Democrats push back at Lieberman

ST. PAUL — A senior adviser on Barack Obama's campaign fired back Wednesday at Joe Lieberman (I), claiming the Connecticut senator "proved a long time ago he's not a Democrat any longer. And last night he reminded everyone he's not even a man of his word any longer."

Lieberman gave a primetime speech Tuesday that repeatedly criticized the Democratic presidential candidate. Lieberman, the 2000 Democratic vice presidential candidate, is a top supporter of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Democrats have noted that Lieberman previously said that he would not attack Obama at the Republican convention.

Lieberman, who still caucuses with Democrats and chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, may soon lose one or both of those privileges.

While emphasizing that no decision is imminent, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) spokesman Jim Manley said “it’s likely” that Democrats will caucus after the November elections to decide Lieberman’s fate.

“He has every right to make a partisan speech at the Republican National Convention if that’s what he wants to do,” Manley said. “Having said that, that doesn’t give him the right to question Obama’s role and record in the Senate in the speech.”

Manley added many Democrats were surprised by the “tone and tenor” of Lieberman’s remarks.

Lieberman spokesman Marshall Whitmann did not answer repeated requests for comment Wednesday.

In his speech Tuesday, Lieberman said Obama is “a gifted and eloquent young man who I think can do great things for our country in the years ahead. But my friends, eloquence is no substitute for a record — not in these tough times for America.”

He added, “In the Senate, he has not reached across party lines to get anything significant done, nor has he been willing to take on powerful interest groups in the Democratic Party.”

Obama adviser Anita Dunn did not hold back on Wednesday during an interview on MSNBC: "I think those of us who always respected Joe Lieberman for being someone who had a certain amount of integrity could only be disappointed that a couple of weeks after saying he wouldn't use his speech to attack Barack Obama, that's exactly what he did. Unfortunately, it's what we've come to expect from Joe Lieberman."

Later in the interview, when asked about a different issue, she responded, "Well, let's dispose of Sen. Lieberman first, because the fact of the matter is that what he said isn't true and he knows it's not true. It's, kind of, the continued moral degeneration of Joe Lieberman on display for the entire country to watch."

Dunn noted that Obama has worked across party lines in the upper chamber. She said Obama joined forces with Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) on nuclear nonproliferation legislation and teamed with Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on ethics reform.

Dunn added, "And the fact of the matter is that Sen. Obama, working with Sen. [John] McCain (R-Ariz.), and many others, took on members of his own party, and others, to pass some of the strongest ethics reforms that have been passed for a long time in Washington, and Joe Lieberman knows that, to be honest."

Wallace Barnes, a GOP delegate and former state senator from Lieberman’s home state of Connecticut, lauded the speech. But like most other delegates from Connecticut, he said it was Lieberman's decision alone on whether he should switch party allegiances.

"He's always been willing to cross the aisle," Barnes said. "I think he's comfortable working that way."

The speech came after months of heightening tension in the Senate, where Lieberman has repeatedly criticized Obama to reporters. Calls for punishing him have been growing on Reid and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), but both have treated Lieberman gently, mindful that his caucus vote gives them their slim 51-49 chamber majority.

With Democrats expected to pick up a handful more seats, however, Lieberman could become both less necessary and less welcome to his colleagues.

Durbin last month told The Hill he had urged Lieberman against speaking at the convention, but that “Joe’s his own man.

"Once this is over, I hope we can come together again and find common ground," Durbin said.

Manu Raju contributed to this article