Hagel: Barack Best to Unite Country

Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) said last night that, among the 3 remaining candidates, he thought Barack Obama had the best chance of bringing the country together. While he did not dismiss McCain (he's done that in the Senate) or Clinton (she's had some success in the Senate, not as much as McCain), he said that he believed that Barack Obama, for generational reasons, could best bring the country together.

Hagel also stated that he believes the inventory of problems the next President will face is unprecedented and that that is why it is so important that the country be brought together so that it could really solve problems. Although Hagel did not endorse Obama, he did not rule out the possibility.

Hagel, who is retiring from the Senate and, for awhile, from public life, pointed to data showing 81% of the country believe we are on the "wrong-track", that registration numbers show Republicans to be in the teens and Independents higher than Democrats, and that trust in Congress and the President is at all time lows.

"In a democracy", said Hagel, "people push something else out there" to take the place or transform institutions. He believes that that is what this election will ultimately be about.
[Comments made on Charlie Rose Show].

Comments

[Jer1957]

Sen. Hagel earned his money.

I doubt he actually believes the whores' line about how great the economy is.

I absolve him of his public stupidity.

The much-smeared Lyndon LaRouche has proven himself right on this matter over and over again.

Elected officials with brains might want to join him and take to heart his proposed solutions.

Do it before the economic collapse does in all the people you represent

[SamEllison]

Paul, I'm tired of fighting the Vietnam War. I bet Chuck Hagel is too.

Obama 08

[MrHHusseinMA]

Chuck has one of the soundest minds in American politics today. His words are worth taking to heart!

[foreverleft]

Granted, Hagel's about face with regard to Iraq was stunning. Politically courageous? I don't think so as he was contemplating his departure from the Senate.

As a Clinton supporter, I am more than prepared to enthusiastically defeat McCain with Obama as our nominee.

But with Hagel as a runningmate? His history isn't deserving of such.

Pentagon Chief? Workable but on a really short leash.

[Azor]

What you call Hagel's about face happened when he was still considering running for the presidency himself, so yes, I think it was politically couragous (suicidal too).

[SShaw490]

I think you're forgetting Hagels courage as the first high-profile Republican who said the Iraq war was ill conceived and was a huge mistake, and called for Bush to put together a strategy for getting out. He was ostracized by his party for those remarks, and has more or less abandoned the Republican party.

[newshawk14]

This is just an observation and not an endorsement, but I think Hagel learned and understood
the idiocy of our Viet Nam involvement, whereas I get the strong feeling that McCain, is still
fighting ghosts from the past.

[TheMisfortuneTeller]

As a Vietnam Veteran myself (Nixon-Kissinger Fig Leaf Contingent, 1970-1972) I will remind you that EVERY Vietnam Veteran in Congress -- including Chuck Hagel -- voted to authorize Five Deferment Dick Cheney and Deputy Dubya Bush to launch an "unprovoked and dastardly attack" (to use FDR's description of Japan's Pearl Harbor infamy) on Iraq: a nation that had never attacked or threatened to attack America. To put it bluntly, in the notorious words of "liberal hawk" pundit Thomas Friedman: "We had to hit somebody."

So, we did. We hit "somebody." Just because we wanted to. Just because we felt like it. Just because no one could stop us. And we "hit" the "somebody" Saddam Hussein and his "nobody" country of Iraq PRECISELY because they couldn't hit us back. Or so we presumed. And EVERY Vietnam Veteran in Congress went along for the thrilling political ride. Fuck all of them. At least Chuck Hagel has the good grace to retire in shame. The other fraudulent fools (Senator Kerry and Congressman Murtha) have no shame whatsoever. So, we should have no pity on them and their pathetic political "careers." They need to go. Now. No waiting.

The election of Senator Barack Obama as President this year will simultaneously PUNISH the Iraq-war perps John McBomb (a "veteran") and You-Know-Her (a finishing-school debutante) for the awesome damage they've helped inflict on both Iraq and America. Two down and more still to go. Let justice begin and continue.

