Democrats Should Remove Joe Lieberman as Committee Chairman

Joe Lieberman has questioned Barack Obama’s patriotism, and for that he should be removed as chairman of any congressional committee or subcommittee by Democratic leaders. The minute Lieberman said that Barack Obama does not put our country first is the minute that he disqualified himself from being chairman of any committee in a Democratic Congress.

This is an extraordinary step that I do not propose lightly. It is bad enough for Sen. Lieberman (I-Conn.) to be campaigner in chief for McCain and bad enough for him to speak at the Republican convention. When Lieberman goes the next step and questions Barack’s patriotism, that is the limit; that is the end; that should lead every Democrat to support stripping Joe Lieberman of any committee chairmanship.

I predict McCain will not run with Joe — or with Tom Ridge, for that matter. Whether he does or not, for a senior Democrat to attack the patriotism of the Democratic nominee is an act of treachery and deceit and slander that has no place in leadership or authority in the Democratic Party. Lieberman can caucus with Democrats or not, as he chooses, but for any leadership or chairman position: no, out, damned spot, as Shakespeare wrote.

My view is that Lieberman deceived the voters of Connecticut in his last campaign; dishonored his promises to voters in that campaign; and destroyed, by his own acts, any legitimacy of his reelection.

Enough is enough. Questioning the patriotism of the Democratic nominee is disqualifying for any chairman position, and when Congress returns from recess Democrats should say goodbye, farewell, to any chairmanships or position of leadership in the Democratic Party.