Obama is playing the Lieberman thing right

[democrattotheend]

I know some of you are hungry for revenge against Lieberman and are disappointed that Obama doesn't seem to share your vengeance, but he's playing this right. He knows that he's going to need Lieberman's support for some of his initiatives and he doesn't want to alienate him by pushing for him to be stripped of his committee chairmanship.

It takes a big man to be able to do that...Obama clearly admired Lieberman when he first came to the Senate, and he risked alienating activists whose support he knew he might need for a presidential run when he campaigned for Lieberman in the Connecticut Senate primary in 2006. So Lieberman's betrayal must hurt, but Obama recognizes that if he interferes with the decision of the Senate Democratic caucus to get revenge, Lieberman will get the last laugh by being an obstacle when he needs support for his agenda in the Senate.

Keep in mind that Obama is not taking a position on the chairmanship...I honestly doubt he cares that much, and even if he did, members of Congress tend not to take kindly to perceived interference from a president, even of the same party. Keep in mind that most Senate Democrats like Lieberman on a personal level and he votes with them most of the time, so they have little reason to want to strip him of his chairmanship other than what he did to Obama.

So as the victim of Lieberman's outrageous comments on the campaign trail, the signal Obama seems to be sending to Senate Democrats is "do what you want, but don't do it on my account." That's the right move and it looks magnanimous and it is...he's putting the country first by recognizing that alienating a senator whose help he might need passing legislation is not worth it no matter how upset he might be about the way Lieberman stabbed him in the back.

If Obama really felt strongly that Lieberman SHOULD keep his chairmanship, I doubt we'd see Dick Durbin pushing for him to be removed. Obama seems to be signaling to the Democratic caucus that it's their decision to make and they shouldn't do anything on his account. That's the right move and I wish some people in the blogosphere shared his ability to see the forest for the trees.

[Thrill]

1. I think Lieberman gets to stay. But only after he has a one on one with Rahmbo

[ellacott]

3. I think thats what will happen also

Would love to hear what Rahm has to say to him.

[Essene]

5. hah (and also quite a few rabbis)

I think Joe knows precisely the game and the score.

I'll personally be impressed when he finally speaks out about the negative crap from the GOP during the election. 3/4 of jews supported Obama and I suspect he's been getting an earful from jewish leaders who are disgusted at the fact that he stood up there on stage while we saw fascist rhetoric and hate mongering from Palin and others.

[Essene]

2. I agree... and i think this is precisely the bi-partisan pragmatist image Obama needs

He also needs to signal his openness to break from his party... and to work with moderate Republicans looking for a life line next year.

[Avalux]

4. I agree completely. This is not a fight Obama needs to take on -

I think he's handling it appropriately.

Imagine the flipside...Obama takes a side and speaks out against Lieberman, it erupts into a battle between Dems and Pukes and dominates the national conversation. Would be the same old crap.

[Max_powers94]

6. I wish they drag him in front of obama and make him kiss his BO hand...that would be funny