Chuck Hagel (R) being considered for Obama's VP Pick

[BeatleBoot]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/06/17/hagel_veep/

And Obama's veep is ... a Republican?

Some are buzzing about Chuck Hagel, a strong critic of Bush and the war, for the Democratic ticket. A bold idea or political fantasy?

June 17, 2008 | WASHINGTON -- Something strange happened to Chuck Hagel over the last couple of years: He started to turn into John McCain.

Not the John McCain who's running for president this year, though. The John McCain who ran in 2000 and who rampaged in the Senate for a few years after that -- leading the charge for campaign finance reform, flirting publicly with Democratic leaders, opposing George W. Bush apparently for the sheer fun of it. The John McCain, in other words, who was for a time the favorite Republican of many Democrats.

Now Hagel seems to have taken over that title -- and he's being discussed as a contender for Barack Obama's vice-presidential pick. While Hagel is a long shot for the job, what seems to be stirring some interest in him is less a question of electoral math than of political metaphysics. Running with a Republican would reinforce the message that Obama is serious about changing the way things are done in Washington, and that he really does aim to move the country past the partisan battles of the last couple of decades. At the same time, Hagel's very public split with Bush and the rest of the GOP on the war in Iraq bolsters Obama's case about foreign policy -- that the administration has America on the wrong track vis-à-vis the rest of the world.

But Hagel may be a more attractive candidate in theory than in reality. The buzz about him seems to overlook the fact that he is, despite how much he may like to criticize his own party, a conservative Republican, especially on issues that don't involve foreign affairs. Politics, the saying goes, stops at the water's edge. So might the Obama-Hagel ticket.

<more>

[chimpymustgo]

1. Barf.

Barf again.

[butterfly77]

2. No!

[babylonsister]

3. Political fantasy. nt

[madaboutharry]

4. Other than the war in Iraq, he has nothing in common

with any democrat. He is anti-choice, pro-business, and has voted with Bush more than any other senator.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Yeah.... we're "discussing" it, right now.

It's a terrible idea, and I can't imagine Obama is giving it any serious consideration.

[SteppingRazor]

6. There's a HUGE difference between your OP's title and what the article actually says.

Your OP uses the word "considered," meaning that the Obama campaign is looking at Hagel.

But the article uses the words "being discussed," which does not have the official imprimatur.

[scarletwoman]

7. I call bullshit. Who are these "some" who are "buzzing"? I'm betting it's just some pinheads

talking out their asses. Hey, Salon will pay them for it, so why not?

sw

[Bozita]

8. "being discussed" where? ... Faux News?

Limpballs?

[polichick]

9. I have a feeling Chuck is on the same "short list" as Hillary.

[bunnies]

10. and its stored in the same circular filing cabinet...

[polichick]

12. Yep! :)

[JoFerret]

41. Hillary should not want it

He will not pick her.

[earthlover]

11. Being considered...translated....Not seriously, but wants to reach out to Hagel's supporters....

I don't give it much thought. The article itself said it was highly unlikely. I think that should have been the headline....

[Sensitivity]

13. Would Hagel address National Security risk to ticket more that a Dem?

If not, choice is unlikely, since that is the major requirement both for overall strength of the ticket as well as insurance against an "october surprise" N.S. incident.

[Thrill]

14. Obama would take serious heat from women's groups if he did that

Not going to happen

[gateley]

15. Not gonna happen. And you know that. nt

[charlie]

16. Obama's plan to capture redstate votes

He's going to change his name to Jeb Crabshaw and wear a hat full of fishing lures.

There, I said it. The buzz is on. Run with it people, Salon will pay cash money for this stuff.

[wvbygod]

32. Say it ain't so chuckie

Would that not cause McCain to rename himself to Poindexter and eat raw fish downtown
to capture the non-red states?

[Bravo Zulu]

17. Not if he wants to be President!

[Annces]

18. Hmmm

I think who he picks for VP will say a lot about him.

