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.

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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

[letsgetsmart]

OK, let's swap one L who nobody likes, for a H. The main theme of his answer was on the side of decency and respect which is an extinct animal in the republicans. I can't remember when was the last time I saw respect and decency the winner over greed from the republicans. Must have been when N left office early at the request of the people for getting caught in the break in. H, you are totally wasted on that party and we have a guy that we would really like to get rid of. How about it?

[Coinyer101]

it's too bad that chuck hagel and colin powell are the only republicans left with any integrity.im independent,but,will vote heavily democratic ,this year,as an obama supporter.if he truly wants unity in this next government ,i think both of these men would be tremendous assets in his administration,in any capacity.

[kate123]

I like this man! And I wonder why he still calls himself a Republican. If he'd just admit that he's deep down a Democrat, then I'd love to see him on the ticket with O.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

However decent a man Hagel is, on many many other issues he is a rock-ribbed Republican.

[Cathar]

Again the press does not tell the whole story. Show McCain's POOR voting record on veteran issues( the latest his non support of the GI bill). Of course this would put him in a bad light. It seems to me that the press is going out of its way to keep McCain competitive in spite of himself. But to allow lies and half truths to stand without a counter balance of the facts are simply wrong. If you all want to be is the Pravda of the Republican party , like fox news is, just let us know so we can discount your comments.

[the964kid]

Hagel might be the only well known Republican who has any integrity.

I may disagree with a guy like Hagel on some issues, but I can certainly respect him and his opinions. One of the reasons our government gets so little done for the voters is because its full of shameless partisans on both sides. Hagel is one of the rare people who actually thinks about an issue and arrives at his own conclusion. Imagine that.

[Coinyer101]

i agree,and i think colin powell is one of those rare people ,too,if he hasnt been damaged ,too much,by the bush administration.i'd like to see both of these men in the obama administration,in whatever capacity he feels would best serve him and the nation.

[Jonni Rae]

He is not pro-choice. That is a deal breaker for many.

[macintoshsauce]

Yes, killing unborn babies is now a prerequisite for becoming President. Do you know how stupid you sound?

[Mekarri]

Hagel is just abandoning a sinking ship like any other rat would do. I am not that forgiving. Just because you decide to speak out at this moment doesn't mean that I would EVER trust you. It is easy to citizen when you are trying to save your own neck or trying to get with the winning team. No he doesn't impress me at all. I am not falling for it.

[Azor]

Not fair. If he wanted to stay a senator, all he had to do is keep his mouth shut for the last few years. He is not a rat. I do not remember what the questions was, but if you look at the whole transcript, you will see that in the interview he also said "country before party". And I think he means it. One should be able to disagree with somebody and still respect that person.

[Triciann]

McCain may have lost the Republican nomination in 2000 due to the dirty tricks of the Bush campaign led by Rove. So now he thinks it's OK and even laudable to run the same dirty tricks campaign against Obama. What sort of "man" is he? Not ethical, not strong, not honest. That's just a beginning. Message to allies, "don't trust this man". Actually I don't think they need telling this. They already know.

VP for McCain, General Petraeus. Seems McCain wants the military commanders to run the country. Are we living in the USA or Pakistan?

[Dreamers101]

I like Senator Chuck Ha’gel and I think he would make a fine VP for O but alas he can not be a heartbeat away from the presidency as a setting Rep’ublican the far left would be in a frenzy.

[RobertAndropolis]

And the right would be planning a coup.

[JohnFromCensornati]

You got that right, and in fact, Obama liked to beat HilRod over the head with the fact that he was against the war from the start. Hagel is a *very* recent convert.

[PumaAnn]

I think it's hilarious to see the Democrat surrogates adopt the position that they can dictate to Republicans what is and is not appropriate for ads.

That chutzpah seems to be catching!

[Dreamers101]

When PUMA’s attack you hear a meow

NOPUMA – Pointless Unity for Miserable A$$holes

O BA’MA O BA’MA O BA’MA O BA’MA O BA’MA O BA’MA

[shel3364]

When PUMAs "attack", I just hear a bunch of whiny pu$$ys.

[abigail1]

sorry, but Chuck Hagel is a Republican.

[Dreamers101]

Typical of the lowinformation voters she probably thinks Ba’rack Ob’ama is an “INADEQUATE BLACKMALE”!!!!!!

[Triciann]

They were commenting, dear! Your comments show how confused you and your ilk are. Decent folks both here and abroad look down on unethical behavior and that includes this type of ad. It also leads to those with any intelligence to lose respect and trust in the perpetrators.

[nclayla]

Well, PumaAnn, seems like you are going out of your way to highlight your ignorance. (A trait you share with your fellow PUMA, the infamous Harriet Christian.)

First of all, Chuck Hagel is a REPUBLICAN, he is not a Democrat and he is not speaking on behalf of Senator Obama. Secondly, he is not dictating anything - he is answering questions about the inappropriateness of the recent McCain attack ads.

[YunekFlava]

It does not matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat, all you have to be is a rational, intelligent, clear-thinking, un-biased, person that knows what is right or wrong to see,

Right is Right and Left is Left.

Now that wasn't so hard. Was it?

[shel3364]

-- the congressional delegation that you referred to ended when we parted in Jordan. At that point, it was a political trip for Senator Obama.--

This is the most important thing to note.

[findingthetruth]

Most Republicans KNOW that McCain is in serious trouble. Hagel is only one (of the few) to admit it. For the next three months ----- the GOP will consistantly TRY to stay afloat just cleaning up McCain's TRUE COLORS.

[tampa 813]

obama didnt go to the hospital because the bush admin told him he couldnt go. the pentagon called him the day before he was scheduled to go to tell him it would be innapropriate... and by the way he did go to the gym and play basketball WITH THE TROOPS!!!!!

[truegreen]

Now Hagel is a man who loves his country not McCain.

[gladys46]

Thank you for your very reasoned responses Senator, Sir!

[DaOne]

Wow surpised dumb old Schieffer didn't have a look of disbelief on his face as he did when Wes Clark gave him an answer he didn't like.

[apoyo]

Maybe because when it's a face to face interview he has to try to appear unbiased.

[DanniD]

Gee, a Republican with a brain and decency. We need to get him on the endangered species list!

[4wehttam]

LOL...............Heck Yeah!!!