Over 35,000 People Think Lieberman Must Go!

Posted by ZP Heller, Brave New Films at 12:00 PM on June 27, 2008.

Clearly we've struck a nerve! In the last 48 hours, over 35,000 people have signed our petition to strip Joe Lieberman of his leadership role in the Senate Democratic Caucus. This is the most impressive immediate response Brave New Films has gotten on a petition campaign, and it's proof of how many of you recognize the ideological turncoat that is Joe Lieberman.

For what is even more astounding than 35,000 petition signers is that Lieberman chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, even though he is a cheerleader for President Bush and John McCain on the Iraq War. Or that he caucuses with Democrats, even though he endorsed McCain and now campaigns and raises money for the presumptive GOP nominee. Or even that he once begged Barack Obama to campaign for him during the 2006 Senate Democratic Primary in Connecticut and now spreads smears about Obama every chance he gets.

Just yesterday, Lieberman appeared on Bill Bennett's radio show, where he preached to the right-wing choir about Democratic leaders being "invested in a narrative of retreat and defeat in Iraq." As Think Progress aptly pointed out, it's shocking that Lieberman would attack Democratic party leaders, since they're the ones who will decide Lieberman's fate come January 2009. The Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee decides who plays what role in the party; they make the recommendations to Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid as to who should chair which committee.

Lieberman has become a nightmare for the Democrats, and it's high time the party woke up from this incubus. The Democrats might have needed him to maintain a narrow majority before, but those days could be coming to and end. And the Steering Committee and Harry Reid both need to know that there is a growing public outcry to give Lieberman the boot. Even Lieberman knows it!

When asked about our petition yesterday, Lieberman said, "I think most people in this country are really tired of this kind of partisan politicking." (He even joked and said he's not going to sign it!) Well, I'm not sure how the senator is so delusional that he believes the American people could be tired of our brand of "partisan politicking," but not his undying love for a wholly unpopular president and an equally unpopular, unnecessary war that he uses and reuses to wedge Republicans and Democrats apart. Nor am I sure why the American people aren't tired of his political maneuvering and vicious attacks on his former party.

Oh, that's right. As it turns out, they are! Over 35,000 of them. And who knows how many thousands more will join us in telling the Steering Committee that Lieberman Must Go!

Tagged as: democrats, lieberman, joe lieberman, john mccain, steering committee, democratic caucus

ZP Heller is the editorial director of Brave New Films. He has written for The American Prospect, AlterNet, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Huffington Post, covering everything from politics to pop culture.