Reid: Lieberman could lose chairmanship

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) suggested to a television interviewer late last week that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) could lose his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

In an interview Friday night on MSNBC, host Keith Olbermann asked Reid if there was “anything that he could do that would make you move to take his leadership position away on Homeland Security.” Reid responded: “Yes, of course,” but did not elaborate.

{mosads}Democratic aides cautioned not to read too closely into Reid's comments, saying stripping Lieberman of his chairmanship remained a very unlikely scenario.

“Senator Lieberman votes with Democrats 85 or 90 percent of them time, except when it comes to Iraq and some national security issues,” Jim Manley, Reid's spokesman, said.

Reid has a close relationship with Lieberman, and stood by him after he was spurned by a number of fellow Democrats when he lost Connecticut's Senate primary in 2006. Lieberman later won back his seat, running as an Independent, and agreed to caucus with Democrats to give them their narrow two-seat majority. Lieberman was awarded the chairmanship this Congress, but some have speculated that his leadership spot on the panel could be in jeopardy if Democrats don't need him to keep their majority if they pick up more seats this November.

A staunch supporter of the Iraq war, Lieberman has offered his endorsement of Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive GOP nominee, saying he is the most qualified to lead a country facing the threat of terrorism. Last month, Lieberman told The Hill that he would be willing to speak or even keynote the Republican National Convention if asked by McCain.

In Friday's interview, Reid voiced criticism of Lieberman's decision to support and campaign for McCain.

“I think it's wrong what he's done and I told him that,” Reid said.

But, as he has done before, Reid praised Lieberman as being “very good on issues,” except for the war.

“But you know, I don't have all Democrats on everything,” Reid said.

“So it's really unfair to pick on Joe,” Reid said. “On a few other things … we can pick on him all we want.”

Aides said his comments do not reflect a change in his position over Lieberman.

“Sen. Reid has made it clear that the chairmanship is absolutely not in jeopardy,” a Lieberman aide said.

Lieberman told The Hartford Courant last month that he and Reid have spoken a few times, and “he knows there will be talk” of Lieberman losing his chairmanship if Democrats have more than 51 Senate seats next year.

But Lieberman added: “As far as he is concerned, I will retain my seniority, et cetera, no matter how many Democrats there are next year.”