Weiner Takes Lieberman On For "Audacity" Of Filibuster (VIDEO)

Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) took on Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) on "Morning Joe" Monday, chastising the former Democrat for pledging to join a filibuster against health care reform if it contains a public option.

"It's inconsistent with common sense to say I oppose something that will hold down costs for the taxpayers and residents of Connecticut," Weiner said. "The insurance industry is a powerful force in Washington and so is the status quo, but the audacity to saying, and I think he backed away from it, 'I will not permit a vote on the concept?' Let's let the majority decide this issue."

Weiner offered to debate the senator, saying "If you want to bring Lieberman here, I think that I can talk him into it."

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Lieberman said he felt compelled to oppose the public option because it would increase the deficit. But every analysis of the plan has concluded that it would actually reduce the deficit. The senator has not elaborated on where he got his information.

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Comments

[drricklippin]

At best Joe Lieberman is a pathological attention seeker. At his worst he is a self-destructive martyr

So I say give him his martyrdom status

And be done with him

Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton.Pa

[bascombe]

after quitting on the real public option, weiner has no true standing.

[Mij13]

I'm glad there are progressives like Weiner who are willing to negotiate. We all want it done yesterday, but that is not how progressive issues are worked through in this country. It never has been. It sucks, but that's how it is.

[jsgaetano]

Funny how the conservatives supposedly oppose increasing the deficit, but they are directly responsible for 80% of the National Debt.

And, not only that, but their very own lobbyist hand-crafted far right health care plan not only doesn't reduce spending OR the deficit, but it also doesn't do a single thing for anyone who is uninsured.

In other words, conservatives are doubling down on their failed policies.

Stay the Course! It's why conservatives can't win elections.

[rtlr1004]

Joe has to Go! How about Weiner for President when Obama's eight years are up.

[17ladyslippers]

It's time to get a petition going to strip Joe Lieberman of his Chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He is doing nothing to support the Democratic Platform. He is openly and overtly mounting a campaign to derail Real Health Insurance Reform with a Strong Public Option.

Lieberman should have recused himself from any Real Health Insurance Reform debates or votes because of his conflict of interest. “The Lieberman family's financial ties to the health industry are no secret”. His wife, Hadassah, has been employed by either pharmaceutical companies or the lobbying firms that represent them for most of the past 30 years. It’s time for the Ethics Committee to investigate.

[Izzy Schwerpschwartz]

There's already a petition on democrats.com to strip Holy Joe of his chair position.

[suz1941]

Joe Lieberman is a fraud, a hypocrite and an opportunist. The next time he runs for the senate, he should change the "I" to an "R" beside his name. He has been talking out of both sides of his mouth for years. He is a weak link and does not stand for anything unless it benefits Joe Lieberman. He doesn't want health care reform that would mess up his deal with the insurance companies that heavily support him.

What he has said in the past is a big "zero". How easy to be philosphical about health care during the Bush Administration when health care reform wasn't even on the agenda for that administration. To take the words of Amy Pohler from SNL , "He needs to grow two" and show some spine.

[Tom Payned]

There is only one real wiener when it comes to debating reform on it's issues & it isn't the gentleman from New York.

LIEBOREMAN doesn't have the guts to show up & debate Anthony.

Facts, consistent views & arguments, are issues & situations LieBoreMan avoids like serving in the military.

[haval2]

Weiner 2016.

[den1953]

IRS my bad!

[den1953]

Good luck with debating Lieberman Congressman Weiner there is no way he will admit he is taking millions from the insurance companies that would bring the IRA down on him!

[Tom Payned]

I wish the Irish Republican Army would come down on him.

[krechsd]

Hey Mika, ever think of jumping in there for women.

[AlexNYC]

She will if it involves Sarah Palin.

[BannedbannedBunny]

Church should be separate from state. I am under the impression that the tax table works towards encouraging marriage, no matter how you divide it, it will never be fair until every one is treated equally.

[Itdoesnotmatter]

"The people vote for the knowledge and experience and intellect that the candidate offers. Once elected the representative uses his or her knowledge, experience and intellect to do what he or she considers the best for their district " Well there may be some truth in what you say but it does'nt give them the right to threat our government as a good old boys club, inwhich they have been doing for the past 150 years ; the rules of the senate is agreements between good old boys nothing more.Atleast the democrates appears to try and do things for the people but republicians has literally tells the american people to go F*** themselves

[Tom Payned]

We also select them based upon positions they claim to hold.

In LIEBOREMAN's case he supported public health care, before it could have become a reality.

[AnotherTry]

CHURCHES PAY NO TAXES! I say, f' them.

[on2them]

I say take away their tax exempt status

[Counterpunch]

Religion is a business and they should be taxed.

[Tyrione]

Agreed. They rake in billions tax free. It's a business like all others.

[mikesw]

Joe says you can see the point of Catholic Bishops not wanting tax dollars to pay for abortions...

I can't. The church pays NO taxes, why then should they have some priviledged position to tell American taxpayers how their money should be spent?

[Tyrione]

Joe never could grasp the concept that Zero Taxes actually means Zero Political Clout.