Harkin warns Lieberman: Healthcare filibuster could put chairmanship at risk

Joe -> :spank: <-Tom

Harkin warns Lieberman: Healthcare filibuster could put chairmanship at risk
By Eric Zimmermann - 10/30/09 11:03 AM ET

One of the leading Senate Democrats on healthcare reform legislation fired a warning shot in Sen. Joe Lieberman's direction yesterday, previewing the possible consequences of joining a GOP filibuster.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, told reporters that Lieberman (I-Conn.) ought to consider the benefits of his membership in the Democratic caucus before he decides how to vote on healthcare reform.

“Lieberman still wants to be a part of the Democratic Party although he is a registered independent. He wants to caucus with us and, of course, he enjoys his chairmanship of the committee because of the indulgence of the Democratic caucus. So, I’m sure all of those things will cross his mind before the final vote," Harkin said in a conference call.

Lieberman has faced questions about his loyalty to the Democratic caucus ever since he endorsed and campaigned for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president in 2008. After the election, some liberals pressed for him to be expelled from the caucus and stripped of his commitee chairmanship.

Senate Democrats, however, decided that keeping Lieberman in the caucus was a crucial step to attaining a filibuster-proof majority.

Still hoping to win his votes on healthcare, Democratic leaders have been hesitant to openly criticize him. Harkin, for his part, suggested that Lieberman would eventually come around.

“As I said before, when it comes down to getting the 60 votes necessary to pass this bill, I do not believe that Joe Lieberman would want to be the one person who caucuses with the Democrats ... to bring this bill down," Harkin said. "I don’t think he wants to go down in history like that."

<SNIP>

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65605-harkin-warns-lieberman-

Simple but to the point.

I was going to go with this one but thought better of it -

Nobody should be subjected to even a cartoonish image of Lieberman's reddened bum.

"he enjoys his chairmanship of the committee because of the indulgence of the Democratic caucus."

How deliciously patronizing.

If they had taken it away in retaliation earlier, they wouldn't have this leverage now. I'm hoping this article is accurate and the Dems back the threat up.

plain and simple. Lay it out on the line.

In the words of Clint Eastwood:

I know what you're thinking Joe. Will they take my chairmanship or not? Well to tell you the truth Joe - in all this excitement of this Health Care Reform - I've kinda lost track myself. But being this is the U.S. Senate - the most powerful governmental institution in the world and we could reduce you to jelly, you've got to ask yourself one question Joe -- Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk!

"Go ahead Joe - make my day."