Dodd Says Obama Wouldn't Want Messy Fight Over Lieberman
What does Barack Obama want?" Dodd rhetorically asked reporters Friday in Hartford. "He's talked about reconciliation, healing, bringing people together. I don't think he'd necessarily want to spend the first month of this president-elect period, this transition period, talking about a Senate seat, particularly if someone is willing to come forward and is willing to be a member of your family in the caucus in that sense."
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"The question I have to ask myself is: Joe was elected by the people of this state — independents, Republicans and Democrats," Dodd said. "Whatever anger there may exist within a party, I don't think that ought to be visited on the people of the state — and they shouldn't be asked to pay a price for people's political decisions."
Whether Dodd in fact speaks for Obama on this matter is unclear. If Obama says nothing, it's safe to assume Dodd is presenting the President-elect's views on the matter.
It doesn't matter if this is Obama's position, because it is clear where Dodd stands.
Dodd's support of Lieberman means there is little chance Lieberman will realize any consequences for his betrayal. If Obama disagrees with Dodd's characterization of his position, Obama may wish to correct the record.
Dodd presents a false dilemma. The ouster of Lieberman doesn't have to be messy, it could be sterile, surgical, and over in an instant. What Dodd doesn't say is most telling, he doesn't suggest that Lieberman deserves ouster. Dodd doesn't answer the other obvious question, which is why a man who actively campaigned against Dodd's President and against other Democrats should want to caucus with the Party he so despises?
Sen. Evan Bayh also thinks that the Democrats should let bygones be bygones. There is now doubt now that there are a sufficient number of others who agree with Lieberman, so we now know how this story will end. The pattern is so familiar it is numbing. Democratic leadership "fight hard" for the issues of paramount concern to the base, then despite valiant efforts, they fail.
All the while it is clear to anyone paying attention that the whole effort is a charade, the outcome predetermined. This Lieberman punishment "conflict" is exactly the same as the others, from bailout oversight, to the war, to FISA.. the list is nauseatingly long. And now, after an exhausting campaign, they do it again. It's hard to have hope.