Joe Lieberman and the Democratic Caucus

I watched the spectacle that Joe Lieberman made of himself supporting John McCain during the presidential campaign.  I was quite irritated with Lieberman during the campaign.  Perhaps I’d feel differently if Obama had lost, but I feel a bit more conciliatory toward Lieberman than I did two weeks ago.

One reason for that is Barack Obama.  He’s called for allowing Lieberman to stay in the caucus.  Obama ran on a platform of inclusion, of post-partisanship.  He won because of his inclusiveness (among many, many other reasons).  I think it sends a message about how Obama intends to govern, if Lieberman stays in the caucus.  It would be magnanimous.  It would say that Democrats are the party that allows some dissent (unlike the Republicans — see Kathleen Parker’s column today in the Washington Post).  Some senior Democratic senators have even joined the campaign to save Lieberman’s hide.

Make no mistake.  Lieberman does not deserve saving.  Caucusing with the Democrats and voting with them about 90 percent of the time doesn’t make one a Democrat.  Lieberman went way over the top with his convention speech at the Republican convention and his campaigning for McCain during the fall.  Lieberman deserves to be booted off his committee, lose his seniority, and be booted from the Democratic caucus.

Even though he deserves it, though, doesn’t mean it should happen.  Lieberman should, however, feel some pain for his actions.  There should be some punishment.  But the Democrats shouldn’t boot him from the caucus, or do something so harsh as to make Lieberman bolt.  Compromise.  Make something happen.