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

[Boadicea]

How can that guy show his face in public? Talk about having no shame.

[BrattleboroVT]

I can't help but wonder if this falls into:

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. And keep them beholden to you. It will be interesting to see if, in the next 2 years, Lieberman votes against his party even once. Probably not. Furthermore, the Republicans certainly aren't going to trust him and take him back into their fractured fold. It takes a lot of maturity and consciousness to look past what is personal to what is best long term, and what is needed to get legislation passed. However distasteful this is--and I agree, it is--I hope that if I am ever in a similar situation (albeit on a much smaller scale, of course) I have the insight and willingness to avoid letting my personal anger get in the way of the bigger picture. Lieberman sold his soul to the devil, all for his own personal gain, and that is now painfully and publically obvious. He may have retained his committee chair, but he has not retained any traction. I can think of no worse punishment for a politician--to be essentially made a puppet for those in power.

[BrattleboroVT]

Ooops - just realized this may read as L. having the maturity. I mean, of course, Obama. Just to clarify.

[lookfar]

Well written and well said....but I think Joe is and always was a Pinochio. He may not feel any different after this.....

[phoenix2000]

Again, this RAT makes me ill!! :(

[chronic]

The people of Conn., I'm sure are deeply ashamed and sorry.

[LeftLeanWing]

So much for Joe the Bummer !

[dlinguist]

Actually.. there is a point in what he saying. Can you imagine if instead of the Dem's it was the Repubes facing this situation? He sees it, I see it, and the Repubes see it.

[xargaw]

There is absolutely positively nothing redeemable about Lieberman.

[iPolitics]

Lots of women coming aboard:

CNN reports that Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker is President-elect Obama's choice to become Secretary of Commerce.

CNN reports that President-elect Obama has chosen Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano (D) to be Secretary of Homeland Security pending further vetting by the transition team...

[Eriq]

Obama is simply brilliant... and we'll go along with him.
Poor Lieberman, what a sucker and a fool! He now has to shut up and toe the party line, follow Obama's orders, and keep that wide, wide mouth of his tightly sealed.
Way to go, Obama! You're the first person who could make Lieberman behave!!

[kwalters]

F*CK YOU JOE!

that's all I needed to say...I feel much better now.

[ModeratePoliticalJunkie]

IF LIEBERMAN WAS LA COSTRA NOSTRA HIS HANDLE WOULD BE:

JOE 'DROOPY DOG' LIEBERMAN

BUT I PREFER TO CALL HIM:

JOE 'TWO-FACED B@STARD' LIEBERMAN

[pakaal]

"Partisanship"

?!

This "Democrat" is complaining about partisanship after backing McCain and Palin? Puhleese. See you at the voting booth in four years, Senator Lieberman.

[anachoret]

You might like this Greenwald post.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/11/18/bipartisanship/index.html

[EyeballKid]

Lieberman will be paying for his love affair with McCain for the remainder of his political career. He'll have no credibility with anyone in his party. He so betrayed the party that gave him his power that no one, not even Obama, will forget.

[hmmmmmer]

Sanctimonious A $ $ ole!

[Opt1musPr1me]

Sure you do Joe! They're in power!