Hagel To Join Obama On Iraq Trip

The buzz this week that Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska is planning to join Sen. Barack Obama on an up-coming visit to Iraq is correct, two sources with knowledge of the trip confirmed Friday.

A spokesman for Sen. Obama declined to comment on any details or even confirm the date uncertain trip, citing security concerns. A spokesman for Sen. Hagel did not respond to requests for comment.

While it is standard practice for such trips--known as CODELS, or congressional delegations--to be bipartisan, in this highly charged election year it is likely to raise eyebrows that the retiring Nebraskan senator--a prominent Iraq War critic--is the Republican expected to join the Democratic Party's presidential nominee on what is sure to be a closely watched visit to the region.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[sangsue]

This is Classic Obama genius! He knows where he's strong and where he may not be as strong so he's reassuring us and disarming the nay sayers by showing his choices for his cabinet will be strong.

And Hagel would make a great SOD or SOS.

However, even if he is a social conservative, he's not an idealogue.

[walkthewalk]

For security reasons, could we not discuss the details of Obama's upcoming trip?

[williamg]

No details have been released. I doubt commenting on this site puts anyone's life at risk.

[teron678]

Hagel is one of the few Repubs i like ...

Obama should add him to his administration .... if elected ....

[MoeB]

This is a great decision and I see it as a first glimpse of SOD Chuck Hagel. I don't see him as VP simply because he's too conservative on social issues, and women--especially many of HRC's supporters--would eat him alive on his stance on women's issues. So bad choice there. But I think Hagel can be more than useful in a number of ways--since he is a republican, he can be the filter Obama needs to get more republicans to side with him on national security issues.

Could we REALLY be headed toward a more bi-partisan way of politics? I know that this trip is traditionally bi-partisan, but I don't think that Hagel and Obama going together was any sort of coincidence.

[bosshogg]

great move......... we get hagel repubs get lieberman sound like a good deal to me....................

[XME]

Good idea...they see eye to eye on the issue of Iraq, so it makes perfect sense. I actually hope that Obama would offer Hagel a cabinet position WHEN he's s our next president as I think he's an asset. No VP though...that's too close to the prisident's job for someone who's extremeley conservative on most other issues. Good guy though.

[ClydeSloppers]

I think Obama is smart to have Hagel at his side so when he determines that the Surge is indeed working and that victory is possible in Iraq that Obama will be able to masterfully spin his new position to still be one separate from McCains and one that allows evenn the left supports him.

[meanguy]

thank god, they found a chaperone for barry

[Relax08]

At least he doesn't need someone whispering in his ear where he is!

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Who is traveling with the old man?

[PAposter]

...more like a very knowledgeable serviceman, I'm sure he'll be accompanied by other well-versed officials as well.

[Mygirl]

great move.

[PAposter]

WTF is up with HuffPo telling me my comments have already been posted? So annoying!

[AlieNation]

Obama should also take Jim Webb and Wesley Clark with him. Their connections to the military would reasssure alot of Americans that this trip might actually be for "fact finding" and not just a photo Op.

[mapleman]

agreed. genius. pure and utter genius.
and don't forget - criminal proceedings have not been ruled out under the FISA bill..
He taught Constitutional Law. He's no Dummy. Let's see what happens down the road.

[ohmercy]

This is a GREAT idea.
Very smart.

Nascar?
not so much.
LOL

FISA?
Abominable.

Thanks and Kudos to Hagel.

[PAposter]

I'm not really a Nascar fan, but I used to watch the Indy 500, however I think this is a brilliant move by Obama, I never would have thought of a cultural way to identify with some of the hard to reach constituents.

[casey70]

This will get the refs worked up.

[DrittesReich]

Hage, Biden, Clark, Powell ..all those progessive good forces, forming "US THE PEOPLE" , get on board! TIME IS UP!!!!

[JackND]

I can't think of a better person to accompany Obama than his future Secretary of Defense.