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

[fredamae]

I too am from Oregon and I too spoke with Wyden's office. I too, did not get a reply nor agreement of my "vote" to boot him out.

Thank you Jeff for speaking up about your position.

[Tom Payned]

As a fellow Oregonian, good for you Merckly.

I've already called Wyden's office and let him know that due to his silence on Lieberman, I can only assume he voted to keep that turn coat without demanding an apology for all of us who donated our money and time in getting Obama elected and knocking off a number of Republicans.

Due to this selling out of the hard workers, I am changing my registration back to Independent and will work hard in the primaries against Dod Kerry and the rest of the Dems who thumbed their noses at us.

For the rest of us

Call weak kneed Reid at his DC Phone: [phone] and let him know how you feel.

Call Joe's office at 202) 224-4041 and demand an apology from him for knocking Obama and campaigning for Republican senators.

And never donate another dime to the senate reelection committee again. Let Reid know that.

[CubFanHere]

And we all "hope" that Diane Feinstein will start acting like a Democrat herself again as well. What a hypocrite she is. This from the person who was the original Democratic cosponsor of a bill to extend the USA PATRIOT Act, was one of only six Democrats to vote to confirm Michael Mukasey as Attorney General, and who voted FOR the FISA Amendments Act of 2008.

Look, I cant' stand Joe Lieberman at all, but for Diane Feinstein to suggest that someone besides herself should "become a Democrat again" smacks of absolute hypocrisy. She's lucky the good folks of California don't recall her from her seat.

[CaptD]

I agree!

Diane F. should do some soul searching, and come to the aid of her Party not just her own interests...

I hope Obama gives everyone in Congress the word that CHANGE IS HERE AND THEY NEED TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM demanded by the voters of America...

[noradunn]

The only difference between Joe Lieberman and Diane Feinstein is their foundation. She uses Revlon, he uses Cover Girl.

[CubFanHere]

Ha ha ha, now THAT is funny. He does put the pancake job on his face!

[k1k2lee]

I'm from CA and I agree! And what is truly awful is that clearly Arnold the Governator is angling to run against our wonderful Senator Boxer in a couple years. Boxer actually voted against the Iraq war when it was not popular to do so and has been an outspoken champion against the Bush administration's incompetence and arrogance. As a result, she faces GOP challenges every time she's up for reelection and Feinstein skates! It is infuriating. And now she will probably have to go up against Ahnold (unless he gets caught up in movie making again - governing is boring unless there are catastrophes to take photo-ops and hold press conferences about).

[CubFanHere]

I agree with you. Love Boxer, can't stand Feinstein. Watch the film "Body of War" and you'll see how courageous Barbara Boxer was. She was one of the few who stood against the Iraq War Resolution. Her and Senator Byrd were at their finest during those debates.

[blastit]

I can't stand Diane Feinstein and I agree she is no democrate, I never vote for her I just wonder why so many people in california continue to do so.

[CaptD]

Truth is we all need Joe the Senator and I'm betting that he will be a valibile friend to the Obama Congress...
Everyone makes mistakes, Joe had his and now he knows that all the eyes of the party are upon him!

[Tom Payned]

Joe didn't "make a mistake" he knew darn well what he was doing, that is not a mistake.

He campaigned not only for McCain, but said nasty things about Obama, told people at McCain rally's that he feared the Dems having a filibuster proof senate with that socialist Obama.

That is not a mistake.

And anyone who thinks this turn coat will vote for us is delusional. Why should he? There is no punishment for what he did, and no apology from him in exchange.
that is the least Joe should have done.

Instead he whined about how hurt he was 2006 because fellow Dems didn't support him. Well, the people of CT voted Lamont as the Dem candidate and what, they should have turned their back on the electoral vote of the people?

Call weak kneed Reid at his DC Phone: [phone] and let him know how you feel.

Call Joe's office at 202) 224-4041 and demand an apology from him for knocking Obama and campaigning for Republican senators

[bygollymissmolly]

If Joe thinks he made a "mistake", then he would have apologized for what he did. Instead he crowed gleefully that he got away with blackmailing the Democrats.

[mrspooder]

No doubt about it, Obama is smarter than I am. But, I think that if Joe over and over again spoke out against Obama, not just for McCain, then Joe should reap the consequences of his actions. You know that if McCain had won, Joe would, so why not now? I think he's a betrayer and I think those that voted for him should view him as such and thus strip him of influence.

