Joe Lieberman On Massive Oil Spill: 'Accidents Happen'

In a recent interview with National Journal, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Ct.) not only defended offshore oil drilling, but also sought to downplay the current Gulf coast crisis, saying "accidents happen."

"There were good reasons for us to put in offshore drilling, and this terrible accident is very rare in drilling," Lieberman said in the interview. "I mean, accidents happen. You learn from them and you try not to make sure they don't happen again."

According to National Journal, Lieberman also said he would continue pushing for an expansion of offshore drilling to be included in the Senate's energy bill:

When asked whether the spill would change any of the drilling language he and Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have developed, Lieberman said, "I don't think so; certainly not to lead us to remove it." He said the draft would allow drilling as close as 75 miles from the U.S. coastline.

But Democrats from around the country, and in particular from Gulf Coast states, have said that they will not vote for any energy bill that expands drilling.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D- Fla.) said that the bill was "dead on arrival," and promised to filibuster offshore drilling plans. "Offshore drilling off the coast of the U.S is not going anywhere," he said.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also withdrew support for offshore drilling

"You turn on the television and see this enormous disaster, you say to yourself, 'Why would we want to take on that kind of risk?'" Schwarzenegger said.

Comments

[michael429]

07:04 PM on 06/02/2010

This man becomes more despicable with every issue that come our way....he stole his re-election with the complicity of the Cheney machine.....and has betrayed every decent progressive idea that he ever disingenuously paid lip service too.....he should be recalled....a perfect example of a political hack a la Spector, Crist, and the rest of the bums.....

[paget67]

05:48 PM on 06/02/2010

Joe is an accident that happened in 2006. His rich NY and CT Gold Coast friends in banking and oil bought him his seat. As a resident of CT I will work to make sure he does not get re-elected.

[Chucktheman]

03:54 PM on 06/02/2010

There were good reasons to put in off shore drilling, There were good reasons to put in three mile island . There were good reasons to put in Chernobyl. Its like starting out by saying it seem like a good idea at the time, and you know it is followed by the bad news.

[Chucktheman]

03:47 PM on 06/02/2010

An ounce of prevention. A condom. A working safety shut off. No excuses.

[pittsburghunionguy]

10:35 AM on 05/07/2010

Joe's right -- accidents happen. Terrible accidents, too.

A horrible mishap occured in Connecticut in 1988, when voters accidentally elected Joe Lieberman to the U.S. Senate. Incredibly, this terrible terrible accident was repeated in 1994 and 2000. In 2006 the voters were much more careful and skillfully steered the Democratic primary to avoid another such accident, but then a few weeks later they drove their state into that same goddam tree, again!

[Chucktheman]

03:50 PM on 06/02/2010

This is an accident that can be avoided next time around.

[Dr Confuso]

09:29 AM on 05/07/2010

Connecticut is now home to two of the most embarrasing events in the nations history: Birthplace of the dumbest leader in the world (Dubya), and home of the most useless Senator in the Democratic party (Joe).

[paulrandall]

04:48 AM on 05/08/2010

Sorry Mary Landreiu gets the prize for that,

[Sue-in-Jersey]

09:21 AM on 05/07/2010

"Accidents happen"
Momma Lieberman's answer to her young son when he asked, "Where did I come from Mommy?"
He's been flopping around, seeking looooooove in the wrong places, ever since.
Only thing that explains him.

[AmyRN]

09:10 AM on 05/07/2010

Accidents happen, like when he was dropped on his head as a child.
He gives new meaning to the words clueless, and unscrupulous.

[Wolfsghost]

08:47 AM on 05/07/2010

Nothing gets by Joe. Accidents happen, so astute, so insightful. Those weasels are sharp.

[michiganms]

08:22 AM on 05/07/2010

It has been YEARS since Lieberman has said anything of any; merit.

[rgilley]

07:42 AM on 05/07/2010

"Accidents happen"
Did anyone expect anything other than attempts to cover big oil from this low life?
People in Connecticut are just waiting to to take care of this emarrassament in 2012.
Why is he still a chairman by the way?
Throw this weasel out od DC and send him back to Isreal !

[fireW]

06:53 AM on 05/07/2010

Lying cons & con wannabes happen, too. War, raw sewage, & amoebic dysentery are also a fact of life, but that doesn't mean they're good for us. More is not better.

[msbeal]

05:57 AM on 05/07/2010

Did we not just read about how BP refused to put in a $500,000.00 valve that could have prevented this very incident? Do we not realize our government refused to make the prudent decision to require them to do it?

Explain to me how the willful failure to properly manage the risk by BP and representatives like Lieberman an accident?

[clover2]

04:42 AM on 05/07/2010

Lieberman is becoming more and more stupid the longer he's in office. I hope the people in CT have enough sense to hand him a resounding defeat the next time he runs for office. I'm embarrassed for them.

[Woggles]

04:26 AM on 05/07/2010

Why do people from CT keep voting for this guy?
Unbelievable.