Joe Lieberman: Heel or hero on health-care reform?
The announcement Tuesday by Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., that he will vote with Republicans to block a vote on health-care reform in the Senate, is already drawing praise and scorn by media outlets.
The Wall Street Journal welcomed Lieberman's decision to oppose a bill with a public option: "Bravo, Joe. It's a relief to see at least someone standing up to the Washington rush to rearrange 18% of the U.S. economy without carefully inspecting the cost and the consequences."
But M.S. Bellows, writing in the Huffington Post, had nothing but scorn for the development, and said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should lose his job for failing to see that Lieberman would bail and not keeping Maine Republican Olympia Snowe on board with the Democrats.
"Reid's head ... should roll for this. ... Even freshman Congressman Alan Grayson could see that Lieberman was dangerous, but the experienced Reid did not? That's inexcusable. The post of Senate Majority Leader belongs to a cynic, not a naif. It should be held by a tough negotiator, not a lapdog. It calls for someone willing, in Howard Dean's memorable phrase, to "use his majority so he doesn't lose his majority." It calls for a leader with the simple common sense, the simple worldly wisdom, not to trust Joe Lieberman with the most important policy initiative of the most important Democratic majority since FDR. And Harry Reid - as many have known all along - is not that leader."
Comments
David Briegel
Thu, Oct 29, 2009 : 10:40 a.m.
I'm sorry, but it is difficult for me to take him seriously. Not since he allowed Dick Armey, at the time the Republican Majority Whip, to refer to him as "Joe the Jew". Sorry. His subsequent flip flops and conservative, pro war voting record is one reason the Dems fail. There is NO liberal Dem party. Not with so many like Joe will we ever be able to advance a "liberal agenda", contrary to the Republican rants!
Diagenes
Thu, Oct 29, 2009 : 8:34 a.m.
Joe Lieberman puts country before party which is not the case with liberal Debbie Stabenow. When Democrats in CT ran a primary against JL the voters decided he was their best choice. He is truely an Independant. We need more of them in Congress. Rusty, is the dailykos a reliable source? Do not believe everything you read on the intenet. Learn to know the differnce between opinion and facts. BTW this is my opinion.
John Galt
Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 11:02 a.m.
Good for Joe. The "Public Option" is merely a back-door method to eventually force-out private insurance and end-up with the liberal goal---national heathcare. The Democrats know that there is not enough support for a single-step vote to a national government-run healthcare system. So, they take the "public option" step to use the power of government to gradually destroy the private industry and get to the goal over time. No way do we need the government telling us who we can see, what care we can chose, etc. We should start with Tort reform and look at increasing competition between States to drive down costs.
KeepingItReal
Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 7:41 a.m.
For the life of me, I do not understand why the Democrats continue to stomach Joe Lieberman. This guys straddles more fences than any politicians I have ever seen. It seems that he is a real opportunist. Also, the Dems seems to be real disjointed and their failure to get behind their president on Health Care reform is truly dissapointing. I'm rethinking my party affiliation.
David Briegel
Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 6:45 a.m.
I wish Hillary had stayed in the Senate and challenged him for his job! She would certainly have been more effective. I would put a photo of every Senator with the dollar amount contributed by the Insurance Industry to their campaigns under their name! As if the "rent" was to buy better government!
Joe Hood
Wed, Oct 28, 2009 : 2:59 a.m.
Joe Lieberman has said he would vote against the public option, he didn't say he'd vote against health care reform. There is a big fat difference. And why is it that if one doesn't agree with every facet this health care "reform" that they are automatically against health care reform. Eesh, this administration loves red herring arguments. I asked Debbie Stabenow for her support on three amendments (being Catholic, I want everyone to have health care available to them and for individuals to be able to exercise their consciences). The reply from the senator's office was thanking me for my letter being against health care reform. Um, if you are going to quote from the Huffington post, why not counter that with something from Redstate.com or newsmax.com?