Last night I listened as Democrats and mainstream media journalists and commentators, presumably spurred on by comments attributed to President-elect Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, urged that Joseph Lieberman retain his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee and opportunity to remain within the Democratic Senate Caucus.

One such comment was amusing.  Karen Hughes, who governed as a take-no-prisoners adviser to George Bush and would angrily confront journalists who dared make any unfavorable comments against the boss she served, recommended that to demonstrate that Barack Obama was not bound by partisan interests, Lieberman should continue to serve in his chairmanship and remain a part of the Democratic Caucus.

The question that should be asked is what Hughes would have said, for example, if Senator X had been a Republican Caucus member and conducted himself in the same manner as Lieberman, campaigning for a Democratic presidential nominee as well as others on that party's slate of candidates, then seeking to return to that group.

Hughes would have shrieked and bellowed, at the very least, "How can you trust this senator?  Let this senator stay with the other party!  That's where this senator belongs!"