Reid: Lieberman did something 'improper'
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/07/art.reid.cnn.jpg caption="Reid is torn over Lieberman."]
(CNN) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made clear Friday he's not happy with Joe Lieberman over the onetime Democrat's avid support of John McCain's White House bid, but told CNN the Connecticut independent has a strong record of voting with the Democrats.
Watch: Reid torn over Lieberman
"Joe Lieberman has done something that I think was improper, wrong, and I'd like if we weren't on television, I'd use a stronger word of describing what he did," Reid told CNN's John King. "But Joe Lieberman votes with me a lot more than a lot of my senators. He didn't support us on military stuff and he didn't support us on Iraq stuff. You look at his record, it's pretty good."
Sources tell CNN Reid wants to strip Lieberman of his Homeland Security Committee chairmanship and offer him the chairmanship of a less high-profile committee. Lieberman reportedly called the proposal "not acceptable."
The full interview with Reid airs on CNN's Late Edition, Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.
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Quite the new spirit of "change" that they're preaching, them Dems. Looks like they're already going back on their campaign promises of working as one United States. Was anyone actually gullible enough to believe them? Not I.
Reed is a sniveling coward. Joe Lieberman is a civil servant and he behaves that way. Talk about a rare breed. This guy puts Country above party and this is how he is treated? Obama was elected because he promised change and everybody bought into it. Everybody blames the Republicans for the atmosphere in Washington, yet, here is the proof that politicians are all the same- Democrat and Republican. It is disgarceful the way Reed is behaving.
Joe Lieberman has done everything in his power to prove that he has enormous hostility towards the Democrats in general and Obama in particular – perhaps because Obama succeeded where Lieberman failed.
In any case, Lieberman CANNOT be allowed to remain in his current chairmanships. They have oversight responsibilities and investigatory powers which he refused to exercise over George W. Bush and the Republicans, but is SURE to use against the new Obama administration.
He is a constant threat to the Democratic caucus. Leaving him in his chairmanships would be the act of a fool. I don't respect Harry Reid much, nor any of the Democratic leadership, but I would be surprised if they didn't get Lieberman out of those chairs.
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I wonder if Lieberman switches to Republican, whether the GOP will trust him.
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TO: Pat in Canada November 7th, 2008 7:12 pm ET
Now lets see if Obama keeps to his promises. My feelings are he will go the way of the best of them – empty promises and blame it on others.
How will any one will able to keep his promise when you have Zionist
like Joe the Lieb... running loose in the corridor of power.
-when all they think is about them self, war, occupation and invation.
-they love live life everyone else love death.
-they love wealth every one else love poorverty.
-they want to be free but every one else should be slave.
-they love unity but others should be divided.
-they love justice and human right but others should not be entitle to it.
war cost money and life.
-Palestine needs to be free
Palestine needs to be free
Palestine needs to be free
As far you have these blood suckers around making and dictating policy nothing is going to change
that is why the whole world needs to rise up
agaist evil.
no matter how big and mighty
YES WE CAN
Is that the way it is going to be from now on Harry Reid? do something the democrats do not like and you get booted out. Shame on you you democratic boo hoo. You sound like a little boy who did not get his way and now you want to bully people around. You will get your just rewards in due time. There is someone out there meaner than you and who cries lounder that you do. It is just that Joe Liberman stood up for what he wanted and for a friend and waht can you say? you sound like you must have your way. Think positive and as k what can you do for your country and not what my country can do for you. If Joe Libverman needs stripped you need your hands slapped and tied. He has been doing a good job it is just to bad he is a Democrat.
Fire Lie-bergirl! The Republicans may need him in 2012.
He was supposed to investigate what happend in New Orleans and didn't do a thing. Get rid of him.
Correction to my last comments: I was incorrect to say Joe Libeerman was Democrat and I realize he is an Independent leaning toward the Republican party when he spoke oh behalf of Sen John McCain. I knew he was to nice a person to be a demo.
I would like for him to explain the logic behind his statement that he was only doing what was right for his state. His state, of which I am a resident, voted nearly 2 to 1 against McCain in the general election. It is the same kind of thinking that has the Republican party in such dire straits. They believe they know better what is good for us poor, dumb, ignorant voters. He should take the offer to join them in their party. He will fit right in.
I agree with April. Senator Joe has every right, even an obligation to speak up for who and what he thinks is right BUT, by campaigning for McCain, he's made it clear that HIS ideas and ideals will not necessarily align well with the new administration. Mr. Ried would do well to consider moving him to a less influential position.
