Lieberman's Wife Targeted By Angry Health Care Bill Supporters

Hadassah Lieberman

The wife of Senator Joe Lieberman—whom the Times dubs a "master infuriator" for his recent threat to join a Republican filibuster unless Democrats drop a plan to let uninsured Americans under 55 purchase coverage under Medicare—is in the cross hairs. Liberal activists led by the blog Firedoglake are calling upon the Susan B. Komen Foundation to fire Hadassah Lieberman, who works as a paid international spokesperson for the breast-cancer research group.

Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher, herself a breast cancer survivor, is demanding that "no more money raised for cancer treatment be given to Hadassah Lieberman or any other ex-Pharma/Insurance strategists... For decades, [she] has worked for the insurance-pharmaceutical-lobbying complex. Like Newt Gingrich, Dick Gephard and Tom Daschle she never registered as a lobbyist to avoid the official taint, but nonetheless worked at the powerhouse lobbying shops Hill & Knowlton and APCO. She also did stints at Pfizer and Hoffman-La Roche."

As the White House meets with Democratic Senators today in an attempt to close ranks on a health care bill, MoveOn.org is holding a rally outside the White House to call on President Obama to "stand up" to Senator Lieberman "and fight for health care reform with a public option." Lieberman, who has received more than $1 million in insurance company campaign contributions since 1998, surprised Democrats Sunday by saying that expanding Medicare would be "extremely expensive." But Lieberman was for the Medicare buy-in before he was against it, as as this video shows.

But what Joseph wants, Joseph gets; yesterday White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel met with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to order him to cut a deal with Lieberman. According to one of Reid's aides, "It was all about 'do what you've got to do to get it done. Drop whatever you've got to drop to get it done." The White House wants the bill passed by Christmas, and they've given up on the public option and on expanding Medicare to get Lieberman's vote, making liberals apoplectic. "If you think you are sick of Joe Lieberman now," Jim Shea, a columnist in The Hartford Courant, wrote Monday, "just wait until you get sick."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on December 15, 2009 11:12 AM

Comments [rss]

curious_conservative

With the congressional budget office showing that the socialist regime government issued healthcare will cost the taxpayers more than what we are currently paying and that everyone in the US currently has at least basic health care by just walking into any hospital, What is the purpose of "public" healthcare that costs the taxpayer more? Please all of you sucking on the government's teat collecting welfare need not respond as you don't care about the cost since you don't work and could careless about anyone else.

SonnyBobiche

What's the difference between the Mafia and Democrats?

The Mafia leaves your family out of it.

interlard

Just did it. Follow the links on www.whitehouse.gov and www.senate.gov if you'd like to live in a democracy one day.

interlard

This a*hole is taking responsibility for the deaths of thousands of un- and under-insured people. I know what I'd like to do to him. I wish Obama had the balls to stand by the public option until it goes through. I think most people in this country agree, but we're too fat and lazy to stand up for ourselves any more. I'm going to write to Obama and the Senate because I'd like to live in a democracy one day.

NannyState

Enter Lieberman Da Pimp: Hadassah's his 'ho, and Obama's his bitch.

zodak

rallies? write to the president? sheeple! he won, we voted him in, democrats have a majority, instead of doing the will of the people they insist on doing the will of corporations & pretending to blame it on the other party. makes me sick.

snickerdoodle

Tolerant, open-minded Liberals at it again!

The Man Bat

Remember Lieberman campaigning with McCain/Palin ticket right before the election last year? Remember Lieberman questioning if Obama had what it took to be president?

goddammmitsomuch!!

""Right now you're campaigning for him against Republicans. Will it become more awkward--or will you feel uncomfortable--if or when you're out there campaigning against a Democrat?

No. 1, as my late mother would say, I hope I have such a problem--that McCain is the candidate. Look, to be honest, there will be a twinge, occasionally, because if it's Obama or [Hillary] Clinton, I know both of them, and I'm working together with them. But ultimately, I've thought about this, and I know I've selected the person who is best to lead our country in the future, to be commander in chief in a time of war--and to do more than anyone else could to break through the partisan stupidity here in Washington.""

hotstepper

i'm sorry. what the fuck are you blathering about?

bagelman

if lieberman keeps this shit up, i vote for kicking CT out of the tri-state area

Splicer

If you can't get to Lieberman then get to people around him. Ruin them all if you have to just to stick it to that muppet looking smarmy bastard.

John_Matrix

lieberman is a piece of shit altercocker in bed with the worst elements of this country, religious kooks, moralizers, the right wing, the insurance industry, etc.

jt10000

Watering down the bill till it turns into nothing, or even a windfall for insurance companies is not getting the bill done.

If you care, write to the President www.whitehouse.gov, and your Senators, www.senate.gov, and ask for a strong bill that provides a public option on health insurance.

hotstepper

do you think she takes it in the pooper? because thanks to her husband future generations of americans certainly will.

harrisgraber

He's just another corrupt politician who has been bought by big industry. He's got a key vote, though. I wonder if the Senate ethics committee will take a look at his behavior. They should.

BDS=(Boycott.Divest.Sanction)

wtf is with obama backing down at every turn? fight, already. even if you lose, you'll win. 60 votes and they're giving in to this loser liberman?

Kojak

The administration shouldn't bend over backwards and sacrifice key pieces of the legislation to placate this selfish turd of a senator. They should really learn to force the issue.

Sometimes compromise is too much.

felixthecat2

Liebermans and Pharmaceuticals make money treating the symptoms of preventable diseases. The side effects of these drugs are worst than the diseases. Go Vegetarian. No Dairy products.