What to do about Joe…I have to admit, I was on board with the idea of ousting him from the Democratic Party, but once again Barack Obama has appealed to the “better angels” of my nature.
A brief summary of events: Lieberman has consistently been a rare pro-Iraq War voice amongst the Democrats, but tended to caucus with them on other issues. Then came the presidential campaign. From early on, Lieberman showed his support for the Republican Party candidate, John McCain. He stumped with McCain…even spoke at the Republican National Convention. Apparently, this was pre-approved by Democratic leadership (Reid and Pelosi) as long as Lieberman wasn’t openly critical of Obama. And then, at the aforementioned RNC convention…he was.
Harry Reid met with Lieberman late last week to discuss Joe’s future on the Homeland Security Committee and within the party. This meeting apparently bore little fruit. Rumors start to spread…that the Clinton’s made calls supporting Lieberman (this was immediately and strongly denied by the Clinton camp)…that the Republicans were openly courting Lieberman to join their party and were offering him choice committee posts.
My position: Lieberman broke his agreement, and actively campaigned for the opposing party’s candidate, while actively campaigning against his own party’s candidate. At a minimum he should lose his seat on the committee, and he should probably be ousted from the Democratic Party, as well. He gambled on the wrong horse…and lost big, and now must face the consequences he had to know were in store for him.
And then…we heard from the most important voice, the leader of his party, President-elect Obama.
Lieberman…should stay.
…not because they need the Senate vote…
…not because he didn’t do anything wrong…
…but because Obama promised less politics, more bipartisanship, less infighting. And he’s right – this merciful and magnanimous gesture embodies all of those promised ideals, while at the same time preserving a potentially valuable caucus asset. Senator Chris Dodd (D-Connecticut) said this about the decision: “What does Barack Obama want?… He’s talked about reconciliation, healing, bringing people together. I don’t think he’d necessarily want to spend the first month of this president-elect period, this transition period, talking about a Senate seat, particularly if someone is willing to come forward and is willing to be a member of your family in the caucus in that sense.”
It’s a hard decision and there are many in the party who are out for blood…but it’s the kind of decision we hope our President will make. And Lieberman will undoubtedly have to give up one of his other committee seats, on Armed Services and/or Environment & Public Works, sacrificing his chance to lead either of those committees someday.
It’s the kind of decision that forces me to ask what I would do in the same situation, and to hope that I would have the same character and pragmatic wisdom to choose the identical path.