Lieberman Gets Reprieve From Democrats; Keeps Senate Chairmanship

November 18, 2008 2:17 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Senate Democrats on Tuesday decided to let Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) stay as chair of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs panel despite the Connecticut lawmaker's support for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) during the campaign.

In a secret ballot held as the caucus met for party leadership elections, Democrats decided to keep Lieberman as head of the panel. But the independent senator had to leave as chair of the Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection subcommittee of the Environmental and Public Works panel.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) held a press conference along with Lieberman and the whole Democratic caucus after the meeting, including senators-elect. "It is clear that the vast majority of the caucus wants to keep Lieberman as chairman of his committee... and that was done, it's all over with. Joe Lieberman is a Democrat, he's part of this caucus," Reid said.

When asked what his message is to Democrats who are still angry at Lieberman, the Democratic leader responded, "I would defy anyone to be more angry than I was... but I also believe that you look at the problems we face as a nation, is this the time we walk out of here saying, 'Boy did we get even.'?"

"I am very satisfied about what we did today, I feel good about what we did today, I don't apologize to anyone... we're moving forward, recognizing that there is a period of time in Joe Lieberman's political career that I will never understand or approve. But I also recognize that he has been in public office for four decades. One of the most progressive members to come from the state of Connecticut," he added.

Lieberman is a four-term senator who became an "independent-Democrat" in 2006 and was the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 2000. Along with another independent lawmaker who caucuses with Democrats, Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-VT), he added to the 49 Democratic votes in the Senate.

He earned the ire of Democrats for his work as campaign surrogate for McCain. The tension between him and Democrats reached a climax early September after he keynoted the first full night of activities of the Republican National Convention.

Reid had issued a statement the same night saying he was "very disappointed" with the speech. And Lieberman, who already faced a growing movement among Democratic bloggers to have him stripped of his chairmanship, stopped attending Democratic caucus meetings.

A week after election day, reports said President-elect Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton had told Democratic leaders that they favor keeping Lieberman in the caucus.