(Host) And now, Sounds of 2008. We’re listening back to some of the news, and newsmakers, of the past year. And in this election year, Senator Patrick Leahy’s voice was heard across the country.
Leahy endorsed Barack Obama for president early during the primary season. When the campaign continued well into the spring, Leahy was the first prominent Democrat to call on Senator Hillary Clinton to drop out.
(Leahy) "There is no way that Senator Clinton is going to win enough delegates to get the nomination. She ought to withdraw and she ought to be backing Senator Obama. Now, obviously that’s a decision that only she can make."
(Host) After the election was over, Leahy was the first Senate Democrat to call for Senator Joe Lieberman to be stripped of his committee chairmanship. That was because Lieberman campaigned hard for John McCain for president.
(Leahy) "Senator Lieberman’s chairmanship will come up for a vote. Every senator will have to vote the way that he or she believes they should. I’m one who does not feel that somebody should be rewarded with a major chairmanship after doing what he did." (:13)
(Host) In the end, Senator Lieberman kept his chairmanship.
Click here to tell us what your favorite sounds of 2008 were and to go to the series page. Click on the links below to go to the full stories.
Leahy says Lieberman should not be allowed to keep chairmanship
Leahy says Clinton should drop out of race
AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson