Merkley Speaks Out Against Lieberman Keeping His Gavel

by: Matt Stoller

Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:56

Better Democrat and Senator-elect Jeff Merkley spoke out against Lieberman keeping his gavel. I'll have a statement from his office shortly. Hopefully we can get the 13 Senators who voted no on Lieberman to come out publicly so we can praise them. So far, we know that Sanders, Leahy, and Merkley were against Lieberman keeping his gavel.

Meanwhile, Howard Dean recites Obama's talking points about Lieberman, saying that revenge isn't warranted against Lieberman, that this is what Obama wanted, and that it's pragmatic and smart. It is worth noting that Congress is very much looking to Obama for leadership on nearly every issue, so that there were as many as 13 is surprising. It's also suggestive that there's a real nucleus of independent progressive energy in the Senate, since their votes were directly against the wishes of the incoming President.

Matt Stoller :: Merkley Speaks Out Against Lieberman Keeping His Gavel

Tags: Jeff Merkley, Joe Lieberman, Oregon, (All Tags)

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Merkley Speaks Out Against Lieberman Keeping His Gavel | 22 comments

Glad to see this (4.00 / 3)

There was some debate about Merkley during the primary with Novak, but I'm glad to see him stand with us on this litmus test of sorts. I think this is validation that Oregon Democrats made the right decision here.

"Never be afraid to stand with the minority when the minority is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority." -William Jennings Bryan

by: circlesnshadows @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:10:21 PM CST

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During the primary, Merkley was perceived as the "moderate" candidate (0.00 / 0)

as opposed to Novak, who was thought of in more of a Feingold mold. At least a good proportion (perhaps a majority) of D activists here in OR went with Novak during the primary.

by: tietack @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:17:46 PM CST

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Politico (0.00 / 0)

is still saying that Merkley spoke in support of Lieberman. Which is it??

by: bpfish @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:26:35 PM CST

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I'm confused as well (0.00 / 0)

Did Politico get it wrong, or did we?

"Never be afraid to stand with the minority when the minority is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority." -William Jennings Bryan

by: circlesnshadows @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:36:50 PM CST

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I believe .. (0.00 / 0)

that they had to draw distinctions .. as it turns out .. it seems as though Merkley and Novick weren't far apart .. that hopefully Merkley will be Feingold-like as well

by: Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:28:13 PM CST

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I think in terms of labor issues (4.00 / 1)

Merkley was at least as if not more progressive than Novick.

by: adamterando @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:30:13 PM CST

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UGH (0.00 / 0)

I take it all back. I'm really annoyed now.

Those who rated this previous comment should take the rating back!

"Never be afraid to stand with the minority when the minority is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority." -William Jennings Bryan

by: circlesnshadows @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:46:27 PM CST

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I may be mistaken (0.00 / 0)

But I didn't think Sanders got a vote.

by: LockeOak @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:28:15 PM CST

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Appreciate this (4.00 / 2)

If the democratic establishment sees some political "value" in suppressing and discouraging the left with the Lieberman vote, we need to keep focused on the inroads we have made and the success stories of our political aggression.

by: johnalive @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:32:35 PM CST

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I love how (0.00 / 0)

they are dumping all on this on Obama.

by: ModerateCanuck @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:35:42 PM CST

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I love how (0.00 / 0)

they are dumping all on this on Obama.

by: ModerateCanuck @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:35:42 PM CST

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Dump away (0.00 / 0)

This is what Obama wanted. He is the leader of the party. He is the President-Elect. Time to take some responsibility,

For about a year, the Democratic Party has been suffering from severe cognitive dissonance. OOH, the base was enthusiastic about supporting Hillary and Obama. OTOH, Pelosi, Hoyer, and Reid were routinely reviled throughout the Party.

That's right, while Democrats registered massive unhappiness with the Democrat-led Congress, they were unified in their belief that the nominee should be...a Senator.

For the good of the party and ousting the GOP from the White House, Democrats ignored the illogic. But now, with the race at an end, Democrats are stopping to actually ask what Obama is really all about. Sadly, many are discovering that he really isn't all that different from the rest of the Senators. And that isn't a good thing.

by: space @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:45:15 PM CST

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So.... (0.00 / 0)

What exactly were the alternatives? Who were the credible outsider candidates?

Conduct your own interview of Sarah Palin!

by: fwiffo @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:47:36 PM CST

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Is this a joke? (0.00 / 0)

Your argument is that Lieberman should have stayed on because...the Democrats couldn't find a better candidate to Chair Homeland Security?

Are you sure you want to stick with that?

by: space @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 16:22:22 PM CST

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What? (0.00 / 0)

You were saying that Obama wasn't any better than any of the other senators. I'm saying there weren't any better alternatives in the Democratic presidential primary. I wasn't saying anything about alternatives for the Homeland Security chair.

Conduct your own interview of Sarah Palin!

by: fwiffo @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 16:38:09 PM CST

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I'm sorry (0.00 / 0)

I misunderstood. You mean outsider candidates for President?

I have two reactions to your question. First, your question contains a hint of the problem: "credible" We have far too narrow a view of who is a "credible" candidate. Americans are barely allowed to entertain the possibility of nominating anyone who doesn't come out of a narrow list of backgrounds.

Second, even if Democrats were stuck with Obama or Hillary, it doesn't mean they had to be as enthusiastic about them. But they were. And it is because they blinded themselves to behavior on the part of Hillary or Obama that would have been condemned if done by Pelosi, Hoyer, or Reid.

by: space @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 16:28:57 PM CST

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Sanders didn't get a vote (0.00 / 0)

So there were 55 votes. So every new Democratic Senator voted and every current one must have too. But Obama is no longer a current Senator and I can't imagine Biden would have voted. So either Franken and Begich got votes or Sanders and Lieberman did.

John McCain: Beacuse lobbyists should have more power

by: Populista @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 14:41:00 PM CST

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they are in the caucus (0.00 / 0)

So they get votes on a caucus matter. It's not like the superdelegates. I thought this was settled.

New Jersey politics at Blue Jersey.

by: Hopeful in NJ @ Tue Nov 18, 2008 at 15:31:04 PM CST

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It was an error (4.00 / 1)