Sen. Joe Lieberman has been given a political slap on the wrist for reaching into the Republican cookie jar.
Only thing is, he kind of got to eat his cookie before he was busted.
Lieberman will get to keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
He'll be booted from a much smaller position, a seat on the Environment and Public Works panel.
Tuesday, his colleagues in the Democratic caucus voted 42-13 in support of a resolution condemning Lieberman's statements during the campaign. They also decided to let him hold onto his spot as committee chair.
Many Democrats were ripping mad after Lieberman slammed Obama and campaigned for McCain in the presidential race.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of them. But Wednesday he spoke out in support of Lieberman, saying "we're looking forward, we're not looking back".
"This was not a time for retribution," said Reid, "it was a time for moving forward on the problems of this country."
After the vote, Lieberman also spoke of new beginnings.
"This is the beginning of a new chapter, and I know that my colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus were moved not only by the kind words that Senator Reid said about my longtime record, but by the appeal from President-elect Obama himself that the nation now unite to confront our very serious problems," he said.
There had been much speculation about whether he would keep the job despite his support for John McCain — and criticism of Barack Obama — in the presidential race.
