McCain Objects to Cutting Off Lieberman in Health Debate

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Health Care

In an unusual move on Thursday, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) cut off Sen. Joe Lieberman's remarks on the Senate floor -- a move that flabbergasted their Republican colleague Sen. John McCain.

Franken was serving as the Senate's presiding officer on Thursday when Lieberman, speaking about the amendments he intended to offer to the Democrats' health care bill, reached his 10-minute speaking limit. Lieberman asked for an "additional moment" to finish his thoughts, a request that is nearly always granted in the Senate.

"In my capacity as senator from Minnesota, I object," Franken said with a slight shrug.

"Really?" Lieberman said, and realizing Franken was serious, added, "Ok, I don't take it personally."

At that, McCain jumped in, commenting that this was the first time he had seen a senator denied an extra minute or two to finish his remarks.

"I must say that I don't know what's happening here in this body, but I think it's wrong,'' McCain said.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) then commented that the same thing happened earlier in the day -- Franken was not bullying Lieberman, as McCain may have thought. In fact, CBS News Capitol Hill Producer John Nolen reports, Senate leadership asked the presiding officers to deny any requests for extended speaking time in order to maintain order, and so that no senator would have an unfair speaking advantage.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) was also denied extra speaking time today when Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) was presiding over the Senate.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by actornaught December 19, 2009 8:57 PM EST: by jwesel1 December 19, 2009 5:47 PM EST
...McCain forgot that he did the exact same thing...
...

Addled John looked pretty psycho as he cranked about never seeing anyone cutoff from speaking. We really dodged the proverbial bullet, and missed out on having another alzheimer's republican president.

But hey, the 'conned will just love him for being a total embarassment to congress...; Reply to this comment

by larrylinn1 December 18, 2009 8:56 PM EST

Gee! Franken wants to make the Senate more productive, and enforces the protocal. Meanwhile Liberman and McCain want to babble on not supporting people with Alheimers, or something else that they forgot about. This should not bother McCain, the taxpayers have paid for his healthcare all of his life, as well as his father, and his grandfather. He is someone that has lived off the taxpayer since he was concieved. Lieberman, he does not know what he wants, other than to satisfy his indecisive ego.

Reply to this comment


by jwesel1 December 19, 2009 5:47 PM EST: This was a comment on abcnews:

Apparently McCain forgot that he did the exact same thing 7 years ago-

"On October 10, 2002 ? just ahead of the looming mid-term elections ? the Senate rushed a debate on a war authorization giving President Bush the power to use force against Iraq. The resolution ultimately passed the Senate after midnight on an early Friday morning by a vote of 77-23.

During the course of the frenzied floor debate, then-Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN) spoke in favor of an amendment offered by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) that would have restricted Bush?s constitutional powers to wage war against Iraq. After a minute and a half, Dayton ran out of time, prompting this exchange:

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator?s time has expired.

Mr. DAYTON. I ask for unanimous consent that I have 30 seconds more to finish my remarks.

Mr. McCAIN. I object.

Byrd stepped in to grant Dayton time to finish his remarks. But just moments later, Byrd asked for more time to speak for himself. Again, McCain objected, prompting Byrd to chide him for doing so. ?This shows the patience of a Senator,? Byrd said. ?This clearly demonstrates that the train is coming down on us like a Mack truck, and we are not even going to consider a few extra minutes for this Senator.?

After being publicly shamed, McCain acquiesced to Byrd?s request. But moments later, McCain added this disclaimer: ?I wish to say very briefly that I understand people have a desire to speak. We have a number of Senators who have not spoken on this issue. It is already looking as if we may be here well into this evening. From now on, I will be adhering strictly to the rules.? In other words, he acted just like Franken did yesterday."


by Cattzen December 18, 2009 4:20 PM EST: Mr. McCain, YOUR OUT OF TIME!; Reply to this comment


by love2ridend December 18, 2009 1:47 PM EST: Franken is a joke and carpet bagger; Reply to this comment

by reasoned1955 December 18, 2009 9:31 AM EST

I'm glad Franken hasn't lost it...he can still crack me up.

Reply to this comment


by love2ridend December 18, 2009 1:47 PM EST: Your right he is a joke


by chitown639 December 18, 2009 8:53 AM EST: The sound of Lieberman's voice is so annoying...how can anyone grant him any additional time to speak? He sounds like DROOPY....10 minutes is much too long to have to sit there and listen to Lieberman's saggy cheeks monotone-based jibberish..........; Reply to this comment


by dragon8me December 18, 2009 8:33 AM EST: Lieberman is a joke. He was in love with Bush. He changes parties like some change underware, he don't like the fit so time to change. No doubt McCain would defend him, since there good buddies. This is why we need term limits in congress. These people who have been in office forever become more and more owned by the corporations.; Reply to this comment


by CobbT December 18, 2009 8:31 AM EST: You people keep hacking on Franken, Liberman, and McCain, why?? They are only Pawns on Obama's Chess Board. He is the one that is shoving this Reform Bill down America'a throat so he is the one that you should be hacking on but of course, we cannot do that for obvious reasons. From all the polls I have seen, the majority of the American do not want this Health Care Bill so why is Mr Obama so gung ho on getting it passed?? Is there something that we are missing here?? One other thing while I am on the subject of Mr Obama, you know if he took all the money he is spending just running all over the world (and accomplishing nothing), he could pay off at least half of the National Debt, but of course, we cannot say anything about that for obvious reasons. Thanks; Reply to this comment


by infantryman1968 December 18, 2009 8:27 AM EST: Al Franken (D-Minn.)

This guy spent his whole life as a paid clown.

Not much has changed.; Reply to this comment


by TJphoto December 18, 2009 6:42 AM EST: The Health Insurance companies own Joe Lieberman and he's not afraid that the world knows it. He'll use the money to tell the voters what a wonderful job he's been doing so he can get re-elected and start the cycle all over again. You of course can substitute any politicians name here as they have all been bought off and the only solution is for us, the electorate to vote them all out in one election. Send them a message.; Reply to this comment