DARK_LORD
09-09-08, 07:34 PM
http://blog.reidreport.com/uploaded_images/joe_lieberman-746022.jpg
Lieberman skipping Democratic policy lunches
By ANDREW MIGA – 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat-turned-independent Joe Lieberman skipped Senate Democrats' weekly caucus luncheon Tuesday and will not attend them for a while after angering many Democrats by criticizing their presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.
The Connecticut senator was Democrat Al Gore's vice presidential running mate in 2000, but he endorsed Republican John McCain in this year's contest. Lieberman said through a spokesman that he has an informal policy of skipping the lunches when presidential politics or the Iraq war will be discussed.
"September is likely a month where presidential politics will be discussed, so it's likely he won't be attending," spokesman Marshall Wittmann said.
Democrats last week hinted that payback could be in store for Lieberman, who in a prime-time address last week at the Republican National Convention called Obama an untested candidate beholden to Democratic interest groups.
Tuesday's luncheon was the first for Senate Democrats since their party's convention in late August.
Lieberman is a close friend of McCain and has campaigned for him several times. A supporter of the Iraq war, he turned independent in his bid for re-election in 2006 after losing the Democratic primary to an anti-war candidate, Ned Lamont. Many top Democrats, including Obama, endorsed Lamont.
Lieberman then won the general election with support from the GOP, including McCain, praise from the White House and fundraising help from prominent Republicans such as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
But Lieberman still caucuses with Democrats, giving them control of the Senate with what is effectively a 51-49 majority even though each party has 49 members. Democrats, in turn, made him chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Lieberman over the past year has discussed his policy of skipping lunches with Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wittmann.
"That is his choice," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said.
Senate Democrats have tolerated Lieberman's political straddling because he holds their slim political majority in his hands, but after his GOP convention speech there has been talk of taking away his committee chairmanship next year.
Manley said last week that the Democratic caucus "will likely revisit Lieberman's situation" after the Nov. 4 election. He refused to discuss any options being considered.
Lieberman has said he's not surprised that Democrats may try to punish him, but that helping McCain win the White House is more important to him than partisan considerations.
Reid said Tuesday he was looking forward to talking with Lieberman soon. "We have a number of things to talk about," Reid said.
Awwwwwwwwww Leiberman is looking a little lonely over there at his table eating his PBJ sandwich and doodling on his lunchbox.
Lieberman skipping Democratic policy lunches
By ANDREW MIGA – 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat-turned-independent Joe Lieberman skipped Senate Democrats' weekly caucus luncheon Tuesday and will not attend them for a while after angering many Democrats by criticizing their presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.
The Connecticut senator was Democrat Al Gore's vice presidential running mate in 2000, but he endorsed Republican John McCain in this year's contest. Lieberman said through a spokesman that he has an informal policy of skipping the lunches when presidential politics or the Iraq war will be discussed.
"September is likely a month where presidential politics will be discussed, so it's likely he won't be attending," spokesman Marshall Wittmann said.
Democrats last week hinted that payback could be in store for Lieberman, who in a prime-time address last week at the Republican National Convention called Obama an untested candidate beholden to Democratic interest groups.
Tuesday's luncheon was the first for Senate Democrats since their party's convention in late August.
Lieberman is a close friend of McCain and has campaigned for him several times. A supporter of the Iraq war, he turned independent in his bid for re-election in 2006 after losing the Democratic primary to an anti-war candidate, Ned Lamont. Many top Democrats, including Obama, endorsed Lamont.
Lieberman then won the general election with support from the GOP, including McCain, praise from the White House and fundraising help from prominent Republicans such as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
But Lieberman still caucuses with Democrats, giving them control of the Senate with what is effectively a 51-49 majority even though each party has 49 members. Democrats, in turn, made him chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Lieberman over the past year has discussed his policy of skipping lunches with Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wittmann.
"That is his choice," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said.
Senate Democrats have tolerated Lieberman's political straddling because he holds their slim political majority in his hands, but after his GOP convention speech there has been talk of taking away his committee chairmanship next year.
Manley said last week that the Democratic caucus "will likely revisit Lieberman's situation" after the Nov. 4 election. He refused to discuss any options being considered.
Lieberman has said he's not surprised that Democrats may try to punish him, but that helping McCain win the White House is more important to him than partisan considerations.
Reid said Tuesday he was looking forward to talking with Lieberman soon. "We have a number of things to talk about," Reid said.
Awwwwwwwwww Leiberman is looking a little lonely over there at his table eating his PBJ sandwich and doodling on his lunchbox.