Media Ignore Lieberman’s Caucus Fickleness

According to Media Matters, several media outlets noted a statement Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman made to Time magazine that there is a “very remote possibility” he will stop caucusing with Senate Democrats but failed to mention his pre-election promises to continue to caucus with them.

Media Matters: Several media outlets, including The Politico, ABCNews.com, Fox News’ Special Report and The Washington Times, reported on Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman’s (CT) statement in the March 5 issue of Time magazine that there is a “very remote possibility” he will stop caucusing with Senate Democrats, but failed to note Lieberman’s repeated pre-election promises to the voters of Connecticut that he would caucus with Democrats. Additionally, The Politico and Special Report inaccurately reported that Lieberman’s decision to caucus with the other party would “give control of the [Senate] back to the Republicans.” In fact, in order to change the makeup of committees and their chairmen, as well as the president pro tempore, the Republicans would have to pass new organizing rules, which could be filibustered by the Democrats.

In a February 22 article, Editor & Publisher reported that Lieberman is quoted in the March 5 issue of Time acknowledging “a remote possibility” that he will “jump[] to the Republican side.” But as blogger Greg Sargent noted, on October 3, 2006, The Empire Zone, The New York Times’ weblog about politics in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, quoted Lieberman promising: “I’ve given my word that’s what I intend to do. I am going to caucus with the Democrats.” Prior to his August 2006 loss in the Democratic primary but while collecting signatures for his independent bid, Lieberman told New York Magazine: “I’ve been a Democrat for 40 years, I’ll die a Democrat, I’ll probably be a Democrat after my death, I may still be voting Democrat in some cities in Connecticut postmortem.” Sargent compiled additional examples of Lieberman or his communications staff promising that he would caucus with the Democrats. Further, in October 2006, blogger spazeboy posted a video in which Lieberman is asked the question: “Would you unequivocally … caucus with the Democrats?” Lieberman responded: “I’ve said that 1,200 times.” When asked to clarify with a “yes or no” answer, Lieberman responded: “Yes. Yes.” Read more