Reid Mum On Lieberman's Role Next Year

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday did not rule out removing Sen. Joe Lieberman from his coveted chairmanship in 2009, but he pleaded for critics to leave the Connecticut Independent alone.

Asked whether he plans to retaliate against Lieberman next year by stripping him of his chairmanship on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Reid said, "Let's talk about this year" and stressed Lieberman's importance to the Democrats in the 110th Congress.

"Yesterday we had one of the most crucial votes that we've had in a long time to preserve the integrity of Medicare," Reid said. "I got 60 votes on that because Joe Lieberman walked up there and cast his vote. Anytime we have a problem here, with the exception of Iraq, Joe Lieberman's with us."

Read more on The Hill