Leahy says Lieberman should lose committee chairmanship
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/01/17/art.leahy.gi.jpg caption=" Sen. Patrick Leahy took a hard line on Lieberman Friday."] (CNN) – A senior Democratic senator has gone on the record saying Joe Lieberman should lose his committee chairmanship when the party's full Senate caucus votes on the issue next week.
"Every senator will have to vote the way he or she believes they should," Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Vermont Public Radio Friday. "I'm one who does not feel that somebody should be rewarded with a major chairmanship after doing what he did.
“I felt some of the attacks that he was involved in against Senator Obama...went way beyond the pale. I thought they were not fair, I thought they were not legitimate, I thought they perpetuated some of these horrible myths that were being run about Senator Obama.
"I would feel that had I done something similar," he added, "that I would not be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in the next Congress.”
Earlier this week, Barack Obama reportedly said he held "no grudges" against Lieberman, who endorsed Republican Sen. John McCain’s presidential bid. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had avoided taking any public position on whether the Democrat-turned-independent should lose his chairmanship, but sources told CNN the Senate’s top Democrat had offered Lieberman leadership of a less powerful committee – a proposal the Connecticut senator rejected.
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I agree with Pat. Lieberman needs to go join his party. I thought it was sad that he bucked the system to retain his Senate seat. He is the past.
leahy should leave this alone
Let him continue to Caucus with the Democrats if he wishes. But traitors should not be given high ranking positions in our party! Strip him of his chairmanship!
That should be ok. A turncoat always gets what they deserve.
Maybe Lieberman should do the right thing and offer to resign from the chairmanship.
It's time for reconcillation not revenge!
Lieberman will lose re-election if he doesn't retire
The democratic party is looking for unity thruout the US as long as you do what they say.
YES! Joe LIEberman, campaigns for the Republicans, and when they lose comes back to the Democrats 'hat in hand'. Sorry, Joe, you choose the wrong side to align yourself with!
LIEberman, you have lost all respect. Time to retire.
the people have spoken, kick the droopy old b*stard out
I can understand Senator Leahy's feelings on the subject of Lieberman. Lieberman solidly stepped over the line by perpetuating many of the tawdry and scurillous allegations. He not only banged the drum but he lead the chant in an effort to scare people out of voting for Obama. This type of conduct has repercussions and should cost Lieberman something.
LIEBERMAN SHOULD LOSE HIS CHAIRMANSHIP AS WELL AS HIS
SEAT. HE HAS PROVEN TO BE DISHONEST, DISLOYAL & SLEAZY.
GOOD, INTELLIGENT PEOPLE SHOULD BE IN POSITIONS OF
POWER, NOT SCUMBAGS & LOBBYISTS THAT HAVE SOLD THIS
NATION,TIME & TIME AGAIN. SEND THE SLEAZY LEPRECHAUN
BACK TO THE SLEAZY FOREST, WHERE HE BELONGS.
Poor Joe Lieberman where is your friend McCain, shouldn't he be reaching across the aisle to save you. Maybe you can get Sarah up to the hill to wink and drop a couple of you betcha's around to save your hide. What you said during the campaign against your former party was despicable. You of all people know how hard elections can be, since your election was stolen in 2000. You deserve to wander the halls with McCain for a while.
Preach Brother Preach, it's good to support your friends but when all that stuff was said about Obama it takes the bigger man to step in and say I know you are my friend and I am with you 100% but lets run this campaign the right way talk to the American people tell them what you are going to do to help them with healthcare and other important issues that we are facing but instead he sat there looking like the JOKER that lost his shoe now he's the JOKER thats about to loose his seat!!!!!!!!!!
REPUBLICANS IT"S HEALTHCARE NOT WELFARE STUPID!!!!
Joe Lieberman did NOTHING while holding his Chairmanship seat. I agree, he's been nothing but dead weight. It's time to cut him off at the knees and let him go crawling to his buddy who didn't win, Sen. John McCain. Maybe they can share a few tears together. This is the same fool who talk trash about Sen. Obama at the RNC, what a jerk!
I say GET RID OF THE BACK-STABBING BUM!
Senator, l absolutely agree with you, its only a fool that will not agree with you in this matter. if possible he should be downgraded to be sweeping the floor of the Senate untill he will be disgraced and flushed out of that chamber.
Leahy's words are correct.. Lie-berman is no longer respected in this world and he should resign now. Lie-berman can join Sarah Palin in 2012 as her VP nominee.
HEY THIS IS A FREE COUNTRY. FREEDOM OF FREE SPEECH. AT LEAST LIEBERMAN SAID WHAT HE AND MANY OTHERS BELIEVE. BEFORE WE KNOW IT THE DEMOCRATIC WILL HAVE HIM JAILED.
I beleive that Lieberman should caucus with Republicans because this man has no discipline and principle. Joe should understand that his action has consequence, and Dems have to show him the consequence. Otherwise, Dems would become a dragon with thousand heads.
Let the rains weigh in... lol good job Joe The Liberman Plumber! lol..
Joe The Liberman Plumber thought McSame is gonna win the election and that The Liberman Joe Plumber gonna be his Secertary of State.. lol... Well, though luck Mr. Joe...
Hey Joe ...
Be a man ... step aside
For a true believer to step in
See Ya Joe ...
Leahy, the senator that leaked top secrets. He should have been put in prison for treason!!!!!!!!!!! But you follow the party line you are a good boy! I shall always vote and follow a man of his convictions and not a SHEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO JOE!!!!!!!!
If Senator Lieberman had any character, he would have resigned his committee chair when he chose to actively campaign for the other party. This is not about censuring Lieberman for supporting McCain. It is about choosing to go against your own party. In this case the honorable thing to do is resign if you cannot support your own organization. Gen. Powell said he was for Obama but did not actively campaign for him. There is a very fundamental difference in these two positions.
Liarman is a disgrace to the Democratic party. The party however needs his vote and Obama should test his leadership attitude with the Lieber(liar)man issue. Obama should forgive him and Lieberman should understand the circumstance and resign from the committee.
I say Lieberman should be made Chief of Staff.... Chief of the Janitorial Staff that is. Make him scrub the white house toilets.
"Um.... security...... yes, Vice President Biden has just clogged the toilet. This looks like a job for Joe Lieberman. Get him down here ASAP. Oh yeah, and tell him to bring Joe the Plumber with him."