the corporations that pay their way. Nothing is gonna change.

[KataVideo]

My hope is that he becomes a Democrat again, but not until after he steps in and slips in dog poop, whacks his shin with a hockey stick and gets visited by three ghosts in the night who point out where and how he went wrong.

[pjcpa]

Why not save your comments about anyones actions until you actually are sworn in and do something yourself.

[Bozwellian]

Well, as Joe CAMPAIGNED DOWNLINE AS WELL AGAINST DEMOCRATS, think the newly elected DOES have legit point !!! Lieberman was also Palin's foreign affair coach, helped to PREP her and as he did have questions regarding our Presiden Elect's "patriotismaticals"...thought queston Obama's "marxist" perceivement a legit issue to be explored and stated outright LIES thru his innuendo'd stump speechings on behalf of Mac & P at every twisted turn in that campaign stomp..Think there is reason for folks to QUESTION WHY Joe should remaian and frankly, many would like assurance that Jope will be kept on a SHORT leash with immediate retributin hsould he step out again and find himself unable to stay with the Dem program !!!

[unstuffedshirt]

That's silly. Everyone is entitled to an opinion on Lieberman's actions. Merkley is a senator-elect whose work will be affected by the conduct of Weepy Joe and who, as a member of the next congress, voted on this yesterday; he's certainly within his rights to express his concerns.

[who38]

My hope for Feinstein is that she becomes a Democrat again.

[Jennifer Hageman - Huffpost Blogger]

Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.

No reason to send Worm-Tongue out to become a constant source of annoyance...keep him under your thumb with pressure on his throat the whole while...doubt he'll have much more to say going forward under these circumstances...

[who38]

Lie down with dogs; get up with fleas.

[tsynnott]

I agree. And if you're curious to know what it's like to have one's balls in a vise, I suspect Worm-Tongue is gaining considerable expertise. While It may be a 'velvet' vise (the Obama way), a vise is a vise.

[unstuffedshirt]

This presupposes that Lieberman will respond to Democratic pressure or that he can be trusted to hold up his end of any deal made with Obama and the Democratic caucus. What evidence exists for either?

[GKJames]

What I still don't get about the logic is this: whether Lieberman's in or out, a Dem or Republican, does anyone seriously believe that his constituents will tolerate his voting substantially differently from how he voted before? In other words, even if he switched to the GOP, when the votes come up, how realistic is it to believe that he'd actually vote Republican? And if that's the case, what, exactly, do the Democrats need him for? Why is he afforded the slightest leverage? My two cents: Lieberman's a sycophant to whoever's in power. He happened to place a wrong bet when he thought it would be McCain.

[JonathanStuartLeibowitz]

Good question. I guess the rationale is that they think they have more control over his votes. Whatever possible deviance from 'Democratic' voting there would have been, now he owes Obama and Senate Dems big time they place their bets on an even more stringent 'Democratic' voting pattern on Lieberman's part.

[vippy]

The DEMS need the majority in the senate in order to get anything done and with Lieberman
out, they face filibuster.

[JonathanStuartLeibowitz]

Well, they face filibuster anyway, since it's still unlikely that they can win over Chambliss's seat in Georgia. The argument GKJames makes is a different one: How do you expect Lieberman to vote significantly different from previous stances when he becomes 'officially' a Republican. And that's really a question worth asking, because he can't afford to vote against Dems very often if he's ever gonna be reelected in CT. I agree with the view that Dems, as Jennifer just put it, tend to think that they have more leverage to keep him "under your thumb". It's the only way you can make sense of it.

[who38]

It will be interesting to see if Merkley is allowed to keep his Senate seat.

[unstuffedshirt]

This is only true if all Dems can be assumed to vote together (they can't; there are still blue dogs), if Lieberman can be trusted to always vote with Dems (scoff), and if no Republicans can be found to ever vote with us (they can).

The Democratic caucus will never have the lockstep voting of the Republicans under Bush. The 60 votes are a bill-by-bill thing and we'll get different Dems and different Repubs depending on the bill. So Lieberman isn't the magic individual who will complete a cohesive and consistent 60 votes.

[Mustang Sally]

You're in DC now, so its time to start growing that thicker hide.

That said, I, too, am disgusted with the LIEberman vote. Once again, our Dems displayed no backbone. This is getting VERY old.

[JennyJay]

I am a life long Democrat - but I am mad as hell over this Lieberman mess. I actually hate
my own Senators for being such suck-ups, and having no sense of right and wrong in this.
All we have is our vote - one by one we need to get rid of ALL THOSE OLD FOSSIL PEOPLE.
No matter what party they are in. . . . THEY GOT TO GO.
Power makes them not think straight, so if they are going to be jerks let them be jerks on
their own dime. . . . NOT OURS.

[vippy]

When it comes to one of their own, no matter what side they are on, the senators take care of
them. They really do think they are royalty in this country and there is nothing they can do wrong.
We are at fault, for voting them in time after time again.

[who38]

Not really; the Senators take care of themselves and they know not to anger the PACS. Merkley made a strategic error if he plans on staying in the Senate.

[Spud777]

Spineless Democrats

[billw8017]

Did you notice that they made him speak, and he did make a slippery little apology. He owed the Republicans for saving his seat in the Senate after he lost the Connecticut primary. Now, he owes Obama for saving his chairmanship. It's tough to be Joe Lieberman.

[Judyisacutie]

It's hard to believe a flattered rock star or an offended politician.

[Chaucea]

lol! good one! ;-D

[siney]

he'll be defeated at the next re-election bid and a true democratic senator will take his place....what a piece of shat & waste of carbon...such a disappointment..

[JonathanStuartLeibowitz]

One can only hope. Go, CT, you know what to do.

[dollphingurl]

i sincerely hope so.

[who38]

Don't count on it. Two months ago would you have thought that Joe would become the Prodigal Son?