The Reason Lieberman Must Go

Prior to the 2008 election, never did I imagine that my Jewish community would be targeted by manipulative propaganda designed to make my family and others like mine afraid.  Never did I imagine that such a campaign would be tacitly endorsed by one of the most prominent and visible Jewish members of the Senate.   And yet, Joe Lieberman's actions in the 2008 presidential election violated something far beyond the feelings and concerns of one ethnic community.  They poisoned the civic traditions on which this country was founded and which remain the only possible path to a viable future.

For two years, the Republican Party falsely accused Barack Obama of hastening the genocide of the Jewish people--while Sen. Joe Lieberman uttered not one word of rebuke.  Even worse, Lieberman gave this sick Republican Party strategy his seal of approval by campaigning for John McCain, in the course of which he repeatedly echoed the lie that Barack Obama was somehow dangerous to Israel.  I watched in horror as the Jewish community where I was raised, and where my family still lives, was riddled with fear and anxiety as a result of the sadistic GOP propaganda pumped into Jewish newspapers during the Presidential election.

But beyond unprecedented fear in America's Jewish community, whose sense of security was manipulated by these smears, the result of this Lieberman-endorsed propaganda was a sudden burst of hard-right nationalism from the Republican Party political base, including violent rhetoric the likes of which this country has never witnessed in a Presidential campaign.

Lieberman's disgusting abuse of Holocaust memory and his betrayal of the trust of the American Jewish community--all in the name of political gain--will stand as an historic blight on the history of the U.S. Senate.  Nothing can change that.  But, in light of what he did, if Harry Reid allows Lieberman to continue to hold authority over other Democrats in the Senate, by retaining his committee chairmanships, then the shame of Lieberman's immoral behavior in the 2008 election will surely stain the Democratic Party.

Stripping Joe Lieberman of his committee chairmanships will not by itself repair the damage done by GOP smear campaigns that invoked fear of genocide in American Jewish communities.   But if the Democratic Party truly believes in restoring healthy, pragmatic civic debate in this country, then Joe Lieberman must be forced to step down from his positions of authority.

The challenges America faces at home and abroad will require a collective effort by citizens and elected officials from all backgrounds and every political persuasion.  Joe Lieberman will, no doubt, play a role in that.  Positions of leadership in the U.S. Senate, however, are not a prerequisite for working towards meaningful solutions.  They are the rewards of service performed in the interest of the public good while in office--and by his actions in the 2008 Presidential election, Joe Lieberman forfeited those rewards.

(cross posted from Frameshop)

Comments

[Fein]

I am very uncomfortable with any politician who determines all his political objectives primarily in view of their impact upon another country.

America has gotta be the only country where that is allowed.

[Crozier]

This WASP was raised among many "members of the tribe" as they affectionately identify each other.
As a matter of fact, I would hate that most of my friends were unavailable on Saturdays to play, and on Sunday the reverse was true.

Joseph Lieberman was someone that, when we temporarily lived in CT rather than MA, I voted for him for attorney general and US senator. I remember being miffed enough in the 1980's to call his office in protest for some DLC DINO vote with the GOP. Joe was always given the opportunity to vote GOP when his vote was not crucial. Since 2006, he stopped caring. Joe was elected by the Republican party. I agree with everything Mr. Feldman said in this piece.

Senator Lieberman needs to accept Senator McConnell's offer to join the GOP Conference. We cannot tolerate this man in any position with the Democrats, not even a caucus chair.

[Wonderwheel]

"... then the shame of Lieberman's immoral behavior in the 2008 election will surely stain the Democratic Party."

The Democratic Party already has been stained by its refusal to end the Iraq war funding, by supporting the Patriot Act, by voting for the Wall Street welfare bailout, by passing FISA with immunity, by refusing to impeach Bush, and the list goes on, so one more stain would hardly matter to the Democratic leadership.

But, yes, to us it does matter and Joe must go into the arms of the Republicans he so admires.

[WillCooney]

Had Joe Lieberman just announced that he favored McCain for President and then, shut his mouth, he wouldn't be in the position he's in. Appearing at the RNC and speaking against Obama was tantamount to party treason. He's not to be trusted and should be relieved of any and all chairmanships immediately.

[Crozier]

If we act as though we had a brass pair of cojones, then we would show him the door and directions to the GOP Conference room.

[billyboil]

He should team up with McCain, and form the "Traitors' Party".
They belong to each other. How you Americans can respect them is beyond believing.
Loyalty takes guts - it's easier to be a traitor.

[johninchicago]

The time has come for Joe the Senator to take his place on the back bench! Even his fellow Jewish Americans were too smart to follow his lead! In life all choices have consequences. He made his choice now he should suffer the concequences. God Bless Ms. Silverman...the great shlep worked!!!!!!!

[starboymikey]

Sadly, this crap worked on my parents, who are in their late 80's and Holocaust survivors in failing health. They believed the bull that Obama would usher in the destruction of Israel and that he was going to finish the job Hitler began. They were once staunch liberal Democrats, but no amount of persuasion my wife and I attempted made any difference. They voted for McCain and are scared spitless of what is going to happen now. Joe Lieberman is one of their heros, and I cannot forgive his role in poisoning the minds of my family, nor his hard turn to the right which began right after the 2000 presidential elections.