[TexasLovesUBlue]

Thankfully, there are 13 Senators with good judgment in Washington.(For the other 42, I hope you're constituents have good memories when you are up for reelection).

[TexasLovesUBlue]

[bygollymissmolly]

That would be nice if we were allowed to know who they are. They are all hiding behind a closed door vote. What a bunch of chicken$hits.

[GeorgeP922]

I clap my hands for the DLC, now without Bush they have guaranteed that no progressive candidates will run against them anymore.

Well Reid is up for re-election, I think you will see a move against him so strong, it will make Lieberman look weak in comparison.

[nomobull]

the vote the right way to protest

[Tom Payned]

Call weak kneed Reid at his DC Phone: [phone] and let him know how you feel.

Then find out the name of his Dem challenger in the primaries and offer him your support, both time and money. That's what I'm going to do.

Call Joe's office at 202) 224-4041 and demand an apology from him for knocking Obama and campaigning for Republican senators

[LemonMeringue]

There is nothing to keep Lieberman from doing anything he pleases from now on. The vote is over, his committeeship is secure, and regardless of what he owes Obama, he can vote any way he pleases.

[nomobull]

but if not with the majority to what end.

[joeythetrollslayer]

They gave Joe the Mole a new lease on life. Now, he owes them one-supposedly. I'm sure the Dems have a bunch of dirt on Joe the Mole. Personally, I'd use him for the first two years, and then get a strong candidate to run against him, while he reports (mis)information back to the Repubs. You could put together one heck of a political commercial with his loony antics from 08.

[Dastius-Krazitauc]

His committee chairmanship is secure for how long? Another two years?

[Maka]

My only thought behind this is:
the Dem leadership MUST have some profound legislation they're hoping to push through their dream-filibuster proof Senate. I bet you these Dems will be pushing hard for a strong candidate to take Lieberman's place though, when he's up for reelection.

[mikey970]

confused and upset about uncle joe , but we need his vote to get some thing done, we have to grin and bear it, we cant cut off our nose to spite our face!!!!!!!

[super]

What makes Democrats think they have Joe's vote? Au contraire, Joe will hold bills hostage so that they die right in committee. A committee chairmanship is the very LAST position to allow a blackmailer to have.

[Dave01]

We need him at least until 2010 when his constituents finally vote his sorry @ss out of office.

[readyfornewleadership]

I worked and donated to get Obama elected. Now I am going to let him do his job.

[DinSea]

I shook Senator Merkley's hand at the local library just a couple months ago. I told him I voted for him. He looked down and with all the sincerity you could want, said, "Thank you - we're going to work hard and bring CHANGE to this country" ... in a voice that was almost ethereal. Maybe I was smitten by HOPE.

[super]

My own "hope" for Lieberman is unprintable. With his retention, Senate Democrats have shown again that activists are only TOOLS to be USED.

[Dave01]

Actually I think it just gives the Dems (in CT) a good reason to work even harder this time to oust the @sshole.

[Tom Payned]

Sadly CT doesn't have a recall process so we are stuck with this turn coat whose interest is geared more towards what's best for Israel, not for us paying 10 billion a month and young people losing their lives or limbs.

He's another chicken hawk.

[V4Vigilance]

Oxymoron of the Day:
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP

[PatRyan]

A bunch of us Oregon Progressives busted our butts for Jeff against Republican Gordon Smith. Jeff can't be easily pigeonholed politically, except to say that he qand his wife Mary have spent most of their adult lives in the service of folks on the bottom of the social ladder and he's a fierce defender of the Bill of Rights.

Not a knee-jerk anything, but a very principled guy. A major additional asset to the US Senate.

[NotMcCain]

Thanks, Oregon! Looks like you sent a Democrat with b*lls to Congress!

[peskyliberal]

Thank you, people of Oregon for electing a Senator with a SPINE! Sadly the DINOs from California don't seem to have any use of one.

[Dave01]

Don't blame me, I didn't vote to keep warmonger Feinstein around in 2006. Hopefully Boxer will be ousted in the Democratic primary in 2010.

[ajax2]

Thank you Senator Merkley for speaking out. Not only did Lieberman campaign against Democrats, but he also campaigned against progressive ideas with smears and lies. As head of the Homeland Security Committee Lieberman will again promote GW Bush ideas on torture, warrantless spying, and wars of aggression, all unconstitutional. We need to look forward to Harry Reid's removal.