I Don't Like This

President-elect Barack Obama has informed party officials that he wants Joe Lieberman to continue caucusing with the Democrats in the 111th Congress, Senate aides tell the Huffington Post.

Obama's decision could tie the hands of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who has been negotiating to remove Lieberman as chair of the Homeland Security and Government Reform committee while keeping him within the caucus. Lieberman has insisted that he will split from the Democrats if his homeland security position is stripped.

It shows you the type of leader Barack Obama is, putting differences aside in order to work together, but I'm not so sure it's the best move. What's the point of keeping Lieberman's vote if he doesn't vote with you? It's not like he's shown any loyalty to the party, first running as an Independent after losing his Connecticut primary to Ned Lamont and then endorsing McCain and not being too kind to Obama in the process.

Lieberman was hedging his bets by running with McCain every chance he got, going so far as to saying Obama voted against troop funding and therefore was against the troops. When you gamble there should be consequences. For Lieberman to get away with spitting in the face of the Democratic Party time after time with no repercussions is not a good thing for the party. Don't get me wrong, we don't have to march in lockstep like the Republicans do, but Lieberman's actions are beyond the pale.

ADDING (11/11/08 8:50am) - What really pisses me off is that Lieberman is the one who's finding all this "unacceptable." Shut the fuck up, Joe, you made your bed. Unfortunately, Obama has made a suggestion, recommendation, whatever you want to call it, and that should weigh heavily in the Senators' decision on what to do with Lieberman in deference to Obama. I don't like it but should they consider keeping Lieberman on, they should make it clear he's on the tightest of leashes and if he keeps tacking to the right with the fear mongering and acting as if Israel is more important than the country he was elected to represent, he's done.