Hagel: McCain On "Thin Ground" With Recent Attacks

On CBS' "Face The Nation," Chuck Hagel responded to John McCain's recent attacks on Barack Obama's trip abroad and withdrawal plan: "John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives and when we start to get into, 'You're less patriotic than me. I'm more patriotic ... "it's just not responsible to be saying things like that."

Hagel also said he doesn't think McCain's new ad bashing Obama for not visiting troops in Germany is "appropriate."

Partial transcript:

BOB SCHIEFFER: Let me just ask you this, Senator Hagel. You're a Republican. For a long time you were very, very close to John McCain-I want to ask you later, are you still that close-but he has been very, very hard on Senator Obama all this week. And I mean the gloves have really come off. This morning in an interview on ABC he said, I think it was seven times, that Senator Obama simply doesn't understand the stakes in Iraq. he doesn't understand the situation there. And earlier in week, we'll look at some tape here, here is how he put it at one point.

JOHN MCCAIN: Senator Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a campaign.

BOB SCHIEFFER: He said this morning that Senator Obama's strategy was based, basically, on political expediency, that he chose-and these are Senator McCain's words-"a political path that would get him the nomination."

CHUCK HAGEL: Well, let me begin by making this comment in answering your question. Both of these men are smart, capable, decent men who love their country. I think we, as a nation, are far better off for these two capable men-one will have to govern this country and bring the country together as well as lead the world and bring the world together-and that's going to take a bipartisan consensus, to govern. They're better off to focus on policy differences. I think John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives and when we start to get into, "You're less patriotic than me. I'm more patriotic." I admire and respect John McCain very much. I have a good relationship. To this day we do. We talk often. I talked to him right before I went to Iraq, as a matter of fact. John's better than that. And he's not asked for advice on this, but since you've asked me the question, I think both he and Barack have to be very careful here because it's just not responsible to be saying things like that.

...

BOB SCHIEFFER: Well let me-just in line with what you said, the McCain campaign came out with a new ad because Senator Obama chose not to visit those troops in the hospital in Germany. Let's take a look at this.

Story continues below

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NARRATOR: Barack Obama never held a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan. He hadn't been to Iraq in years. He voted against funding our troops. And now he made time to go to the gym but canceled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras. John McCain is always there for our troops. McCain-country first.

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

...

CHUCK HAGEL: Let me add to that. As you know, Bob, the congressional delegation that you referred to ended when we parted in Jordan. At that point, it was a political trip for Senator Obama. I think it would have been inappropriate for him and certainly he would have been criticized by the McCain people and the press and probably should have been if on a political trip in Europe paid for by political funds-not the taxpayers-to go, essentially, then and be accused of using our wounded men and women as props for his campaign. I think the judgment there-and I don't know the facts by the way. I know what you've just read. No one has asked me about it other than what you've just asked about. But I think it would be totally inappropriate for him on a campaign trip to go to a military hospital and use those soldiers as props. So I think he probably, based on what I know, he did the right thing. We saw troops everywhere we went on the congressional delegation. We went out of our way to see those troops. We wanted to see those troops. And that's part of our job to see those troops, by the way, and listen to those troops, Bob. And we did.

BOB SCHIEFFER: Do you think that ad was appropriate?

CHUCK HAGEL: I do not think it was appropriate.

BOB SCHIEFFER: You do not.

CHUCK HAGEL: I do not.

Read more of the transcript here.

Comments

[Azor]

Interesting article about Hagel from the Nebraska press:

For Hagel, it's country above political party
http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/07/27/news/local/doc488b9ee866686581013713.txt#image

[Azor]

Interesting article about Hagel from the Nebraska press:



For Hagel, it's country above political party

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/07/27/news/local/doc488b9ee866686581013713.txt#image

[Azor]

Aplogies for the double post. Browser hicup.

[dagnew]

CH lost me when he referred to (O) and Mickey C as "smart, capable, and decent..." and able to govern this country. He got one out of two right.

[TeriMcCarthy]

I really like Chuck Hagel, he could be a good VP pick.

[DASM]

As I've said before- is McCain telling us he- McCain- would defy the Pentagon's orders? He needs to be asked this, as he has pledged unfailing support of the Pentagon many times before. So, Johnny, "my friend", the Pentagon tells you not to do something. Do you thumb your nose & defy them? Yes or no. Do you?

[nonconformist2]

Unlike Mc.Cain, Hagel is the REAL example of what a maverick looks like. I may not agree with him on some of his socially conservative views, but I respect him for standing up for what he believes in and for what is right.

[dukeitout]

Sen. Hagel is so right on his view on the Iraq war. However, I disagree with him where he states that "Both (Obama and McCain) of these men are smart, capable, decent men who love their country. I think we, as a nation, are far better off for these two capable men." Let's go down the list:
(1) are they smart? McCain isn't. His judgement on the Iraq war is terrible. Obama is smart.
(2) are they decent? yes
(3) are they capable? Obama is and probably will make a good president. McCain gets a C minus but gets an F on presidential potential.
(4) is the country "far better off (because) of these two capable men?" sounds like one glad-hander buttering up another.
(5) would Hagel make a good VP choice for Sen. Obama? Probably.