[Mass]

19. The media would consider anybody if it makes a good headline.

[PBS Poll-435]

24. Obama/Winehouse 2008 nt

[dems_rightnow]

20. I heard McCain's picking Obama

trying to confuse enough voters into voting for him. ;)

[Danger Mouse]

21. He's not going to pick Hagel.

[KingFlorez]

22. I couldn't vote for that ticket

Sorry, but I would not vote for a ticket with an anti-choice nutcase on it. I don't care if he is against the war. No Republicans belong on the Democratic ticket.

[MagickMuffin]

23. Hagel IS NOT a Democrat, he IS a Republicon, he would have to change parties for that to happen

I could possibly see him in a Cabinet position but NOT as a VP running mate.

These people pushing this hypotheses are just being :silly:

I guess it is STILL :silly: season.

[Faygo Kid]

25. Won't happen. Just Salon trying to be "provocative." Stupid article.

"Buzz" self created by this article.

More media idiocy.

[grantcart]

26. Being considered by who?

[kenny blankenship]

28. The OP makes it sound like the Obama campaign is known to be considering this

But there is NO EVIDENCE in the article whatsoever that justifies the OP's characterization. I have alerted on the post, and even a moderator has posted above to complain that the OP distorted the significance of the article in its thread title.

Notice how it posted this stinking garbage and then vanished to watch people fall into the trap.

This crap was supposed to end on June 11.

[grantcart]

31. exactly - my dog is considering anyone with a treat in his hand for vice president

[Zhade]

46. Alert on this shit. I did - it's intentionally-misleading nonsense from a clinton dead-ender.

NT!

[Shakespeare]

27. It's "being discussed" by a lot of armchair internet pundits, and that is ALL.

You TOTALLY misrepresent that story. :thumbsdown:

[WinkyDink]

29. "Being discussed"---Yeah, by nit-wit Republicans.

[MrRobotsHolyOrders]

30. Hagel is a rightwing fanatic

I'm glad he's willing to play the Lieberman role, but he sucks.

He sucks hard.

He sucks with consistency.

[opihimoimoi]

33. NOT a STRONG COMBO.....might be counter productive because of baggage

We need a strong leader who does NOT need help from the Conservative side of things...they having a very weak and detrimental history/record/agenda.

Obama is the best path to POLARITY CHANGE...from Negativity to that of Positive/Promise....something we haven't tried lately.

[Thirylaermi]

34. Hagel

Hagel would be a good choice. Its akin to McCain choosing Lieberman. But it isn't going to happen.

[Sensitivity]

42. I agree. Hagel seems a patriot. He bucked his party for the good of the country. We will see

if Obama pick him. Hagel is one of several suitable V.P. picks. Its Obama choice.

[Sensitivity]

43. I agree. Hagel seems a patriot. He bucked his party for the good of the country. We will see

if Obama pick him. Hagel is one of several suitable V.P. picks. Its Obama choice.

[npincus]

35. reject.

[Onlooker]

36. I'd consider voting third party if he chooses Hagel

Except on the Iraq War, Hagel is a reactionary. Frankly, I'd rather he chose Lieberman who is at least better on social issues. That's how little I think of Hagel. If Obama chooses Hagel, I won't give a penny to him and will have to consider not voting.

[kenny blankenship]

37. please don't feed it

that just encourages it to come back and post more.

[LBJDemocrat]

38. Free Trader

I can understand a little since his state, being a farm state, benefits from NAFTA and globalization, but it would send a very anti-labor message to pick him.

[GoldieAZ49]

39. Heard that on MSNBC, the 'bipartisan' angle

doubt it would fly, don't both parties have rules against that?

[JoFerret]

40. It would be very disappointing if BO picks CH.

.

[Zhade]

44. Let us know when it's OBAMA doing the talking.

Until then, this is rumor-mongering at best.

[JimGinPA]

45. It's Being Discussed By The M$M, But I've Yet To Hear Any Obama Surrogate Mention It