Sarah Palin has energized the Republican base since John McCain picked her as his vice-presidential running mate, but one prominent Republican is not impressed.
Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican, is questioning whether Palin has enough foreign-policy experience to serve as the country’s second-in-command. “She doesn’t have any foreign policy credentials,” Hagel told the Omaha World-Herald. “You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don’t know what you can say. You can’t say anything.”
“I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense about, ‘I look out my window and I see Russia and so therefore I know something about Russia,” he added. “That kind of thing is insulting to the American people.”
A conservative Vietnam War veteran and outspoken critic of the Iraq War, Hagel has cultivated a reputation as somebody unafraid to buck his party.
Hagel traveled with Democratic candidate Barack Obama to Afghanistan in July and was mentioned as a possible Obama running mate. He had kind words for Obama’s eventual pick, Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden.
“An Obama-Biden ticket is a very impressive and strong team,” Hagel said in August.
photo: REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (Obama and Hagel visit Amman, Jordan in July 2008)
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For starters, Chuck Hagel is no republican. Ho the people of Nebraska continue to elect this idiot is beyond me.
Secondly, the continued attacks on Sarah Palin are laughable and show just how scared and desperate the Dems are. Shes got them shaking in their boots. Just wait until the debates are over. This election is in the books. She’ll make Joe “Stand Up Chuck” Biden look like a 5-year old and Obama look like a worn out, typical Chicago machine hack liberal. Americans aren’t stupid, they’ll see right through these two clowns.
- Posted by Carl HamesHagel is a liberal RINO and certainly not a conservative. He’s in bed with a ultra-liberal extremist name Barak, who, if elected, will make the Carter years look prosperous. The left-wing attacks against Palin consist of unfounded slander because liberals cannot stand the fact that she stands for freedom, individual liberty, and thrift in government.
- Posted by T. GravesAs has been pointed out, she has as much foreign policy experience as Obama. And unlike Biden or Obama, she has actually sent troops to Iraq, as commander and chief of the Alaskan National Guard.
Regardless of Palin’s experience, no sitting senator should question his party’s nominee to the press in the middle of an election. Hagel should change parties or declare himself as independent.
- Posted by CitizenXI find it hypocritcal to advance the notion that Palin has no experience. I believe the Democratic candidate Barack Obama has even less so-called experience and he is running for the office of President. Playing games with the American people on issues such as this will backfire on Obama.
- Posted by Ernie SmithPresident Palin will make the eight years of Bush Presidency look golden.
- Posted by YvonneSo Palin doesn’t have enough foreign policy experience to be second in command?? What about Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience as FIRST in command!! Is he an idiot or what?
I’d rather take her inexperience as a vp over the same inexperience as president.
Chuck makes these completely moronic statements in the hopes of gaining some power if Obama wins. So his reason is for power…I get that.
Now what are you morons supporting his statements expecting to get? Please, put down your kool-aid and think for once.
- Posted by MarkHagel, a conservative Republican?
Give me a break. He got everyone fooled!
- Posted by Ben ReyesI wonder what Obama promised him?
- Posted by VLHe is just jealous. Obama did not pick him, and McCain knows he is an idiot. I am one of those gun-hugging. religion-clinging residents of Pennsylvania that sees through the lies of BHO. He is nothing but a cult-leader. A pre-school teacher is more qualified for president than Obama.
- Posted by George KramerOh come on. She’s got no business being there. There are so many other eminently qualified Republican women. I think it’s just a matter of time before people figure out what Mrs. Palin is all about and then they’ll have to make some tough decisions. Remember, in electing McCain we elect the oldest president and one with known health problems at that…….you may be willing to be cavalier with my childrens’ futures but I am not. This woman has no experience negotiating with anyone. In fact, she prides herself on “bucking the system”-we need someone smart enough to know when to negotiate and when to attack. I think Obama has that intelligence. I have no experience of that with Sarah Palin. I think she gets off on “ruffling feathers” and that is inappropriate in many many cases when you are the president or vice president. I think she needs more skills in “playing well with others.”
- Posted by Jane NickersonMr. Hagel,
As a Republican I appreciate your honesty and forthrightness. I am concerned about the refusal of Sarah and the First Dude now refusing to cooperate in the investigation into wrong doing after they said that they would cooperate and she claims to be all about “reform” and “change.”
I have supported the Bush Administration but am quickly losing confidence in my party. I am afraid that Obama is going to win and we probably deserve it for allowing our party to sell itself out to special interests. We have gotten away from everything that the Republican party is about.
- Posted by GarryBravo!
I don’t see how we can expect to receive respect of the rest of the world with this woman anywhere near the top levels of our government! McCain obviously picked her because he thought she’d be a good cheerleader and rally the ‘ranks.’
In my opinion, she is the epitome of ignorance - she would assert her education, experience and background (i.e., the 6 college plan for getting a degree in JOURNALISM??) compare to a HARVARD LAW REVIEW President who has dedicated YEARS of his life to helping people?
A maverick? She doesn’t know the meaning of the word. Come on!!
- Posted by WithheldThat right! McCain joins all royalty in loving all you cousin marrying, two toothed, non-abortion having, trickled on, rednecks. No offense.
- Posted by Lady Lynn[...] Reuters: Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican, is questioning whether Palin has enough foreign-policy [...]
- Posted by Brilliant Politics » Blog Archive » Chuck Hagel: Palin Not Qualifiedhagel shows integrity by telling the truth when his party’s candidate and all of the people who are ridiculously attempting to sell palin are insulting the american people.
- Posted by ywThe only place to find out the truth is trough stories like this one from people who are less interested in sound-bites and more interested in the ‘back-story’. Another site I found specializes in finding and consolidating Palin stories so they are easy to find, http://www.ThanksButNoThanks.com
- Posted by Paul SmithWhat is “foreign policy experience?”
It is studying foreign policy, serving in the State Department, or being a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Obama has significant foreign policy experience. He majored in foreign relations at Columbia. He has been a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for FOUR YEARS.
McCain has ZERO foreign policy experience. ZERO.
- Posted by mnjamIt’s about time potential candidates had to meet reasonable criteria before being even considered for such high office.
We are talking about the potential leader of the most powerful country on Earth, who would have to converse with the brightest minds of numerous nations !
It’s obvious from Palin’s answers that she’s not remotely qualified to be selected as a VP candidate.
The Palin Doctrine:
- Posted by Lee ConstableMake multiple preemptive attacks on the Democrats, and maybe nobody will notice the obvious.
As a European, I’m pretty worried about the prospect of seeing another US President with no foreign policy insight at the helms of the most powerful country in the world. The world’s never going to solve it’s massive problems with these kinds of leaders. You have to be realist, there’s a huge chance of her becoming number one in the next four years if elected.
And I hear she’s being educated about world affairs by neo-con advisers.. Don’t you think the time for education should be before running for VP?
- Posted by J.P.It’s a stretch to call Hagel a republican.
- Posted by Greg