Reid: Lieberman could lose his chairmanship

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) could be stripped of his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee after the next election, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said.

Speaking to MSNBC host Keith Olbermann on Friday, Reid suggested the former Democrat, who lost to a left-wing primary challenger in 2006 and has now endorsed Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for the presidency, is not guaranteed to keep his prestigious chairmanship.

{mosads}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.” The majority leader responded: “Yes, of course,” but did not elaborate.

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

“Sen. Lieberman votes with Democrats 85 or 90 percent of the 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 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 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.

Lieberman told The Hartford Courant last month that he and Reid have spoken a few times, and that “he knows there will be talk” of his losing the 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.”

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