Sack him
The problem with Lieberman is that he made a solemn promise NOT to wage attacks on the Democratic candidates, while he was supporting McCain. Instead, Joe L. attacked at the RNC and in other speeches. He also had a prominent position backing McCain during some of the most hateful rallies – – cheering along with all the negative smears.
Sorry, Joe L., I don't think you should be punished for your views, but you need to come clean on who you really are. Until you do that, no one can trust you. It is better for you to be in a lesser position. Nothing personal – just business.
So, let me get this straight. Leiberman votes his conscience and the Democrats want to punish him. Chirs Dodd, our other Senator from CT, is being investigated for a sweetheart mortgage deal and the Democrats embrace him. Typical Democrats....they don't know how to be true to themselves or the American people. God help us.
Bye Joe.You are two faced just for your own gains.
joey lieberman is his name, lying about his party is his game. He loves Israel more than you, joey lieberman is a lying ....
To the idiot that stated "PALESTINE NEEDS TO BE FREE"
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PALESTINIAN NATION ITS A MYTH THERE WAS NOTHING IN THAT AREA TILL ISRAEL STARTED TAMING THE LAND THEN ALL THE ARABS CAME BACK BECAUSE IT STARTED LOOKING NICE AND BOUNTFUL.
THIS COUNTY NEEDS TO STAND WITH ISRAEL "I WILL BLESS THEE THAT BLESSES THEE AND CURSE THEE WHO CURSES THEE"
P.S I AM AN OBAMA SUPPORTER !!!!!
Joe made his choices – that is absolutely his right. I am an Obama supporter, but can still admire him for doing what he thinks is right.
However, being chairman of the Homeland Security Committee is not a right. He was selected to lead by his democratic peers.
They are now holding him accountable for his choices – that is their collective right.
Joe can feel good about doing what he thought was right, but he also needs to understand that their can be consequences. Nothing wrong with that.
He now has the right to switch to the Rebublicans. Will be interesting to see if he does it.
Harry, Joe Lieberman made his decision..Let him live with it..
Grow Up.
"unacceptable?"
As a Democrat, having Leiberman sit in any leadership position as an Independent, is unacceptable.
Unless he reregisters as a Democratic.
Reed was being far more than gracious and profession to have a private conversation with him. For the Democratic party does not owe, a non party members anything, other than a memo giving notice.
Joe Lieberman ( 2008 ) and Zell Miller ( 2004 ) belong to the same camp if only the Republican Party will have them. Otherwise both should form their new political party of undesirable mavericks.
Both lefttovers from the Democratic party may need Sarah to breathe new life into them in 2012........ Betcha, it may be too late to resuscitate their careers.
The bottom line is: Lieberman BEGGED for Obama to stump for him in 2006. That's because Obama had just delivered an amazing speech at the DNC. Ned Lamont, the local CT millinoaire was gaining on him in the polls. Ultimately, it was Obama who pushed him over the top b/c he had pulled in GOP and Dem votes. Lieberman is behind a rock and a hard place: He stabbed Obama in the back clearly by using him in 2006 to get re-elected and then campaigned against Obama in this year's presidential election. Lieberman did NOT ask anyone from the GOP (i.e DeLay, Hastert, etc) to stump for him. So clearly Lieberman knew what he was doing. There's no question about that he stabbed Obama in the back. That's obvious regardless of his independent status. Now, CT voters have to decide if he is worthy of re-election. Lamont will no doubt run again and get the entire Liberal\Democratic vote in CT. Lieberman will get ONLY GOP votes. Connecticut votrers will be infruriated with Lieberman and will not vote for him again. No GOP can win without Dem voters. So Lieberman will either be recalled...somehow or lose his re-election bid in 2012. People in CT do not play with GOP candidates!
Lieberman is done.
Reid is a real piece of work. His whining is a symptom of a bigger problem....he, Dodd and his fellow Dem's are actually going to have to roll up there sleeves and quit snivelling and work together to get us out of this mess or lose their majority in the next 2 years in the Senate. Partisan B.S. at it's most heinous, when the country needs to come together to pull through this! Lieberman has shown a rare trait in this election process...courage and character...traits Reid should study and take on. The Dem-lead Senate would continue to show their backside by "demoting" him...what happened to working with folks because of their skill sets and not for their party affiliation?
Leave Liebermann alone. Everyone's sick of partisanship. Come on, Reid! Be the bigger man and set an example for the rest of Congress on this one.