Lieberman retains Homeland Security chairmanship
Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 1:57 amLieberman retains Homeland Security chairmanship
« Thread Started on Nov 18, 2008, 7:15pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lieberman retains Homeland Security chairmanship
Posted: 01:15 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Joe Lieberman retained his chairmanship of the
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Tuesday following a
lengthy and often heated debate over what — if any — price the Connecticut
Democrat-turned-Independent should pay for his vocal support of Republican Sen.
John McCain’s presidential bid.The Senate Democratic caucus, meeting behind closed doors, voted 42 to 13
to allow Lieberman to keep the high-profile chairmanship. The party’s 2000
vice presidential nominee was instead stripped of his spot on the Environment
and Public Works Committee.
“It’s all over with,” Majority Leader Harry Reid said at a news
conference following the vote. “Joe Lieberman is a Democrat. He’s part of this
caucus.”
Reid dismissed vehement criticism of the decision from elements of the
party’s more liberal base, which has insisted that Lieberman be punished for
failing to support President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign.
Reid instead argued that this is “not a time for retribution. It’s a
time for moving forward on the problems of this country… We need to be
unified.”
“I would defy anyone to be more angry than I was,” Reid noted. “There’s a
period of time in Joe Lieberman’s political career that I will never understand
or approve. But I also recognize that…. (he is) one of the most progressive
members to come from the state of Connecticut and that says a lot.”
Reid also pointed out that that the Democrats could not have had a Senate
majority during the past two years without Lieberman’s decision to remain in
the party caucus.
Speaking at the same press conference, Lieberman called the resolution
allowing him to keep the Homeland Security chairmanship “fair and forward
leaning.”
“It’s a resolution… of reconciliation and not retribution, and I
appreciate it,” he noted.
« Thread Started on Nov 18, 2008, 7:15pm »
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lieberman retains Homeland Security chairmanship
Posted: 01:15 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Joe Lieberman retained his chairmanship of the
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Tuesday following a
lengthy and often heated debate over what — if any — price the Connecticut
Democrat-turned-Independent should pay for his vocal support of Republican Sen.
John McCain’s presidential bid.The Senate Democratic caucus, meeting behind closed doors, voted 42 to 13
to allow Lieberman to keep the high-profile chairmanship. The party’s 2000
vice presidential nominee was instead stripped of his spot on the Environment
and Public Works Committee.
“It’s all over with,” Majority Leader Harry Reid said at a news
conference following the vote. “Joe Lieberman is a Democrat. He’s part of this
caucus.”
Reid dismissed vehement criticism of the decision from elements of the
party’s more liberal base, which has insisted that Lieberman be punished for
failing to support President-elect Barack Obama’s campaign.
Reid instead argued that this is “not a time for retribution. It’s a
time for moving forward on the problems of this country… We need to be
unified.”
“I would defy anyone to be more angry than I was,” Reid noted. “There’s a
period of time in Joe Lieberman’s political career that I will never understand
or approve. But I also recognize that…. (he is) one of the most progressive
members to come from the state of Connecticut and that says a lot.”
Reid also pointed out that that the Democrats could not have had a Senate
majority during the past two years without Lieberman’s decision to remain in
the party caucus.
Speaking at the same press conference, Lieberman called the resolution
allowing him to keep the Homeland Security chairmanship “fair and forward
leaning.”
“It’s a resolution… of reconciliation and not retribution, and I
appreciate it,” he noted.