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

[SamanthaJane]

Don't worry, Joe, you'll be punished by the voters in your own STATE as soon as they get a chance to dump you. Enjoy it, your days are n u m b e r e d before youre voted out of office.

And I'll enjoy donating to Lamont in the meantime.

[my2girls]

As a Connecticut resident I promise we will deliver that punishment. He was elected in 2006 by Republicans NOT Democrats.

[TexasLovesUBlue]

I applaud the True Senators, all 13 of them, that took a stand against this smug excuse for a Senator, and the others of you, Reid especially, that laid down and rolled over, Whatever you are..., that you have to look in that mocking face every single day, while he laughs at you, Whoosiesssssss!

[Cybesq]

The post misquotes Lieberman. He says he feels closer to the Democratic caucus than he felt since the "2006 election", not 2000.

Big difference. He was pretty useless as a democrat since 2000 no matter how he felt.

[joanVA]

Like or not, Senate Democrats need Joe Lieberman if they have any change of stopping filibusters and legislating Obama's policies. So, Obama was right to advise the Democrats not to punish him. That's what politics is all about in America!

[Petey131]

This is why I will never again donate to the DNC.

[ExAlaska]

Couldn't agree more.

[research]

I always donate directly to the politicians I support, for just that reason. I tell the DNC that when they call too.

[Bflogger]

I will follow my new role-model, switcheroo Joe Lieberman, and not keep my pledge to the DNC by keeping my donation in my pocket. It's one thing to reconcile and another to reward backstabbers. You can't trust someone whose m.o. is to repeatedly cheat on you. One way to show our discontent, those of us who feel that way, is to withhold monetary support.

[cactusgal]

10 lashes with a wet Harry noodle was all he got.

[lornejl]

lol, funny !

[GeorgeP922]

Im not even mad anymore.

Spineless Democrats, meet Joe Lieberman, the guy that just schooled you good.

And now he rubs our face in it.

Our senate is the most imcompetant ever, and even with 60 we will screw everything up.

[aloha43]

Oh, please. Our senate the most incompetent ever? How did you come to a conclusion like that when we haven't even got started yet?

I wish they would have thrown Leiberman to Sarah's wolves....but they didn't. They must have their reasons, we need to give it a chance. It's only been 2 weeks.

[GeorgeP922]

Well, I haven't read one analysis stating that Lieberman ran his committee well.

He even stonewalled Katrina investigations to protect Bush.

So why are they incompetant, because whenever they face a challenge, they take a page out of the DLC handbook and run and hide.

This is not what Obama does, and this weakness is not what America voted for.

No Dems ever said Lieberman got off scot free, and now he is saying our punishment is worthless.
If the Dems don't do something he will keep hitting us.

[mero909]

About time a democrat figured this out.

[prabbit]

And the republicans have done soooo much good for this country as of late...feel free to enlighten if you care to.

[jorge4u]

Joe is an arrogant pri**... and we have a bunch of spineless Democrats in the Senate.

[EricHayes]

Boy, ol' Joe sure likes to pour gasoline on his fire, don't he?

[TerryFL]

.

Senator Reid, you appear to have some spit on your face.

.

[scooperss]

No comment.