Lieberman may lose Senate panel post

Sen. Joe Lieberman’s affiliation with Democrats was in question after a meeting Thursday with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is steamed over the Connecticut independent’s high-profile support of Republican John McCain for president.

Reid, in a sternly worded statement after the 45-minute meeting, said no official decisions had been made. But an aide to the Nevada Democrat said Reid was leaning toward removing Lieberman as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

“While I understand that Sen. Lieberman has voted with Democrats a majority of the time, his comments and actions have raised serious concerns among many in our caucus,” Reid said.

Lieberman was Democrat Al Gore’s vice presidential running mate eight years ago. He became an independent after he failed to win the Democratic Senate primary in Connecticut in 2006. Lieberman won the general election as an independent but is still registered as a Democrat.

Although he aligns himself with Senate Democrats, Lieberman angered many in the party when he used a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention this summer to criticize Barack Obama as an untested candidate beholden to interest groups. McCain had considered making Lieberman, a longtime friend, his running mate before settling on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Bouncing Lieberman from his committee post would require the approval of the Democratic caucus, which is expected to meet this month.

“I want to spend some time in the next few days thinking about what Sen. Reid and I discussed what my options are at this point,” Lieberman said. “He promised me that he would do the same and we would continue these conversations.”

Republicans have said they would welcome Lieberman to their caucus.

Senate Democrats tolerated Lieberman’s political straddling because he held their 51-49 majority in his hands. Now that Democrats have strengthened their hold to at least 55 seats, Lieberman no longer is vital to their majority control.

Despite splitting with most Democrats on the war in Iraq, Lieberman tends to vote with them on domestic issues.