[newshawk14]

I agree with most of your post, but it never addressed the issues, I brought
up in my post. I would suggest it would be better to start your own post if
you want to address other issues, that are of concern to you. My main concern
is that I feel that McCain is trying to transfer his Viet Nam experiences to Iraq.

[LoRiseAntlers]

To quote fark.com,"Behold Defense Secretary Hagel."

[SShaw490]

Hagel has more political courage in his little finger than Bill and Hillary have in their entire bodies. I'd be honored to be able to vote for an Obama/Hagel ticket in November. A Hillary/Anybody ticket, though; well, it's just more Washington business-as-usual.

[uffa]

I second that, S. Shaw. Only one to speak out against the bombing of Lebanon two years ago. He's the genuine article, Hagel and if Obama could get him on the ticket, they'd they'd vaporize McCain.

[coolkraft]

he sure does....SShaw and I like u would vote for Obama/Hagel....am sick of the namby pambies, i.e. Gore, Edwards, wimps all

[AtlantaBill]

I've always maintained that Hagel is a likely VP pick should Obama win the nomination. I'm kinda lukewarm to such a ticket but would be an all out supporter.

[MizJ]

Unite the country? He will first have to reconcile the female voters in Hillary's camp before he can reconcile the country. He has allowed his supporters to villify and demean her throughout the campaign so far and showed his contempt with "you're likable enough Hillary" as if he were addressing a child. Should he become the nominee he will need to prove to a lot of us that his perceived misogyny is not showing. Personally, I think he takes his marching orders from his wife who appears to be the militant in the family which may be why he stayed with Rev. Wright for as long as he did.

[inthecolour]

Obama is a feminist. I don't understand why people speak derisively about his relationship with his wife. Michelle seems to be the dominant one in their relationship. What's wrong with that? If anything, it shows that Obama is comfortable enough in his own masculinity to let his wife take charge.

As for his policies, in his Blue Print for change, he has outlines various ways he plans on helping to advance women. He's serious about taking on women's issues.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/womenissues

[vernonbc]

You Hillary supporters with your constant crying about misogyny and sexism are so tiresome. Barack has been surrounded by strong women all his life - his grandmother, his mother, his sister, his wife, his daughters. Yeah, he really hates women. Face it, Hillary is losing because she's not very likeable, not because she's a woman.

[uffa]

Bingo, vernonc.

[sociocanuck]

Look, I agree with you in principle that the misrepresentation of Obama as anti-feminist is fundamentally an inappropriate way to conduct a campaign against him - if only the personal examples of relatives you describe, though it's much more than just that - but I do think that starting a post with "you Hillary supporters" (while grammatically correct and all that) can be far too easily misinterpreted as starting off on the wrong foot with spiteful language by whoever it is to whom the response is directed.

Please don't get the impression that I've singled you out, though. Maybe I'm just too lazy to scroll down or change over the page ;)

[Petey]

This "you're likable enough Hillary" moment stuck in a lot of craws. I'm convinced it was a cultural misunderstanding. Are you at all open to the possibility that he was not, in fact, demonstrating contempt? Or that I am not spinning when tell you that this response would have been quite respectable among my friends? (In fact, I was surprised to see the attacks the day after that debate because, to my eyes, he had handled the moment with class.)

Granted, his tone was of lighthearted sparring, but if he had rained compliments on her -- THAT would have been patronizing. He treated her as an equal, worthy opponent, someone who could stand up for herself just fine without his paternal protection. Honestly, I think he was trying to convey respect.

Then, in Vegas, he showed more class when asked if he regretted the remark. He didn't try to over-explain himself or defend himself. He simply said, yes, he regretted the remark because obviously it didn't come across in the way he intended it.

I know, I know -- even if all this is true, doesn't it show a gaping flaw in the great unifier's ability to communicate? I don't really think so. No human will be able to find the right tone that will turn everyone on all the time. But he's doing pretty damn well overall. Like anyone with a good heart and good intentions, various people will take more or less time to warm up to him.

