Will the Democrats Punish Lieberman for speaking at the RNC?

Question

On Tuesday night, Joseph Lieberman, a man who ran with Al Gore against George W. Bush in the 2000 election, endorsed Senator John McCain at the Republican National Convention. This very public switching of teams has many wondering how the Democratic Party will respond.

During his speech, Senator Lieberman stated that Barack Obama doesn't have the experience it takes to be commander in chief. "Eloquence," Lieberman said, "is no substitute for a record." The former Democrat, now an independent, went on to criticize Senator Obama for his failure to fund the troops. And the hits kept on coming. You don't have to be a Beltway insider to assume that many blue-staters were seething.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, expressed his displeasure with Lieberman's speech. CNN reported that some from Obama's campaign accused Lieberman of lying to Republican delegates when he claimed that Obama never reached across party lines.

Meanwhile, according to Roll Call, some sources within the Democratic Party predicted that Lieberman could "face punishment for party disloyalty" if the Dems win a majority in the Senate. Others insist that retribution isn't in the cards. Hey, it's just politics, not high school.

Fallout or no, many are wondering if Lieberman was actually McCain's first choice for vice president. Both The Huffington Post and The New York Times speculate that McCain would have loved to have had Lieberman on the ticket, but due to conflicts with the conservative base, the partnership wasn't meant to be.

Tonight, the world will watch Sarah Palin address the nation. The Alaska governor could be a heartbeat away from the highest office in the land. Given the massive buzz around her life, family, and politics, we predict that just about everyone in both parties will be watching.

Answer 1

The Democrats already have a need-hate relationship with Liebeman.

Many of them helped his opponent Ned Lamont in the 2006 Senate Democratic primary in Connecticut rather than the long-term Sen. Lieberman who had been a faithful Democrat on just about every issue except the Iraq War.

Lamont was backed by MoveOn.org, Daily Kos and the extreme left bloggers whom none of the left in the Senate and House dared cross so most of them backed Lamont who narrowly beat Lieberman.  

A lot of people who respected Joe were so horrified that they helped him campaign and then urged him to become an independent and run in the general election.

He won handily with his long-time Democratic moderate supporters, independents, and Republicans.

He still considers himself to be a Democrat and "caucuses " with the Democrats but they won't allow him into a lot of meetings.

They are often openly insulting to him.

The Democrats stripped him of long-time Committee Chairmanships and seats on committees, allowing him to keep only his Chairmanship of Homeland Security as a "bone" because they need him on close votes since the Senate is so evenly divided.

In return, he often makes the Democrats beg for his support.

There is no love lost between Joe and Obama.

Joe thinks that Obama will abandon Israel and he makes no bones about it.

Joe introduces McCain at the Amer. Israeli Political Action Committee meeting in DC, and then when Obama spoke, Joe was on hand to raise money for McCain, collecting $2 million in about an hour.

Obama went ballistic, confronting Joe on the Senate floor later that day, getting right in his face. Joe just stared him down and pushed Obama's hands off of him, according to the Washington Post.

The Democrats will increase their majority and they will not have as much need for Joe's votes so they may not allow him to keep his Chairmanship, especially if Obama wins.

Joe won't care.

He's had it with them.  But it's unlikely that he will ever become a Republican.  He's a Democrat at heart - just not a member of what the Democratic party has become.

He thinks they've sold out on national defense and you heard what he thinks of Obama.

Joe Lieberman is a man of principle.

Answer 2

How can democrats punish someone for party disloyalty when they are not a member of their party? I think it is kind of funny really because when you think about it, it will leave egg on their face in the end.  

Answer 3

Why? If anything I have more respect for him now. I have more respect for a man that speaks his mind rather than the empty shells normally offered.

Answer 4

Lieberman made his own bed, now he has to lie in it.  That's what Republicans (preach) call "personal responsibility."

Answer 5

They already tried.  They ran someone against him and so did the Republicans.  He got re-elected senator from Connecticut anyway.

Answer 6

Possibly. We can be vengeful and indecent just like republicans if we so choose to be.

Answer 7

talk about your flip-flop politian..lieberman is rediculous and needs to stay home.

He is just trying to make some pathetic Jewish swing vote public stance

Answer 8

Lieberman claims he's an "Independent", but in reality, he is a Republican.

I can think of no worse punishment than that.

Answer 9

He's the new Zell Miller.  Let's hope he gets sent packing next election.