Yesterday Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) learned the consequences for criticizing Barack Obama and crossing party lines to support Republican Sen. John McCain during the presidential campaign. As it turned out, Senate Democrats were merciful to their “political prodigal” and voted to keep Lieberman in the party’s caucus. In addition, Lieberman will remain chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and head of the subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee that oversees air and land power issues. He did agree, however, to surrender his spot on the Environment and Public Works Committee.

Anger toward Lieberman seems to have softened since Election Day, and Democrats didn’t want to drive him from the Democratic caucus by taking away his chairmanship and send the wrong signals as Obama takes office on a pledge to unite the country. Lieberman had indicated it would be unacceptable for him to lose his chairmanship.

Lieberman offered apologies for some of his remarks during the campaign and told his peers he would “always be a Democrat.”