[JudeLaure]

Are you kidding me? Apologize to women voters -- what in heavens name for? I'm a woman and I see nothing wrong with how he has treated her and neither do my friends.
VILLIFY AND DEMEAN -- let's see Hillary had her surrogates sending out emails caling him a Muslim, she sat on 60 Minutes and said "as far as i know" he's not a Muslim when she knows darn well he's not, she had many surrogates talking about whether or not Obama had been a drug dealer. She has aligned herself with McCain by saying she and McCain have passed some so-called threshhold to be Commander in Chief that Barack hasnt. The list goes on and on. If anyone should apologize it's Hillary. As a woman, I'm ashamed of the nasty, self-centered, power-grabbing contest she has run. Yes I'd like a woman for president but not this woman, not ever. Give me Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas or Janet Napolitano of Arizona or even Nancy Pelosi. If Hillary gets the nod, I'm writing in Obama.

Vote Hope - Change America
YES WE CAN!
OBAMA '08

[cathye]

Funny out the same people who called us women for Obama traitors to our gender and said all men for Obama were sexist pigs are more than willing to call Nancy Pelosi, the highest ranking woman in politics in the US, the whole gamut of gendered cusswords.

[Herrington]

Uniter, divider, what is the difference? Divider pits one identity group against the other for political advantage. Uniter appeals to multiple identity groups for political power.

The cynics of the far left believe that it is too late, government is in the hands of the corporations. It is, but it is not too late to change that. All that has to be done is to communicate to the people that this needs to be done and through that public motivation communicate to the corporations that they are done running the government by popular demand. Anyone in government that opposes the will of the people will not be in government for long.

The key to success is principle and effective communication. Speaking to the public, clearly and with candor, is essential and irreplaceable. The voters need to know in no uncertain terms that they are doing the right thing, in light of the daily bombardment of punditry that argues otherwise.

Will Obama do that? Maybe. Can he do it? Definitely. the fact that his race speech has completely eradicated the effects of the Wright sermons should be telling you something. That something is not only that Obama can make a great speech that moves people, but also that he trusts the American people to make the right decision, given the facts and perspective. That is the real thing.

[chocco]

Although I think most of Senator Hagel's politics suck (especially his anti-abortion stance), I have a tremendous respect for him because he doesn't bullshit. Talk about straight talk. When he came out and blasted Bush over the war, it took courage and balls. I wondered why most of the Democrats, the supposed party of opposition, didn't have someone who was as no nonsense and articulate as Hagel. It's good to know he is speaking highly of Obama. I will wait to see if he publicly endorses him....if he does, Obama should probably think about putting him in his cabinet.

[newshawk14]

Although he is not currently my favorite politician, I think Clinton did well to appoint to appoint
Senator Cohen as Secretary of Defense. I think Senator Obama would also do well to look
at some well respected Republicans, such as Chuck Hagel and Richard Lugar, for positions
in his cabinet. However, I would select ones where they are not ideologically conflicted.

[uffa]

Oh yeah. Like Chuck Hagel is just the type to endorse a flim flam man. Get over yourself.

[PardonMyFrenchFries]

So Obama is now getting support from the anti-abortion crowd. Well, he must be the uniter that we have been waiting for. First, Casey and now Hagel.
Obama is who you want he him to be? Just an empty canvas.
I thought we projected incorrectly alot of our hopes onto Bush in 2000 and what do you know, America wants to do it again.

[WaveFunction]

Yeah, Obama is sure a whole lot like George W. Bush.

He runs on a platform of religiosity and 'gut-feelins' and hawkish foreign policy and 'compassionate conservativism.' And lowering the taxes of the richest 1%.

Wait? What's that? He wants to do none of those things? He actually wants to the opposite of everything Bush has done?

My bad.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

No Retreat, No Surrender. I don't want to unite with Liberals, last I recall, I don't dislike America.

