This morning, Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s home state newspaper, the Hartford Courant, speculates about the Democrat’s prospects of winning a place at the table in the second Bush administration.
David Lightman’s offering neatly captures the rumors around Washington — that after former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik withdrew his name for consideration to head the Department of Homeland Security, President Bush might choose Lieberman, thereby strengthening his credentials as a leader who is willing to reach across the aisle for the best choice.
Then, out of nowhere, Lightman inserts this non sequitor:
[Lieberman’s nomination] would also be a strong message to conservative Democrats that one of their most important spokesmen feels the party no longer wants them.
What? If Lieberman takes a Cabinet position, he’s leading what he hopes to become a desertion of the party? Given the silliness of that comment, we expected to see it attributed to a Larry Sabato or somesuch. But no, this one stand alone as a creation of the Courant.
While Lieberman has always been a maverick, nothing in his official comments on this matter (of which there have been few) or in the remarks of any of the sources quoted in the story seems to indicate that Lieberman feels he is no longer wanted by the party whose presidential nomination he sought not so many months ago.
Doesn’t it seem more likely that Lieberman would consider the rumored job in the Bush administration because he wants to make an impact in the executive branch, rather than out of spite for a party he has served in Congress for sixteen years — and one that nominated him for vice president only four years ago?
Whatever the reason, Lightman provides no evidence to back up the speculation that a Lieberman appointment would be a signal to other conservative Democrats that it’s time to jump ship.
–Thomas Lang
Thomas Lang was a writer at CJR Daily.