Analyst: Obama fears punishing Lieberman would make him a GOP hero David Edwards and Muriel Kane

Published: Tuesday November 11, 2008





Print This Email This In the wake of the presidential election, one of the most vexing problems for Senate Democrats is how to deal with Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who not only supported the candidacy of John McCain but broke earlier promises by engaging in negative campaigning against Barack Obama.



Obama himself reportedly has told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid he would like to see Lieberman remain within the Democratic caucus. Political analyst Howard Fineman explained to MSNBC's Keith Olbermann on Monday why he believes Obama's position makes sense.



"It's clear to me that Barack Obama's going to operate as the good cop, surrounded by a whole squad car of bad cops," Fineman began. "He's going to be the one saying -- no-drama Obama -- 'Let's save our fight and our fire for the tough battles. After all, Joe Lieberman votes with the Democrats on domestic policy 90% of the time. And let's not make a hero of him by trying to kick him out of the party.'"



Reid had already begun negotiations last week to keep Lieberman within the Democratic caucus while removing him as chairman of the powerful Homeland Security Committee, but Lieberman had threatened that the loss of his chairmanship could be a deal-breaker.



A vote by secret ballot on the matter will come at a Democratic caucus next week, and according to Fineman, the senators are deeply divided. Some favor making concessions, while Dick Durbin, a long-time Obama supporter, "is really loaded for bear about Lieberman. He wants to kick Lieberman off that chairmanship."



"I think it's going to be dramatic," Fineman commented. However, he added, "I think Obama's made it plain that he wants to be the uniter. ... He doesn't want to pick unnecessary fights. ... He's going to have enough tough fights ahead."



Fineman suggested that it is particularly important for Obama to set a bipartisan tone because John McCain and Lindsay Graham have been signaling they are prepared to do business with an Obama administration.



"I wouldn't be surprised to see Obama hand the immigration brief, in a sense, to John McCain, say, 'Here, buddy, you take it,'" commented Fineman. "It would be very shrewd."





This video is from MSNBC's Countdown, broadcast Nov. 10, 2008.









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