[mjc]

Willing to bet that Kassandra has it right. Hagel has never been one to jump on any bandwagon and is more likely than most to view the political situation skeptically. As to Obama being the "uniter", sorry, there are many in several states who view Obama and his campaign leaders as anything but divisive. I've talked to voters in Wyoming who said that the Obama supporters were so rude and so wild that they just went home rather than wait in line with Obamacons. In the caucuses in Texas just ending tonight the chaos of the caucus could be laid at the feet of the Obama supporters who brought in whole families, many of which didn't even live in the precinct but who were going to be recognized as delegates. Yes, that is the failing of the Clinton organization in that there were not enough people who were Clinton supporters who could bring law and order into some of these precincts. But the Obama people left a distinct bad taste in the mouths of some for their bad manners and political bullying. And, yes, Obama has to accept the behavior of his supporters if he has any hope of "uniting" Democrats and the rest of the nation.

[SShaw490]

Caucuses in Texas? Let me give you a few first hand observations from the Montgomery County caucuses today:

(1) When Obama's name was mentioned from the podium, the Hillary people booed until the speaker called them down on it.
(2) Some Clinton woman accosted my wife over her Obama shirt, saying, "You're going to vote against your gender? It's Hillary's TURN. You OWE this to us." Apparently, she didn't consider that my wife was representing the votes of 30 or more caucus-goers, not just her personal position. Apparently, Clinton can't win outright, but her supporters have not problem trying to badger delegates into misrepresenting their constituents. She lies so easily, I'm sure she doesn't have any problem trying to get other people to lie, too.
(3) Walking into the conventional hall, we personally observed three men surrounding a young lady, maybe 20 years old or so, and demanding that she explain why she was voting for Obama. She did a great job telling them her positions - although I'd have been happy if she'd told them to kiss her ass.

Let me tell you - if the entire political world consisted of Clinton supporters and Republicans - if that's the only two camps you could join - I'd tell the political world to kiss MY ass.

[vernonbc]

Give me a break. Hillary was the one who called for a horde of lawyers to show up at the caucuses to create as much mischief as possible. There are tons of stories out there about how the Clintonites are causing disruptions at the caucuses. To be fair, there are also lots of stories about how well the two sides are getting along in some of them. You're just sore because she's losing even worse than she did on election night.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Enough of the stampede to an Obamanana Republic.

He doesn't have the votes. Hillary doesn't have the votes.

We have elections and count votes here, don't we?

(And yes, I understand the math and TODAY's polls, so don't even bother.)

[vernonbc]

"He doesn't have the votes. Hillary doesn't have the votes."

Ahh, but Barack has way more votes than Hillary. And more delegates, and more states wons. In the end, the one who comes out ahead is the winner. And more and more supers are coming out everyday to make Barack's victory even more emphatic. Deal with it.

[Kassandra]

I saw Hagel on TEEVEE and he DID NOT SAY THAT. He said he didn't support ANY of the candidates, but "we'd better get it right after the mess of the last several years."

I have a good memory and that is EXACTLY what he said. He complimented Barack on his fine words. That's it. Now the progressive media is spinning too. Geesh!

PS: Hagel is the only Republican I have ever had any respect for in this last 7+years

[4wehttam]

Are we reading the same thing? Abrams didn't say that Hagel said he supported Obama. He said that Obama was THE BEST TO UNITE THE COUNTRY (which he DID say). Sheesh, open your eyes or put on a pair of glasses or something.

[Tejano1]

do you have a transcript to quote from? looks like you just want to hate on any comment that is complimentary to obama. that's just SAD.

[cruizer]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I now have a new truly "dream team " ticket: Obama/Hagle.

Does anyone think that McCain/anybody could beat them?

[uffa]

Cruizer, no way would anybody beat them. It would be lights out for McCain, even with Condi Rice.

[Azor]

I saw Hagel a few hours ago at a book signing. He was asked to comment about Wright, and he gave a lengthy answer that was very complimentary of Obama, including saying that there is really something special or unique about him, mentioned in the context of leadership. I wish I could remember better what he said. Though I had already read this OP I was quite startled but how effusive his words were. He ended with a smile saying that his words should in no way be construed as an endorsement.

[PaulAbrams]

You must have missed that segment. After Hagel said that uniting the country was of paramount importance, Charlie Rose asked him which of the 3 would be best to do that. Hagel stated, and gave the reason as generational, that he thought that was Barack Obama.

I hope we are not adopting rightwing tactics of denying facts we happen not to like.