The worst member of Congress
By Max J. Castro
Joe Lieberman is the worst member of the U.S. Congress. That’s a bold statement considering the competition. There is, after all, no shortage of truly awful Senators and Representatives, from Michele Bachman, who once suggested an investigation to determine how many members of Congress are socialists (answer: one, Vermont’s Bernie Sanders) to Lincoln Diaz-Balart, who has advocated for a naval blockade of Cuba and regularly foams at the mouth whenever the topic of the island nation is discussed. And let’s not forget Tom Tancredo, scourge of the immigrant community.
Yet, Joe Lieberman beats them all. He has long been an ardent supporter of the worst aspects of U.S. foreign policy, including the Iraq war, unconditional support for Israel, and a hardening of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. He urged Bush, who instituted draconian restrictions on travel and remittances, to take an even tougher stance on the embargo. At one point, he promised the wife of the convicted Cuban exile terrorist Eduardo Arocena that he would advocate for a pardon for her husband.
In 2008, Lieberman, who had been a Democrat his whole political career, endorsed John McCain and spoke at the Republican National Convention. This was after Lieberman’s antics earned him a primary challenge in 2008, which he lost. Democratic Party voters in his state rejected him. Lieberman was not humbled or even fazed. He ran as an Independent and won the race on the strength of Independent and Republican voters. But he has continued to caucus with the Democrats in Congress.
What is going on with Joe Lieberman now? Foreign policy aside, where Lieberman is not alone among the unholy alliance of Cuba/Israel ultra-hawks, why this betrayal now on a domestic issue of utmost importance? Why does he seem hell-bent on destroying any meaningful health reform? He invokes principle yet in the recent past Lieberman sponsored legislation to abolish the filibuster, the very weapon he threatened to use to stop the health care reform. He also has supported expanding Medicare to those in the 55-64 age range; last month he promised to torpedo health care reform if such a provision were included in the bill.
Various theories have been bandied about in Washington to explain Lieberman’s behavior, ranging from the influence of the insurance industry in his home state of Connecticut, including political contributions, to Lieberman’s famous ego. One analyst has even speculated that Lieberman is acting in relation to his most important issue, Israel. Killing or emasculating health care reform would be a severe blow to President Obama, putting him in a weakened position when it comes to pressuring Israel to negotiate seriously with the Palestinians, starting with a freeze on settlements.
Whatever Lieberman’s motives, his betrayal does enormous harm in throwing a wrench into the health care reform process. It is estimated that 40,000 people die in the United States every year because they lack health insurance. This is a serious violation of human rights. In a year and a half, more Americans die for lack of health insurance than were killed in Vietnam. This is a national disgrace! The country and some of its leading industries are being bled dry by health care costs. We spend more money than any nation in the world on health care but our health care indicators, such as infant mortality and life expectancy, are mediocre at best. That’s why, whatever game Lieberman is playing today, his actions, over many years but especially now, are despicable and qualify him as the worst member of the best Congress that money can buy.
