Howard Dean to Lieberman: If You're Going to Block Health-Care Bill, Resign Your Chairmanship

[WillyT]

An Oldie but a goodie...

Former DNC Chair Howard Dean called on Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn) to resign as chair of Senate Homeland Security Committee if he can't bring himself to oppose a Republican filibuster of health care reform legislation.

Appearing on "The Joe Scarborough Show" on WABC, Dean stressed that he had no problem with Lieberman opposing the bill on its philosophical merits, or lack thereof. But he insisted that it was irresponsible and unprincipled to not allow the legislation to come to an up-or-down vote.

"I think that is a very complicated guy," said Dean. "He does because he says he's a principled guy but there's nothing principled about holding up a bill... If he was a principled guy he'd resign his chairmanship."

"If you are with a caucus you don't owe the leader any vote on any substance," Dean added. "I have no problem with him voting against the public option... You owe it to Harry Reid to allow him to run the Senate. And if you're not willing to do that the proper thing to do is to step aside."

Link: http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/howard-dean-lieberman-if-youre-going

Found through: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/12/14/814031/-Howard-Dean-on-Lieberman:-If-he-was-a-principled-guy-hed-resign-his-chairmanship.

Just what the Doctor ordered!

[depakid]

1. Liebermann's not interested in doing the right thing

and the administration and the Senate "leadership" is profoundly conflict averse.

[polichick]

2. Too bad we're not hearing this from our elected "leaders." nt

[inna]

3. I'm starting to wonder if all of it is just Kabuki theater.

Or Kayfabe, if you will ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayfabe ).


Don't forget that Lieberman is Obama's mentor, after all. :shrug: