Will Obama Support Lieberman Staying As Chair Of Homeland Security Committee?

[ProSense]

Will Obama Support Lieberman Staying As Chair Of Homeland Security Committee?

By Greg Sargent - November 10, 2008, 6:41PM

Barack Obama is reportedly sending signals that he wants Joe Lieberman to stay in the Dem caucus.

But let's not get distracted. The question isn't whether Lieberman gets to "stay in the Dem caucus" if he wants to. That's what Lieberman wants you to think the question on the table is. Rather, the issue is, will Dems let Lieberman keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security committee?

The Lieberman camp has worked very hard to muddy the waters here. Lieberman aides have tried to persuade people that a vote to oust him from the committee is indistinguishable from a vote to oust him from the Dem caucus overall.

Don't believe it. Reid's people have made the situation very clear: The question of whether Lieberman remains in the caucus is up to him. He can vote how he wants, no matter what happens to his committee assignments.

But Lieberman's allies are using the Obama camp's claims that he wants Lieberman to stay "in the caucus" as a way of arguing against a punitive action against him that would entail stripping him of his current committee chairmanship.

So the question for the Obama camp is, Do they really countenance Lieberman, a colossal failure at this gig, to stay as Homeland Security chair? A lot is riding on the specific messages that come from Obama's camp on this question, and it's fair to ask for a specific answer.

Clear to me, strip him.

[Kdillard]

1. He can stay in the caucus but he loses the committee appointments.

If he doesn't like it tough.

[annabanana]

2. I think he is threatening to leave the caucas if he CAN'T have

Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs.

I also believe he made this arrangement before the election with the neocons in order to keep us in Iraq as long as possible, and to forstall ongoing investigations into the massive purgeries committed by the "loyal b*shies" in the Maladministration...

I say he should be keelhauled.

[Ninga]

3. I don't know when Lierman is up for re-election, but I will gladly send money to

a qualified opponent.

It is up to Connecticut to handle Lieberman, the good folks there will take care of the situation, or not.

In fact, I think I will do everything I can to see he is not elected. Ever. Again. Anywhere.

Who's in???

[nomaco-10]

6. 2012. four more years. n/t

[mmonk]

4. Well I'm for scrapping "Homeland Security" altogether

but I know it won't happen with all the money to be had and the influence peddling. But yes, any enemy of our Constitution should be stripped of the position. However, I know we're in the period of "bi-partisanship" and I guess I'll find out soon enough what that means.

[old mark]

5. I think Obama is wise to stay out of Senate business right now.

He has enough shit to worry about with the mess left by the GOP.
Ol' Joe is small potatos in comparison.
mark

[AtomicKitten]

7. I hope not. Lieberman ran interference for this administration and

neglected his duties. Eff him.

[MadBadger]

8. Maybe Obama is playing Good Cop to the Senate's bad Cop