Cheerful Lieberman: I Wasn't Punished At All

Joe Lieberman sat down with Katie Couric of CBS to talk about the Senate Democratic caucus vote in his favor. Asked to respond to critics who are angry at how little punishment Lieberman received for campaigning against Barack Obama in the election, the Connecticut Independent pointed to Barack Obama's appeal against retribution. He added that he thought the Democratic message on the subject was, "it's time for us to reconcile, to close ranks." He added he was "very grateful" and "in some senses feeling closer to the Senate Democratic caucus than i have since the 2000 election." Watch:

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Politico also caught up with Lieberman today, who was pretty cheerful:

As critics complain that he got off with a "slap on the wrist," Joe Lieberman said Wednesday that he doesn't regard his loss of a spot on the Environment and Public Works Committee as punishment for backing John McCain over Barack Obama in the presidential race.

"I don't view it as a sanction," a relaxed and genial Lieberman told Politico as he walked through the Capitol Wednesday.

Instead, Lieberman suggested he relinquished his seat on the committee voluntarily -- "in the spirit of cooperation" -- after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asked him to help free up room for the committee for incoming senators.

Lieberman was also asked by Couric about his response to a question posed to him during the campaign, "Is Barack Obama a Marxist?" At the time he said "it's a good question to ask." Watch him try to explain his answer.

WATCH:

Comments

[GORGOROTH]

01:45 PM on 11/22/2008

How can a turncoat like this be allowed to further his career at the expense of the American people. The only suitable option barring banishment to Israel would be banishment from his cherished government job. I want none of my honestly earned tax dollars paying to keep this man afloat and I'm sure many agree with me. He made his decision by taking the stage at the RNC and spewing his lies against Obama against the wishes of the Democratic Party and now there MUST be repercussions. Yes, Obama is the bigger man by not punishing this modern day Benedict Arnold, but it's We The People who elected him and it should be We The People who decide his fate. I do not want to wait until 2012 to see him removed from office. Joe must go, NOW.

[Kirk007]

11:12 AM on 11/21/2008

Lieberman will be punished when he runs again, we will not forget. Connecticut Voter

[Stilts9]

02:13 PM on 11/20/2008

Lieberman is a political Ashley Dupree.

[Tom Payned]

01:28 PM on 11/20/2008

Today, I received a request from David Plouff to donate money to the transition team.

Here was my response:

Take me off of your donations lists. Tell Barrack and the Senate democrats to ask Joe Lieberman and all of his supporters to kick in. Allowing that turn coat to stay without even a public apology to all of us who made donations we couldn't afford and time we didn't have to elect a full democratic slate, was nothing less than a kick in gut, a spit in the face.

I'm serious as a heart attack about this. Every time you guys asked for money, I spoke with my family and asked if they were willing to give up something that week like pizza and movie night, or to eat PB&J sandwiches for the next week. The answer was always yes.

Now, they ask me why did they give up so much when Joe Lieberman made our jobs harder, and not only does he get rewarded, all of the Senate stood there at the news conference with him, nodding their heads. I have no answer for them.

They have since told me they are no longer willing to do without until they receive a real apology from Lieberman.

So don't ask us for anything until this simple request is made.

I doubt my email will be read, and I doubt I'll stop receiving requests. However, my response will never change.

[captainindustry]

01:44 PM on 11/20/2008

brilliant. if you decide to run for office, please send me some literature.

[anachoret]

03:46 PM on 11/20/2008

Great post.
I hope they read your E-mail, it would do them well.

[rabiddog6708]

01:24 PM on 11/20/2008

I'm willing to wager that a lot of his fellow Dems don't share his feeling of closeness. His continued presence in the Caucus is viewed as a necessary evil, in order to get Obama's agenda done. From VP candidate to Rat in 8 years.....only Shrub the POTUS has known such a fall from grace in that time period.

[redlinemetro]

01:21 PM on 11/20/2008

Did anyone catch which side of his mouth Lieberman was speaking from?

[Okieborn]

01:12 PM on 11/20/2008

I voted for and still am 99% fomrPresident Elect Obama !
I just want to know why Obama placed Lieberman on the back of the American Citizenry ????????

[Citizen-Jane]

12:52 PM on 11/20/2008

Rrrrrrraaaalph!

[Jessegirl]

12:49 PM on 11/20/2008

This guy is a real piece of sht.

[dana94591]

12:29 PM on 11/20/2008

Maybe he is closer because he has his head up Reid's rear!!!

[kimleehan]

12:21 PM on 11/20/2008

Well I hope the dems get their 60 vote majority, Because they just sold their soul for it. They don't get my respect for this one. I hope it does'nt backfire on them.

[Avembe]

12:15 PM on 11/20/2008

Guyz...i'm just...speechless!!!!this man is....wow................

[exhale09]

11:52 AM on 11/20/2008

Fool us once, shame on you...fool us twice, shame on us.

You have been given the gift of forgiveness from your peers Joe. You are a fortunate man to have such a man of integrity as Barck Obama as your President...and not another man such as GW Bush, who you have supported for so long. We have all watched the punishment being doled out for disloyality from the Bush Administration.

We hope you think about...and appreciate that irony.

[eugenegerard]

11:28 AM on 11/20/2008

Couric,next time, ask him what it feels like to be a rat.

[SimJack]

11:19 AM on 11/20/2008

Good for you Joe, you mewling wedgie poster boy.