I don't know how much of this crap he seriously believes, but Lieberman has proven himself to be the most shameless of political opportunists. He believed that his political future lay with the neo-cons, made a deal with the devil, and is now about to suffer the consequences.

Personally, I hope he becomes a Republican and sinks into political oblivion. The Dems no longer need his vote in the Senate ... not that his vote was at all reliable anyway.

[GloriaW]

It is sad the depths to which he has sunk. His party disloyalty was proven to me in 2006 when we (CT democrats) voted Ned Lamont as our nominee and he switched parties and (in my mind) stole the seat with the help of the state republicans. This presidential election was a clear display of how morally ambiguous his political ambition has made him. And when I hear people defend him as displaying "non-partisan" behavior and "following his heart" by backing McCain, I want to SCREAM! I'm ashamed he's from my state, and I DEFINITELY don't want him back in my political party!

[RoonToon]

Thank You Mr. Feldman, Thank You.

[Speakupper]

Thanks, Jeffrey. Lieberman crossed a moral line with his fear mongering. He has not apoligized for it, suggesting he actually believes what he said. He continues to insist that he did so for the good of the country. If he actually believes Obama is dangerous for the country AND Lieberman is a man of honor, why would he be expected to support the agenda of the democrats going forward? How, then, can he be effective as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee? Bottom line, if he does not support the democratic agenda, he should not be chairman, a leadership position of trust. Lieberman has made this a matter of both principle and pragmatism.

[SaraTaylor4]

McCain is not the Democrats' concern, LIEBERMAN IS...and he isn't even a Democrat anymore, remember? He's an Independent. He should be stripped of his chairmanships, especially of Homeland Security, where he can really do some damage and be a total obstructionist.

It is my personal view that a lot of right-wing Jewish congresspeople make no logical sense, but they have the right to believe as they do. Personally, the reason I find Joe Lieberman so offensive is that he used the memory of the holocaust to terrorize the Jewish community into a fear that he KNEW was irrational of Barack Obama, a good and thoughtful person. for these tactics, he should be marginalized. We don't stoop that low in the Democratic Party, even in the midst of the fray. He can caucus where he wishes, but he should not have any priviledges conferred upon him by the party, especially since he is no longer a member of that party.

[vegancheesenut]

I need some help here........the election map that Huff Post had yesterday.....does anyone know where to go so I can get a copy of it. I've been searching all morning for it.

[cam]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/11/05/us/politics/20081104_ELECTION_RECAP.html

[riko]

Lieberman should lose all his chairmanships. If he wants to vote with the GOP block all the better. It will really ruin his chances for re-election.

[starboymikey]

If he wants to vote with the GOP block all the better. It will really ruin his chances for re-election.
______________________________________________________________________

I have to believe he will retire in four years rather than face the people of Connecticut again. As Yogi Berra once said of a washed-up ballplayer, "that guy's future is mostly behind him."

[FarOutFish]

The Democrats are just short of a veto proof majority in the Senate. If Lieberman is forced from his committee leadership, it just might drive him to at least caucus with the Republicans, if not switch parties. This is cutting off your nose to spite your face. Absent Lieberman getting legislation past the Senate will become just that more difficult.

[cam]

You're probably thinking of the LBJ quote: "It"s probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in."

On past performance Lieberman will lift his leg and piss on the tentpole until you kick him out.

[Morocco]

lol!

[RoonToon]

Never rely on a traitor.

[dollphingurl]

filibuster-proof majority is 60. how many filibusters can you recall us having in the past 30 years? right now the Dems are 3-4 shy of that, depending on the Minnesota race between Franken and Coleman.

veto-proof majority is 67 (must be more than two-thirds of 100), and Dems are well shy of that.

this whole talk about numbers and majority this, plurality that is a bit skewed, because it's assuming that there are no moderate Republicans who will vote with the Democrats on the most important issues, and it also assumes that the Democrats will be voting in concert and be 100% agreeable 100% of the time.

so now, back to LIEberman: throw. the. bum. out!

[Crozier]

Bullocks,,,,,Lieberman is a Republican in everything but name. He should do it now. Neil Lamont will be the Democratic nominee and he will be roundly defeated next time.

[theplaintrutho1]

Thank you so much Mr. J. Feldman for your insightful, intelligent, and logical reality of the man named Lie berman.
Mr. Joe L.'s rhetoric was tantamount to the "Crown Heights" riots, as the Jewish and African-American peoples in that neighborhood never had a problem with each other until outside influence inflamed hate.
Joe Lie ber man, will never feel sorrow or despair for his act of ugly, right out of the Torah.

All my life I've always witnessed men & women doing any and all to advance their personal careers, mostly covertly (like, Koch's first 2 terms). Joe did his OUT-LOAD with all too hear. Joe is no different than J. Jackson, tearing-up on election night, as we remembered what His threat (on Fox) was for Pres. elect O.

UNCLE Tom or Joe, it's all the same. Sorry to admit, I have hate for men like these two.

[DC]

Abusing and instrumentalizing the memory of the Holocaust to create fear and manipulate is notihing new. Perhaps we will learn to recognize it for what it is when it happens. It should not be tolerated for a second. Those who do it as Lieberman has done, must be send to the desert.

[robbie44]

Arizona?