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:

Watch CBS Videos Online

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

[boing007]

They put a short leash around his neck.

[who38]

Obama or Reid?

[who38]

Reid or Obama?

[breakfast]

Of course he feels a little closer to the Democrats now.

There is only one party and it has a Democrat wing and a Republican wing. When it comes to foreign and economic policy, there is, as George Wallace used to say, not a dimes worth of difference. On domestic concerns, the DemWing throws the people a bone from time to time, whereas the RepWing prefers to turn the thumbscrews a little tighter.

There won't be much change with Obama, except for some cosmetic window dressing on the domestic front. The empire building will continue as will the economic/financial sellout.

[MiDemFem]

You know the saying Joe "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer." I guess were trying this out on you so don't get too excited.

[who38]

Et tu, Brutus!

[MiDemFem]

Turncoat Joe.

That's just the type of thing someone would say after betraying their friends and colleges after they have undeservedly been accepted back into the fold.

[MarkVA71]

I think people forgot about Inouye... he's about to inherit a committee chairmanship position.

Who did he campaign for? TED STEVENS!!

[who38]

Par for the course.

[who38]

Inouye lost it years ago. What committee chair is he in line for? Ethics, perhaps?

[montemalone]

He should change his name to Eddie Haskell.

[matthewhusseinsmith]

There are politicians and then there is Joe Lieberman: no principles, no shame, yet proud of his shenanigans, democratic VP candidate one year, speaker at the RNC convention another year, yet pontificating about morality!
It's not Joe Lieberman's fault to be who he is.
It's the people of CT who elected him, who are responsible for this snake in the senate. 4 long years to put up with this "man" before we find out what CT does with him.

[shengirl]

Well that's good, Joe. That's what we Dems are here for-- to make you feel good. Coffee? A nice pillow? Prop your feet up? Need anything, be sure to let us know, k?

[rosiebond007]

He got off way to lightly - there wil be Karma for Joe.

[who38]

and s....t to pay for the rest of us.

[NTexasHillbilly]

Fools never feel punished or humiliated--look at Bush, Cheney, Rove and Rush Limburger--they collectively feel they are still in the limelight.

[matthewhusseinsmith]

No bad deed ever goes unrewarded; life in unfair; once you accept that, you won't be so riled up.

[who38]

But we had a chance to fix this. Joe could have retained his Committee Chairmanship of the Environmental Committee and relinquished Home Security and the Airland subcommittee. I'm not riled up at Joe as much as I am at Reid, Boxer, Feinslime, and all those other Dems that supported Joe's demand to stay on Homeland Security.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

There will be a reckoning.

[who38]

For whom? By whom? Do you have a plan?

[OlderWoman]

He is so freakin' disgusting. I will never, ever look at him with any respect whatsoever. Nor will I ever believe a word he says.

[kimleehan]

All I can say Joe is kiss my big 12".

Who am I kidding, If I had 12 " I would'nt need him to kiss it, I could do it myself then.

[exhale09]

I didn't see the entire interview, but from these couple clips, it is obvious Joe still doesn't get it.
He is busy defending his behavior, and not speaking to the Democrat voters out here who he offended, embarressed, and disappointed...Many of us who voted for HIM to be the VP in 2000.

He doesn't get that it is not that we do not respect his voting HIS CONSCIOUS...it was when he walked on that stage at the REPUBLICAN CONV. and stood side by side SMUGLY SMILING, with our opponants, appearing to be ENJOYING his limelight role in their cocky ugly hidious and yes DANGEROUS campaign.... that he made us feel like throwing up in disgust.

He didn't HAVE to go there...and he certainly didn't HAVE to enjoy it.
But you did Joe. That told us all something very important about you and your character.

Listen up Joe. It doesn't make US happy to be so disappointed in your behavior, first It made us sad, then it made us angry to watch YOUR pathetic smug enjoyment in what you were doing...to listen to your baseless outrageous innuendos about our Democratic candidate who WE ARE SO PROUD OF....and to see you stand by their side SMILING as they incited HATE in their crowds at their rallys.

Go back and watch the videos Joe. Watch what WE saw. Get a clue.

[Blue in NH]

Dems to Lieberman: we own your ass!