Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) may leave Senator Joe Lieberman’s (ID-CT) fate up to the Democratic caucus in a secret vote. Rumors have circulated for months that Lieberman would be stripped of his Homeland Security Committee chairmanship duties after choosing to unapologetically support Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) candidacy for president.
The Crypt reports:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is mulling scenarios that would allow renegade Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman to keep his homeland security committee chairmanship — but Reid might put Lieberman’s fate to secret vote of the Democratic caucus when the lame-duck Senate convenes in two weeks, sources tell Politico.
It’s not clear how a secret vote would go – it could embolden Lieberman’s enemies to exact revenge – or give his friends cover to vote for lenient treatment.
Even as some in his caucus bay for blood, Reid is reluctant to hand a Senator over to the GOP caucus.
A person with direct knowledge of the pair’s meeting yesterday on Capitol Hill said Reid turned to Lieberman at one point and said, “I prefer to work this out” after Lieberman hinted he would “explore his options” with Republicans if he was stripped of the committee.
Meanwhile, Politico reports that Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has reached out to Lieberman about joining the Republican caucus. As of now, that does not appear likely unless Democrats choose to strip Lieberman of his chairmanship.
The reasoning? Lieberman basically supports Democrats on every major domestic issue and Republicans cannot offer much in the way of high ranking committee positions.
