What the fuck happened to Joe Lieberman?
There was, in fact, a time when I had great respect for Joe Lieberman. In fact, it was right about the time he was running as Al Gore’s VP.
Since then, however, Lieberman has proven an unworthy Democrat. Sure, he still caucuses with them, but he’s no Dem; his self-defined Independent status doesn’t do him justice, either. Rather, Lieberman is a rat: in this case, a rat who is trying to kill health care reform.
Lieberman has said he will side with a Republican filibuster if the current health care reform bill as being floated my Majority Leader Harry Reid still contains a public option when the time comes. His reasoning? He doesn’t want to add to the deficit – even though the bill in its current form would LOWER the national deficit.
Let’s be clear: Reid just sent the bill to the CBO, which will detail its findings soon concerning the impact of the bill on the deficit. He did this quickly, because the calculations of his own aids show it decreasing the deficit. When the CBO releases its report stating that the health care reform bill, with the opt-out public option, will indeed save the country money, will Lieberman drop his foolish opposition?
No. He won’t. This isn’t about the deficit, nor is it about partisan politics. Lieberman is fighting against reform for the same reason as everyone else: the insurance industry gives him money.
In fact, a quick check shows that the insurance industry is the third largest contributor to Lieberman’s Leadership PAC. Of course he’s against the public option. This isn’t about principle or the good of the citizenry, folks; find any politician who opposes the public option, and I’ll show you his contributions from Big Health.
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That website is interesting. I looked under Health Services/HMOs for the rankings of recipients from the industry, and here’s what I found looking at top 20 lists.
Health Services/HMOs: 12 Dems/8 GOPers NO Liebs
Pharmaceuticals: 12 Dems/8 GOPers NO Liebs
Health Professionals: 13 Dems/7 GOPers NO Liebs
Insurance: 13 Dems/7 GOPers NO Liebs
Nothing special, really. What I didn’t find was Lieberman’s name in the top 20. What I did notice was Chris Dodd, Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer in each list. It seems like the correlation you’re drawing is flawed.
“Lieberman is fighting against reform for the same reason as everyone else: the insurance industry gives him money.”
I’m not sure you’ve found any smoking guns here, Chris. I see that Perdue Pharma was his 3rd biggest contributor, but by industry health care isn’t in the top 5 for 2010. As far as I can see, only 27K made it to Liebs from the healthcare industry. The insurance industry gives a lot of people a lot more money than Joe, but they aren’t all against the health care reform, are they?
I would ask if it is so implausible that a Democrat could be against Obamacare and still be a Democrat? Is this vote at the heart of Democratic politics? Sounds pretty intense, as far as litmus tests go.
There’s a lot of chatter about a civil war in the GOP, but if this is the way you feel about the health care decision, the real problems may be in your tent.
“There’s a lot of chatter about a civil war in the GOP, but if this is the way you feel about the health care decision, the real problems may be in your tent.”
Lieberman isn’t in our tent, which is exactly why he needs to be ejected from the caucus.
Hell, I thought he was done in the caucus when the Dems ran another Dem against him, but I guess not. What the heck is even up with that?
What I will say: Liebs is very dangerous to a Congress and President that is having at least minor issues with independent voters. A revolt and active insurgency from him could really paint the left as radical, injuring the Obama coalition that once looked so muscular.