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

[RedWilma]

O.k., I'm just going to trust in karma that Joe will be properly punished for his dishonest, unethical, stupid actions related to this campaign. Joe the Jerk. I can't stand him.

[who38]

If you want Joe punished you need to work on electing different Senators.

[lastcallmd]

Great, another loudmouth, spouting inanities before he is even in office. "Profoundly" hurt? Please... I guess this shows he will be way more responsible substantively rather than relying on insincere rhetoric...ha, ha, ha, ha,

[IAB]

I agree wholeheartedly...what gives this frosh the right to speak up about anyone? Shut your trap until you have some work under your belt, Junior!

[yuseffhilton]

Wow! And spoken by a couple of posters whom aren't even "frosh" Senators(?); how wonderfuly unintentionally ironic!

[EducatedObserver]

I could not agree with you more, Last Call. This gentleman has obviously been overwhelmed by his recent electoral victory.

[allwrite]

Thom Hartmann, whom I regard as an exceptionally knowledgeable and astute talk show host (Air America), lives in Oregon and vouches for Merkley. Relax!

[uberlefty]

Jeff is a good guy. He brings a humanity to the senate that it sorely needs. I hope he maintains his principles. I spent a few nights knocking on doors and a few weekends phone banking for him. This is what Oregonians expect in their senators and why we showed Smith the door. Portland turned out in big numbers to put Jeff over the top. If he keeps this up we will get our moneys worth. Go Jeff!

[who38]

He is going to need a lot of support during the next six years. Someone will need to watch his back at all times.

[luckyrico1]

Okay, so we are all outraged that Lieberman is retaining his chairmanship. Obama doesn't need to punish him because he will severely punished come election time for Lieberman. Connecticut is not terribly conservative and I think those folks are smart enough to see him for what he is. Obama promised that things would be different. Getting all partisan and vindictive when Obama won hands down is counterproductive to moving on. Let Connecticut voters have their way with him.

[coreyishere]

We'll see how long Merkely can hang on to his idealistic views of how the Senate should be run. I wish him well.

[IAB]

I give it less than a day...

[who38]

He is a PAC target as of yesterday.

[lbrillante]

Lieberman is a sleazy game player and I wish they would have left him in his stupid subcommittee instead of leaving him in charge of Homeland Security and Govt. Affairs. He sucks at the job and he deserved to lose but the demecrats are practiced at being victims and having unhealthy boundaries.

[who38]

He wouldn't agree to anything other than keeping his Homeland Security Chairmanship. So much for compromise.

[JTyroler]

I hope this is a sign that Sen.-elect Merkley is going to continue to speak up.

[who38]

Not a good sign in a Senator.

[AlexFTW]

I agree with those who oppose the decision to keep Traitorman on board. But let's look at this possibility for a moment: With Lieberman's numbers down significantly in CT and the knowledge that henceforth he owes Obama one, it is entirely possible that Obama just effortlessly turned Lieberman into his Byatch for the next four years. I mean, dude! Totally sagacious!

[luckyrico1]

Yes, and effectively turned McCain into Obama's Byatch, too. (McCain owes Liberman and Lieberman owes Obama.) It's a shrewd and calculating chess move for further wins in the coming years.

[siney]

nice....yes, i rather like how our new prez operates :)

[DeeBlackthorne]

I sense a comeuppance, and I truly hope that Lieberman wises up in the meantime. He should be thankful and gracious now because Connecticut voters might not be so forgiving come the next round of elections. Can't burn any bridges, man, especially in Washington.

[HansB]

I don't think he'll run in 2012. He's banking on a position in a Republican administration, and he'll earn it by making life as difficult for Obama as he made it easy for Bush.

[aznurse]

Joe is gonna do what Joe always does and when he does it again, they'll dump him.

[adamsmith3]

He was profoundly "hurt?" Does Merkley want an ice cream cone after somebody wipes his tears? I can understand being angry or confused by Lieberman, but saying that he hurt you is laughable. Any U.S. Senator knows how rough and opportunistic Washington politics is. I wish he'd spare us the feigned hurt feelings.

[LiberalBuzz]

Go away Tr oll.

[LillyDePlume]

I have to agree, except I don't think he "feigned" his hurt feelings. Washington is no place to wear your heart on your sleeve.

I'm glad my vote helped get him in the Senate; I'm looking forward to what he and Wyden can get done!

[Chocolate2008]

Byte me , troll

[IAB]

This little c--ksu-er Merkley needs to learn to keep his trap shut until he has some experience under his belt...

[bobfinkelstein]

Merkley has a lot of experience in military issues, he was a Presidential Management Fellow in the Department of Defense and then was hired as a nuclear arms analyst for the Congressional Budget Office. Both of these posts were in the early to mid 1980s I think. Maybe he's trying to stake out his territory so that he can work his way up on important committees, like the Dept. of Homeland security...
www.likeahotknifethroughbutter.blogspot.com

[ErnestineBass]

Sweeeeeeet. Works for me.

[IAB]

It's called opportunism, not staking out territory...another politician looking out for number 1: HIMSELF...my, my, what a surprise.

[MuseScavenger]

Politics makes strange bedfellows, quoth the bard.

[Heaphy]

I, too, am angry and disgusted with Joe Lieberman. However, let's focus on the future more so than the past. If Lieberman votes with the Democrats when the right wing Republicans try to filibuster every progressive piece of legislation, then perhaps this deal was worth it. In the end, it is a decision made by the Democratic Senators, not the grassroots. Please also remember that the Democratic caucus can change its mind if Lieberman flagrantly disregards party loyalty again. Let's move on.

- Jim Heaphy

[jcellis]

Okay, Dems, I hope you know what you are doing, because this makes you look like a bunch of pansies who will compromise with the devil rather than stand on principle. I'm willing to give President Obama the benefit of the doubt on this, but I'll take a side bet that this decision will bite us in the butt. There's no trusting this turncoat "insert your choice of expletive."

[luckyrico1]

This looks only like a political move to further Obama's agenda. Now Lieberman owes big time.

[IAB]

Unfortunately, the Dems have a HUGE history of being milquetoasts and pansies...Bush's horrific eight years of waterboarding Americans with one assault after another on the rule of law and The Constitution was more than possible thanks to the aimless, useless, powerless work of Pelosi and Reid...and Obama didn't exactly make himself out to be the star in confronting Bush's excesses, either.

[yasmeen]

joe lib and rahm are to appease jewish voters who came through for obama. otherwise how can judas chair a committee that can subpeona the prez? should've demoted him or left him on the other less dangerous committee.