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

[mcantwell]

Way to Go Oregon! Getting closer to 60.

[theone718]

Of course he is upset. He LITERALLY owes his win to Barack Obama's coattails.

[eugenegerard]

Joe is a rat.

[imajoebob]

I was disgusted with Lieberman in '06. Now I'm disgusted with the Democratic "leadershi­p." But I'm not surprised. This is the same Harry Reid who promised to deliver on the Democratic bases' demands after they delivered him the Senate in '06. So this is just another knife in the back of the party faithful.

I hope Reid is up for a primary the next time he runs.

[HDR]

The faces of the spinelessness of the Democratic Party can be seen in Feinstein, Reid and Schumer. Their misguided sense of loyalties will lead the new versions of Gingriches and their paper revolts in 2010.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[adCalifornia]

We're a nation of forgivers. Yes, even politicians, it seems.
There's a silver lining in this cloud.
Liebermann is now officially the new Obama Girl.

Gotta love it! Cheer up people. I think this is a good move.

[suekzoo]

So do I.

[Cherlesq]

connecticut will take care of him in 2010. in the meantime the dems need to find a winning democratic candidate to run against him and the repub.

[HDR]

Why would Conn voters in '10 be any more enlightened than in '06?

[NotMcCain]

He will not (hopefully) have Democrats campaigning for him against the -real- Democrat from CT.

Of course, I fully expect this weasel to "become a Democrat" again.....­just in time to run for reelection and get Obama to campaign for him.

[SurrealPumpkin]

2008?

[justfine]

It was primarily Republicans led by Karl Rove who reelected Joe. The morning after the primary Rove called him and asked what he could do for him. The Republicans never, not for an instant, supported their candidate against Joe.

That said, Hillary and yes, Barack, supported him. Immediately after the primary Hillary called Ned Lamont to her Westchester home and gave Lamont a check, which he hardly needed. Not once in all the times that I attended a Lamont function did he ask for money. The first 2 times I handed checks to a kid who looked at me as if I was trying to buy "something". I finally realized that he was basically self-funding.

Barack gave him a check as well. After Hil gave her "support", Bill campaigned for him. Realize that Righteous, Family Values Joe Lieberman was the first on the Senate floor to ream Bill about Monica. He has no shame whatsoever, he begged Bill to campaign for him.
He ran a disgustingly evil general election campaign. And, much as I love him, Barack campaigned for him too.

Ned Lamont wound up co-chairing the Connecticut for Obama campaign. I'm hoping that Ned will run against Joe in 2010, but doubt that he will. We'll see.

Joe Lieberman is a lying, egomaniacal sh...k who deserves to be let loose to join whatever party he likes, with NO SENIORITY. I still want to know why the FEC hasn't acted on the missing $300k IN CASH.

[plzchuteme]

Senator Feinstein is right in her hope that Lieberman can become a Democrat again. I'm sure he can if he sees it as an advantage to Joe Lieberman. He could also become an Independent, a Republican, a Whig, a Know Nothing, a Bullmoose or yes, even a Democrat if there is something for him in it.

[shivadas]

Who cares what he becomes if he is removed from the chair?

[PKSSK]

Oh yea, he'll become a dem on the same day Feinstein becomes one, which will never happen!!!

[scjk67]

i've heard a lot of new democrats elect are p*ssed about lieberman staying in as HSC. sooner or later there will be more pressure on lieberman after jan. 20th to step down till they find the right person for that job.

[Tunghoy]

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

I've been thinking the same thing about Dianne Feinstein.

[PKSSK]

My thoughts as well!!!

[Keith52]

These guys are a bunch of pus__s. This is not an emotional thing. Lieberman is not capable of doing what he says he will do. Therefore he must go. It's not about "hurt feelings". Geeze these boys sound like they are talking about a social club.

[drumz]

Well the Senate is known as the most powerful club in the world...

And the protect their own as Larry Craig and Ted Stevens can attest to.

[bridge to somewhere]

"Joe" hurt us all. From the sound of it, Bush and Cheney will walk away from Washington without so much as a slap on the wrist. Now "Joe" is back in the game after all he has done to try and defeat the Democrats. This concept of "not looking back" is insane...i­t will only be worse the next time around because now it is clear that criminal repugs can ALWAYS get away with their crimes unpunished.

[scooperss]

Both Senators from Vermont -- Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders -- also expressed criticism of the Connecticut independent

I like these guys.

[Tunghoy]

Ich bin ein Vermonter.

[LiberalDemIda]

Ich auch :-)

[NotMcCain]

Yes, and Leahy was outspoken about the dirt in the primary, too, until Obama got him to table it.

I hope someone like that will be the new Majority Leader. Reid is awful.

[longislandlol]

Hagel is a gem- a true gem- there are alot of republican gems who got muddied in the GOP waters but who should re-emerge refreshed, renewed and rewarded in a bi-partisan Cabinet-- Hagel should be the next appointee in the Cabinet-

[DontJustFollow]

Jeff who? This guy sounds like a comer. But in the future when you man up, don't finish it off by slinking off and hiding behind the skirt of your spokeswoman.