Lieberman¿s $100K Peace Offering To Senate Dems

Money can’t buy him love, but John McCain-backing Joe Lieberman is hoping a little cash will diffuse Democrats’ anger towards him – and help him keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Public Works Committee.

After forking over $100,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee last year, the Connecticut Democrat-turned-Independent has written a second $100,000 check to DSCC chairman Chuck Schumer in recent days, according to a people familiar with the situation. 

“Basically, he doesn’t want everybody to hate him,” one Lieberman-friendly Democrat said. “Plus he wants to keep his committee.” 

Lieberman caucuses – awkwardly -- with Democrats at their weekly meetings but is on the outs with many in his longtime party for turning his back on Barack Obama, who refused to campaign against him in 2006 during his bitter re-election contest against Ned Lamont. More than a few have talked about stripping him of his committee post after November. 

Thus Lieberman’s schmear campaign. Lieberman’s Responsibility/Opportunity/Community PAC, has given the DSCC $30,000 since last year – in addition to doling out smaller donations to the New Mexico Democratic party and the re-election campaigns of Democratic centrists Max Baucus, Mary Landrieu and Mark Pryor. 

--Glenn Thrush