President-elect Obama is warning Dems against "grudges" against Sen. Joe Lieberman

[malik flavors]

Breaking: : President-elect Obama is warning Dems against "grudges" against Sen. Joe Lieberman, who caucuses with Ds but campaigned for John McCain. Top Obama aide Robert Gibbs tells Politico: "We aren't going to referee decisions about who should or should not be a committee chair. President-elect Obama looks forward to working with anyone of any party to move the country forward. We'd be happy to have Sen. Lieberman caucus with the Democrats. We don't hold any grudges."

http://www.politico.com/politico44/

Looks like Obama is a bigger man than most. If HE can forgive and forget, I think it's time for some of you around here to chillout.

[mmonk]

1. Nope.

But he is, of course, free to pursue his method of governing.

[HereSince1628]

2. Didn't Lieberman 'mentor' Obama when Obama first came to the senate?

There may be a personal history behind this.

Anyone know if the story of Obama's connection with Lieberman is true?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. True...to an extent.

All new Senators are shown the ropes by fellow Senators but it is not a Mr. Miyagi kind of thing.

Secondly, any personal history appears to be a one-way street.

[jonnyblitz]

18. yes, type "lieberman was Obama's mentor" into google

and see what comes up. this was brought up often when Obama was supporting Lieberman over Lamont in the CT DEM primary.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

41. Didn't much of the Dem leadership support Lieberman over Lamont in the primary?

Which candidate supported Lamont over Lieberman in the the primary?

[dionysus]

21. When you get intot he senate they assign you someone to show you the ropes,

and he got stuck with holy joe.

[jonnyblitz]

23. Lieberman was telling people Obama asked him to be his

mentor. back when Obama was campaiging for Lieberman against Lamont in the CT DEM primary I found that comment when i googled because people like you kept claiming Obama had no choice. Lieberman says otherwise.

[dionysus]

33. so whats the point? i for one am glad you're so bitter about Obama winning. I know you can't stand

him.

[Meshuga]

3. Just because Obama forgives him it doesn't mean I have to

Fuck Lieberman and I hope the people of Connecticut does not forgive him either!

[stray cat]

4. That was my expectation from Obama and I think he is right

Obama is not a wimp - just a smart guy who knows what he wants to do

[Hansel]

37. Agreed. I'd add though that Joe Lieberman better be very careful

about how reads Obama's actions here. Obama is not a pushover and Joe better understand that. I'm betting that Obama just put the carnation in the lapel of Joe's rogue political adventures. Joe will tow the line or he can kiss everything goodbye.

[theboss]

5. In other words, strip him of his chairmanship if you want

But the decision to leave the caucus has to be up to Lieberman himself.

And, regardless, when it is over...it is over.

[OneBlueSky]

6. it's called "keeping your friends close . . . and your enemies closer" . . .

besides, Lieberman will owe Obama big time if he keeps his chairmanship . . . I imagine there will come a time when he'll want to collect on the debt . . .

[last1standing]

12. Holy Joe doesn't believe in paying his debts.

If he did, he would never have questioned the loyalty to this country of a man who campaigned for him during a difficult primary in 2006. Nor would he have campaigned for repubs around the country.

[patricia92243]

13. Bingo! In other words, we might need him in the future.

[nomaco-10]

7. "WE AREN'T going to referee decisions about who should or...

SHOULD NOT be a committee chair". In other words, it's up to harry reid and joe lieberman as to what lieberman's future in the senate will be. Couldn't have been made any more clearer.

I wanted him stripped of everything. I've decided to compromise because of PE Obama's more than magnanimous gesture to joe on this. Strip him of his HLS chair and let joe decide if he wants to caucus with the dems. joe doesn't answer to me, he's gonna have to answer to his constituents in CT.

[Xipe Totec]

8. When I'm President, I'll be magnanimous

but I'm not. So fuck Lieberman.

[last1standing]

9. I haven't disagreed much with Obama since he won the election but on this I will.

I disagree with him because this isn't just about his campaign and the subversive message Holy Joe tried to spread about him. It's about splitting the American people into 'patriots' and 'traitors'. Holy Joe's message was clear, 'Either support McCain or support the terrorist' and that's a message that has no place in the Democratic party or the public domain.

I support removing LIEberman's committee chairs and then letting him decide who he wants to caucus with. Anything less is a betrayal to the American people who have rejected Holy Joe's extremist, and cynical, outlook on who is and is not a patriot.

[ashling]

19. I agree wholeheartedly

Additionally, we have just come off a 8 year nightmare of the President telling Congress what to do, and Congress being too lockstep or too wimpy to stand up for own powers and responsibilities.

Simply put, this is not Obama's call.

He has put in his two cents, now leave it alon and let the Senate Democrats handle it. It is an internal Senate matter.

[ecstatic]

29. I see your point, but Clinton & Biden said some pretty horrible things too

and Biden ended up being his VP!

That said, Lieberman has been a jackass for years now and I really don't want him in the party. I hope someone takes his seat soon!

[last1standing]

31. It's one thing to question someone's experience, it's another to question their loyalty.

Yes, Clinton and Biden said some pretty nasty things about Obama's lack of experience and his ability to get things done. That's hardball politics and everyone expects it. Holy Joe, actually questioned Obama's patriotism and loyalty to the United States. He has taken a page from the limbaugh wing of the repub party, the wing of coulter and malkin, with their desire to not merely win but to annihilate the Democratic party. He stood by, and agreed with, palin as she implied that Obama was a terrorist because of his 'associations'.

This isn't about whether LIEberman is a jackass, Rahm Emanuel is a jackass but I support his appointment. This is about leaving someone who has attempted to assassinate the character of our President-elect in charge of one of the most powerful, and possibly dangerous, committees in the Senate. I don't trust Holy Joe in that position and I think others would be well advised to follow suit.

[pgh_dem]

10. Have to read his statement more carefully

They are officially taking the position that they'd like Lieberman to continue to caucus with the Democratic Party (as often as he does...)

NOT that he should remain chair of Homeland Security.

[annabanana]

15. (hoping against hope this means removal from Homeland Committee chair)

or at the very least he gets a different committee. This one is too tied to the failed "Bush Doctrine".. it is counter to Obama's plan for that region..

[nomaco-10]

17. Nothing else but removal from his HLS chair will do.....

as far as I'm concerned. Obama and reid have both made it clear to him they want him to caucus with the dems, that's actually more than he deserves. The ball is in lieberman's court. It will be interesting to see how he reacts, if this is in fact the case.

[Lasher]

20. Lieberman said that is unacceptable to him.

But I think he would take that deal. What else could he have going for him? The GOP surely has made some sort of offer already but it certainly would not include chairing any committee, what with the Republicans being banished to the wilderness and everything. And Joe would be keenly interested in keeping his Congressional seniority with Democrats, with its accompanying perks that his ego craves.

I'm trying to keep an open mind here but I don't see how we can let Lieberman continue in the Senate just the same as before. Take away his HS chair, and hopefully don't let him chair any committee. Then the decision will be up to him.

[pgh_dem]

36. Yup, I see this as calling Lieberman's bluff (politely)

I believe we saw this move repeatedly through the campaign, where PRESIDENT-ELECT! Obama chose the high road, while being fully aware that the folks on the low road were about to plow into a Coyote/Roadrunner 'Danger!' sign and go over a cliff. After the inevitable, we saw PRESIDENT-ELECT! Obama reach a hand out to the smooshed pile of Coyote fur, saying 'Shame about that cliff. Ready to help me fix this country now?'

[NYCGirl]

14. Punishing Lieberman would make a GOP martyr of him. Joe would love it.

[JHB]

16. Yeah, God forbid any of us should hold a grudge against a guy who helped sell Bush's war,...

...actively campaigned against fellow Democrats, and generally aided the people and party that have been doggedly wrecking this country.

Why should we hold a grudge? It's not like anything serious was involved, eh? :sarcasm:


Look, Obama is the guy calling the shots on this and he's shown plenty of savvy, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. But I really hope this is a lot of smiley-face PR and he has Lieberman on a short leash -- any more bullshit from Joe and he's going to feel it.

I really hope that's the case, because if not this is Obama's Big Mistake #1, and will be biting him in the ass for years to come.

[chelsea0011]

22. It's not a grudge. It would be one thing if LIEberman just gave lukewarm

support to McCain. It is completely different to be out on the campaign trail on the stage with McCain trying to bring down the Democrats, President and all the other races that would be affected. And this guy wants his job back?

[SIMPLYB1980]

24. "We aren't going to referee decisions about who should or should not be a committee chair."

I take that to mean don't kick him out of the caucus, but his committee chair is up to others. I can deal with that. Take his chair and let him caucus with us. If he behaves maybe he can earn it back.

[Phredicles]

25. Let Obama be a bigger man: It's his job. I'll chill out when I

fucking well feel like. And in Liebertoad's case, that won't be for a while.

[genna]

26. Lieberman is a shark. If Obama wants to swim with him, fine. NOT me.

[ecstatic]

27. Kill LIEberman with kindness. I wonder if he feels like an ass yet

for turning on Dems and siding with Bush.

[Epiales]

28. Lieberman is simply an attention whore.

Obama is simply saying that we need to quit feeding Lieberman's oversized ego. The fact that Obama won is proof enough that Joe is irrelevant, now Joe just needs to recognize it. He'll likely not be back in his Homeland Chairmanship - let him fade into obscurity, but don't let him martyr himself out of the caucus. Every Senator in the caucus is a good thing.

[Starry Messenger]

30. This is the correct answer. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

32. Sorry. Obama's always been too cozy to Joe

for my tastes, and this is just what I expect from the Seante club mentality. Obama has said many nice things about Joe, and added snark about Joe's critics.
And I don't see it as being a bigger man, I see it as being typically political and craven, I see it as an unwillingness to see accountability for those in high places. He's wrong, and he's following insider rules. Same old same old.
I just don't see it as you do at all. Far from it. Far. Gold star for Joe. Because he is entitled to his position? How so?

[cali]

39. Really, oh since you say it, it must be true, but even so provide a

shred of evidence that Obama has, as you claim, "added snark about Joe's critics".

[Avalux]

34. It is not Obama's place to get in the middle of this - his statement is appropriate.

I don't have a problem with what he's said. Let the Senate leaders handle the Senate.

[mscuedawg]

35. Good luck with that one in Connecticut...

:hi:

[Skip Intro]

38. Obama has a right to his opinion, just like each of us do. n/t

[mvd]

40. The President elect is in a better position to forgive

But people on DU remember what Lieberman did and he shouldn't be given a free pass for supporting the opposing Presidential candidate. Obama took no real position on the committee chair, letting it be Lieberman's doing if he bolts.

[ensho]

42. I hold grudges! don't think Lieb should head any committee

he smirks