Hagel's Wife To Back Obama

RICHMOND, Va. — The wife of Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel plans to endorse Democrat Barack Obama.

Lilibet Hagel has scheduled a 10 a.m. news conference in Alexandria, Va., on Tuesday with Susan Eisenhower, the granddaughter of Republican President Eisenhower. Susan Eisenhower also is an Obama supporter.

Hagel, R-Neb., has made no endorsement. Lilibet Hagel said in an Associated Press interview that her decision was independent of her husband. She said she didn't know whether he would make an endorsement or whom he would support.

"You'd have to ask him," Lilibet Hagel said.

She said it will be her first endorsement of a Democrat and that perilous world conditions were a factor.

"The fact is we're in two wars, two of the longest we've ever been in. We've run up a third of our nation's debt in just the past eight years. We're in the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression," she said.

The Hagels know John and Cindy McCain, and she said her endorsement was not meant to slam them.

"This isn't anti-McCain. This is pro-Obama. I'm just convinced he's the right person," she said.

The Hagels vote in Nebraska, but they have lived in Washington's Virginia suburbs since Hagel won his first Senate term in 1996.

A moderate Republican and veteran wounded in combat in the Vietnam War, Hagel has been a fierce and credible critic of the Bush administration's Iraq policies. During the summer, he accompanied Obama and Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was briefly the object of speculation as a possible surprise Obama running mate selection.

Hagel has decided not to seek re-election, and will leave the Senate when his second term officially ends in January.

(This version CORRECTS Corrects that Susan Eisenhower is granddaughter, sted daughter of Eisenhower.)

Comments

[bluerednot]

THANK YOU Lilibet Hagel !!! We can hope & pray that more and more rational and fir minded individuals will see things the same way and step forward to be counted on behalf of decency.

In a variation of an old line -
"now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country"

The grasping for support through the use of anger and hate must come at a price - and that price should be the loss of the respect (and support) of the fair minded citizens of this nation.

[DoomtoNeoCons]

Mc Cain f@ils just a little bit more each day.

[chubbydogwalker]

Lilibet and Susan are the women with more courage than men. They gave me hope that some conservatives and GOP still put country first, and not go with party line.

[emmaspeaks]

You are absolutely right. That is where women show they are strong. Not winking and pretending to be tough by being a pit bull. Getting in the arena, not complaining, and doing what you need to ....end of story. Have the courage to do what is right, even if it is against the tide...and have grace and poise and character as you go.

[Opsimath44]

Hagel is not a moderate Republican. He's 100% conservative, more so than McCain. The problem is, the GOP is not longer really conservative, so Hagel stands out for being consistent.

By "moderate," maybe you meant "not a jerk." That definitely makes him stand out in today's politics.

[HateLieCheatKillRepubWay]

LMAO, I personally think conservative is a euphemism for hypocrite, but that's just me.

[JLee]

The modern mainstream of the Republican Party stands for authoritarianism, not conservatism. Fiscally conservative moderates like Lincoln Chaffee and libertarian conservatives like Ron Paul no longer have a place, leaving mostly Reagan and Bush II far-right religious fundamentalists. That in turn led to an exodus of moderates from the party and swelled the Democratic tent with figures like, say, Jim Webb, arguably a conservative.

Big electoral defeats for the GOP this year, particularly at the top of the ticket, would be good for the party in the long run. It'll allow them to purge or weaken a lot of the extremist elements and actually gain back some electoral viability.

[Whinger]

He must be a happy man knowing he married an intelligent woman who loves the smell of coffee!

[loax]

Here is a woman who is unafraid to speak her mind, unlike Palin who only parrots Republicans talking points. Thank you Mrs. hagel!

[grantlingel]

good for her!
http://grantlingel.blogspot.com

[SeanHannity4Obama]

"...her decision was independent of her husband." Lili, we are grown ups to know that you have already persuaded your husband in the, uh uh, bedroom to support Obama. No man says NO during bedroom politics

[2cntswrth]

Since Hagel is leaving in January, wonder if Obama has a cabinet position in mind for him? Like ...Secretary of Defense?

[suekzoo]

Or Dept of Veteran Affairs...

[SeanHannity4Obama]

Yes, veterans' affairs. we dont need a republican AGAIN AT defense

[BLinCincinnati]

I'm expecting Secretary of Veterans' Affairs.

[dayala]

I think there's talk of keeping Gates as SOD, I hope Obama finds a military cabinet position for Hagel
perhaps National Security Advisor.

[DinkSinger]

Susan Eisenhower is an expert on International Security and Russia. Her ex-husband and current business partner, Roald Sagdeev, was director of the Russian Space Research Institute. She left the Republican party to endorse Obama and spoke at the Democratic Convention. Her dad, John Eisenhower left the Republican party in 2004 and supported John Kerry. She would make an ideal Ambassador to Russia in the Obama administration.

[munki]

I did the same... my friends (female executives) are not comfortable with Palin...

[bootcamp]

McCain has nowhere to go now but down. He can run away from President Bush, but he can't run away from the Republican Party. The Republicans will be regarded from now on as "the party that wrecked America." Over the weeks ahead, as carnage in the economy and the financial markets ramps up, it will become increasingly clear. It is important that this meme be spread through the internet. I urge all commentators to adopt and spread the idea that the Republicans are "the party that wrecked America." It will work because it is the truth.

[mstoot]

Good for you, Lilibet, and thank you!!