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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Obama in March 2008 on his foreign policy quals:
“Foreign policy is the area where I am probably most confident that I know more and understand the world better than Senator Clinton or Senator McCain,” Obama said, according to the Huffington Post.
“It’s ironic because this is supposedly the place where experience is most needed to be Commander-in-Chief. Experience in Washington is not knowledge of the world (but what about SFRC experience?). This I know. When Senator Clinton brags ‘I’ve met leaders from eighty countries’ — I know what those trips are like! I’ve been on them. You go from the airport to the embassy. There’s a group of children who do native dance. You meet with the CIA station chief and the embassy and they give you a briefing. You go take a tour of a plant that [with] the assistance of USAID has started something. And then — you go.”
“You do that in eighty countries,” Obama said, “You don’t know those eighty countries. So when I speak about having lived in Indonesia for four years (beginning at the age of 6), having family that is impoverished in small villages in Africa –knowing the leaders is not important — what I know is the people…I traveled to Pakistan when I was in college (for three weeks)– I knew what Sunni and Shia was [sic] before I joined the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”
- Posted by RaganNow McCain Campaign is asking for rules for Palin’s debate with Biden.
- Posted by HottopicsRules for Sarah - include scripted interviews, not turning in tax returns, not showing up for troopergate.
Tom Brokaw, Bob Schieffer and Jim Lehrer - we are counting on you to do your job like Charlie Gibson did. There are no rules when someone is running for VP. There were none for Hillary or anyone else.
People lets just call this what it is - a farce. McCain is putting himself first not the country - don’t let him fool you.
This is a sad day in America
Forget about her foreign policy experience. The woman doesnt even know what “Women empowerment” means. At their last joint town hall meeting she was asked by a woman in the crowd about the McCain-Palin plan for women empowerment. And her reply was that has gotten to this position because of her abilty to focus on both her studies and sports during her school days.
Come on face it. She is totally uneducated, has no intellect and no experience. Hats off to Mccaain for picking her.
- Posted by sahir talibuddin[...] its fuel, and coming down to back to earth with a thud. Her inexperience, religious extremism, and Bush-like dumbness (like maintaining that Alaska’s geographical proximity to Russia makes her an expert on the [...]
- Posted by Open Thread Sunday 9/21/08 — Ramadan Edition | MuslimMatters.orgIf the republicans are elected, and something happens to McCain does that mean his entire cabinet goes away? Does anyone really think that Sarah Palin wouldn`t seek advice from anyone, even Joe Biden?
- Posted by Ray mooreHagel campaigned as a conservative in Nebraska. Since being in DC, his desire to be in the news more than representing his constituents has made him a laughing stock here. As for being “brave”, “honest” and a “maverick” what a joke. Hagels positions are the most spineless, flop in the wind positions ever. I want to know why a liberal Republican is considered great, and a conservative Democrat is a turncoat. I have more respect for a person with firm convictions that I do not agree with, than someone like Hagel who talks one way at home, and bashes his constituents positions on TV in DC.
- Posted by Mike C“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.”
Personally, I think that if one is going to make a statement about the American people and pretend to speak for them, they should know something about them. As an American and a Republican, I think quite a bit more highly of Palin, than I do of Hagel, as of this moment.
- Posted by Cliff CGee, what a surprise. Chuck has been following Ol’ Barack around like a puppy dog ever since some knucklehead reporter told him he might be considered as a vice presidential nominee if he denounced life itself and bowed at the throne of Barack Nation. The only Democrat in Congress with any balls is Joe Liberman. The rest of them are adjusting their makeup with the rest of whimps.
- Posted by Dave P.I think that Chuck Hagel represents the best of American Politics. He is the epitomy of an independent thinker. We need more politicians like him to bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats and try to find common ground and compromise that we can agree on rather than always pandering to the extreme factions of each party.
- Posted by BradObama can not be compared to Palin. Obama is brilliant, a graduate of Columbia and Harvard, a renouwned professor at University of Chicago and a civil rights lawyer, an Illinois and US Senator and loved throughout the world.
Palin is a runner up beauty queen, a newscaster, a mayor of a town smaller than many high schools and a governor for one of the smallest populus states in the nation. Palin is under a serious investigation for abuse of power which she has refused to cooperate with.
Obama wins hands down on experience and ability to lead the greatest nation in the world. Palin is just an embarrassment!
VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN!!
- Posted by TheresaMost people posting on this blog don’t know very much about Senator Hagel. He has one of the top conservative voting records in the US Senate for a conservative, voting with Bush 90% plus. He is a Vietnam vet. He is now speaking out against John McCain’s pick as VP, an unknown entity called Sarah Palin. … and the more we know of her the more Hagel is right.
- Posted by Jim LochrieI really have to wonder about people who prate about Palin’s lack of experience to qualify her for the vice presidency, when they back a candidate with less experience than she has for the presidency.
- Posted by Royalsanummm….like Obama has extensive foreign relations experience. He has been in office for how long? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Don’t listen to what 80% of the media tell you, they are too biased. Use your own brain and do your own research. I don’t know about you but I sure don’t want another lawyer turned politician as president or vice president. Doesn’t mean I am going to vote for Mrs. Palin either. As far as experience goes…they BOTH have none when it comes to foreign affairs. However, Mrs. Palin DOES have far more experience than Mr. Obama when it comes to office; look it up.
- Posted by KeithI’ve never in my life read a blog that’s coated with so many liberals who consider themselves “Republican”. You people are a joke. Palin is one the most conservative republicans, you people who write in this blog might consider yourselves republicans, but you know what, you’re just liberals dressed in republican clothing. Republicans are dead, and CONSERVATIVES are making a comeback. Deal with it. McCain/Palin 08. Palin/Jindal 2012.
- Posted by KyleChuck Hagel is an insult himself, in my opinion…
The comment “I can see Russia from my house or back window,” whatever, was in the first place taken out of context whenever it is quoted. The beginning of the paragraph and ending are conveniently left out. Palin was pointing out how incredibly close to Russian borders the US is. And that frankly, scares me!
It is something very dangerous for us right now considering the Georgian-Russian conflict. Can’t Hagel figure out even THAT much?
And what is Chuck doing now? Quoting Tina Fey on SNL? Is that the best he can do?
Hagel, be Quiet, please. If you are so dense you cannot understand the significance to our borders you should keep your opinions to yourself. You are an embarrassment.
It is insulting that Hagel even gets air time and I all get to do is write this email.
- Posted by PJJWell, at least I get to do that much.
Which side was Hagel veteran of and conservative what - communist? The O-B ticket is the strongest socialistic, marxist, and UnAmerican combo ever. The only experience BO has is organizing marxist groups, kissing up to mobsters and terrorists and pretending in office with absolutely NO leadership practice. JB spent most of his time running around in circles when not commuting and his leadership skills are like the old Keystone Kops. This team spells “Bye, Bye Miss American Pie” and the end of the greatest self-government of mankind with lots of bloodshed to come. Sarah has more quality experience than O-B combined. But It’s John who’s running for Pres and he trumps everyone. AND, both Sarah and John are All-American, Freedom-loving and Pioneer-spirited. Come-on Cornhuskers, dump your communist lover.
- Posted by Jimmy Mike[...] out his window to prove his foreign policy credentials, but when he looks out and sees Sarah Palin, he sees someone completely unfit to lead: “You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don’t know what you [...]
- Posted by Chuck Hagel on Russia « I Can See Russia… What Do You See?Hagel should took at the top of Democratic ticket and he will find the least qualified candidate to ever run for the office.
- Posted by GregThis is very refreshing to see. Senator Hagel is a Republican who truly puts ‘country first’…and speaks the truth. Many of us are thinking what he just said. The thought of V.P. (or even President) Palin worries me considerably. Chuck Hagel is the true maverick here. Congrats to him for speaking his mind.
- Posted by Robert[...] Hagel questions Palin experience [...]
- Posted by Daily Buzz - Sandra Bernhard Tears Palin A New One