[neesy08]

Excellent job, defending Obama. Why this man is a member of the GOP is beyond me. He's too descent.

[whatsthatsound]

Freudian slip, there. The word is "decent", but "descent" works rather well when referring to the GOP.
Having formerly been the party of Lincoln, and all.

[nanton29]

The irony is that John McCain used to be Hagel-like and not afraid to cross party lines, now he has to pander to the neo-cons and is quickly resorting to the partisan politics. That never was his make up before. That is a sign of weakness.

[Grannysue]

Hagel I know it's difficult for you to bash the GOPERS, and really I don't understand why you stay one of them, because you are one of a very few that just doesn't fit their mold, and I use that word figueratively, so why not become an Independent, like me, that way your not looking like your trading in to become a Dem but your cutting the ties with these bafoons. Wish you would consider it.

[Flagal]

Chuck is what repubs used to stand for many, many years ago. and it was not all bad

[66rock]

Exactly, Hagel is what the GOP looked like when I was a kid in the 50s and 60s. If that party is smart they will work to return to those roots after the diaster of the Bush years.

[nonconformist2]

Maybe Chuck can be a rallying cry for a new type of republican. One that is not a w.ar monger. One thing is for sure, the republicans will be descimated in November. They have to either evolve or find themselves irrelevant but for a small group of hardliners.

[bish66]

Tell me again what party affiliation Hagel has... And they call Lieberman a traitor..

Good thing for Hagel that he does not run for re-election. People in Nebraska would tar and feather him.

[Danigirl65]

Somehow, I think the people in Nebraska should be pretty darn proud this is their Senator. If you're going to vote Repug, at least pick one with a brain that works and a mouth that stands up for what is right.

[kellygrrrl]

Hagel is one of the few ReThugs I actually have any respect for

I may not agree with his Conservative POV, but at least he is REAL
Most Conservatives these days are nothing but greedy hypocrites

[Flagal]

he is a good man who along with his brother volunteered to risk their lives for our country.
and importantly doesnt brag (or even mention) about putting himself in harms way for all of us, unlike Johnny M who said he would never make that a campaign issue but pretty much uses it every other sentence.

[LiberTLover]

Yet he made sure his POW record was sealed away from public view, after the vote to release them was passed by the House, at the urging of other POWs and MIA fanilies, 401-0. If McSleazy is going to run on his record, the public should be allowed to see it and make up our own mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFM1xqqTX_g

[starfire426]

HYPOCRITTE, being the operative word!!!

[Harrygton]

Hagel is not running for a Senate Seat in November..­. this makes his words even more significant and honest! Sometimes when you join a party, you need to vote alone party lines to get your State's interests listened to. So don't pay too much attention about his voting record, it may not be representative of his personal opinion but of the people in the State that elected him(we live in a Republic). Personally, I would prefer a political system free of Party Politics where INDIVIDUALS are chosen for their own platform and abilities!

[bish66]

If he would run for reelection, he would bash Obama for all that he is worth.

[Axolotl]

in a good world, Hagel could be O's VP

[lainey]

Senator McCain has not yet learned that the American people believe that any service--parenting, working in communities that struggle, paying taxes, abiding by laws, etc--are also qualifications of being "patriotic­." I appreciate all that our armed services do and have done, and I am sure that they do not feel their civilian counterparts love their country less than they do. Having said that, it really is high-time that McCain become careful with his words. He challenged Senator Obama to goes overseas--Obama won. He is now challenging him about winning wars--which one did McCain win? Vietnam? Iraq? Neither belong in the win category and the latter is largely seen as an invasion. So, be careful what you wish for Mr. McCain, because thus far your calculations have all been wrong--it started with the vote to go to Iraq, then it went to criticizing a trip that demonstrated that other leaders are more interested in working with Obama and then most important, Senator Obama's original decision that going to Iraq was wrong and that our focus should have always been in Afghanista­n/Pakistan are positions that everyone can agree upon--even Bush. That is evidenced in our newer policies of working with others.

[enoughalready]

It seems McCain has lost the Maverick title and turned to the nasty Bush tactics of the past 7+ years. Patriotism is not his to judge nor would Obama judge him. He should be ashamed of himself.

Americans are simply sick of being played like fools and have our patriotism questioned by the likes of Bush/Cheney and their supporters while this administration lies to all of us and stomps all over our constitution.

I want the smart candidate that will listen to advisors and dare appoint cabinet members that would question him rather than rubber stamp everything.

McCain has gotten way too close to Bush. That absolutely scares me!

[Americanium]

John McCain is running scared. Ads of desperations caused by internal polling which shows he is on sinking sand.

John McCain is running SCARED!!!!!!!!!!

[Ozarks]

He also puts his foot in his mouth when he gets angry. Anger, scared and desperate result in that pitiful moment in the Big Cheese department at the supermarket. There will be more of these McCain moments. He may get some pity votes in November.