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Politicians should follow Hagel's example

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Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 - 12:40:30 am CDT

In joining presumed Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on a fact-finding trip to Iraq and Afghanistan, Sen. Chuck Hagel has provided an example of how to bridge the partisan divides that afflicts Washington.

The country could use more of that.

The announcement should not have come as a surprise to Nebraskans. Hagel has become increasingly vocal in criticizing the unbending and poisonous nature of today’s politics.

In a speech last month at the Brookings Institution, Hagel challenged Sens. Obama and John McCain to avoid divisive campaign tactics.

“One of these candidates is going to have to bring this country together, make Congress a partner, form a broad consensus to govern and help lead the world,” Hagel said. “If they so polarize and divide our country during the campaign, they will find it difficult to govern. The complexities of an interconnected world will require leadership and decisions from the new president from the day he takes office. These realities won’t wait until America might come back together.”

It’s possible that by accompanying Obama as he tours Iraq and Afghanistan, Hagel might be giving Obama aid and encouragement as he seeks to become the leader of the free world.

Perhaps. If that’s the case, so be it.

The more important consideration is whether Hagel can help Obama be a better president if the American public decides Obama should be put in charge of America’s executive branch.

For that task, Hagel is a good choice. Hagel, a decorated veteran who was wounded in Vietnam, will bring independence, incisiveness and military combat experience to Obama’s touring party. The third member of the three-member Congressional delegation will be Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a graduate of West Point and former Army Ranger.

Few would have predicted this development eight years ago when Hagel served as Sen. John McCain’s national co-chair in a primary race with George W. Bush.

But Hagel has followed his own path on the Iraq war, lonely as it might have been at times.

It’s to Hagel’s credit that he has handled himself in Washington in a fashion that Obama and Reed believe they can find common ground with a member of the opposite party and pursue common goals. Obama said of his traveling partners, “Neither of them are ideologues but try to get the facts right and make a determination about what’s best for U.S. interests. And they’re good guys.”

In an era in which Washington politicians spend more time keeping partisan score and playing gotcha with domestic and foreign policy, any instance of bipartisan teamwork deserves appreciation. Credit Hagel for practicing what he preaches.


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Scout Swimmer wrote on July 16, 2008 6:32 am:
" I will say again that Hagel will be the next Secretary of State. One thing that really bothers me about Hagel is his sweeping embracement of freerunning free trade without any adjustment to respond to the significant down side of this issue. I will leave this short unless someone questions that there is a significant down side to open-ended free trade. "

 Or.... wrote on July 16, 2008 7:24 am:
" credit Hagel for doing whatever is most politically advantageous...... "

 no wrote on July 16, 2008 8:42 am:
" Why join the other side on issues when they are wrong? Partisan shouldn't be such a dirty word. "

 Former Hagel supporter wrote on July 16, 2008 8:47 am:
" Follow what example? His example of a conservative Republican morphing into a liberal Democrat right before our eyes?

No thank you! "

 yes wrote on July 16, 2008 9:45 am:
" Partisan has become a dirty word because it stands for screwing the other side as much as possible at the expense of the country. Government isn't inefficient, politics make it so, and it's becoming increasingly worse because of the partisanship nature of how our government is structured. We're starting to see it creep into our Legislature. Let's just say it's not an improvement. "

 Chris wrote on July 16, 2008 10:07 am:
" This editorial has to be one of the most politically niave pieces of journalism I have seen in a while. Our Senator, Chuck Hagel is not providing a good example on his criticisim over the Iraq war. Hagel has not explained why he voted for the war in the first place or offered substantive, specific, and concrete policy alternatives to the policies of the Bush administration. He has made it a point to express his views whenever the media is around and by feeding into a national media which is largely against the war, has merely placated their interests. I do feel the war was a mistake, but will not give credit to Hagel for views, which simply are niether bold nor offering specific solutions to bringing our troops home. Sen. Barrack Obama's trip to Iraq is a sham, as he is taking two Senators who share his views on Iraq. This is hardly objective and really the media and the public should be able to see through this. Its too bad nobody seems to. "

 Randy wrote on July 16, 2008 11:00 am:
" If you are pro life, should you compromise your values with the pro abortion side? If you are against new government programs, should you go with the people who want new government programs that will cost trillions of dollars? If you believe in honesty, should you go with a bunch of crooked weasels? Why is it that only people on the right move to the left? When was the last time that anybody on the left moved to the right.? "

 Way wrote on July 16, 2008 11:17 am:
" Way to go Chuck. Hagel is doing what is right for the country and not what is good for the republican party. The republican party has been hijacked by the ultra right nut cases like Bush & Cheney.

I'm a life long republican and will not vote for a republican until they get more moderate in their views and give back the people their freedoms. Let a person decide what is best for them instead of some extremists that are controlling the republican party today. "

 red wrote on July 16, 2008 11:30 am:
" Most of these "junkets" have members of both parties included. I would be more impressed if Senators with different viewpoints were included not just a different letter ( R or D) after their names. "

 Don wrote on July 16, 2008 12:59 pm:
" Chuck Hagel and Obama on a fact finding mission to Iraq? That is laughable. They are both against the war and have already determined what they will find in Iraq. Only gloom and doom. They will purposely turn away from all the evidence there is that we are on the wat to victory. Chuck Hagel is no longer a Republican. He may only call himself that, but in reality, he has switched sides. So there is no bridging the partisan divide here. He is probably trying to convice Obama that he should be named vice president. "

 Dano wrote on July 16, 2008 1:35 pm:
" I think an independent mind in politics is the best to have. It is good to see cross-political efforts and copperative efforts being put forth. It shows a real change could be coming. Hopefully this is a sign to come, not just a glimpse of what can be.

It is too bad that it oftens seems that there is only one brain (maybe two but that is stretch) when it comes to our elected officials, and unfortunately they can never put the pieces together long enough to share one view, let alone a singular focused thought. Everyone should have their own opinions and views, but the greater good should be the result of those, not the garbage we get now. "

 DC Husker wrote on July 16, 2008 7:56 pm:
" Like Bob Kerrey, Chuck Hagel is respected and liked by Democrats and Republicans here in DC. NE is out of step as usual. "

 Right on DC Husker wrote on July 16, 2008 8:38 pm:
" For too long it has been an embarrassment to be from Nebraska. Other than a historically good football team, our state is pretty low on the national opinion poll. The reason is clear. Nebraskans are out of step. They are backwards in their thinking, purchasing their political opinions from 15 second sound bites or from conservative talk radio entertainment. Living away from the state for a couple years was an eye-opener in regards to how many other people look at national issues. Chuck Hagel gives Nebraska a good name in every state of the union, except Nebraska. "

 Jeff wrote on July 16, 2008 10:41 pm:
" Hagel was one of only a couple republicans who would go against the tide, and actually speak what was on his mind, to heck with the political consequences. Very refreshing. He was the ONLY one who would face the facts and when in Senate hearings would voice the truth that every member knew but was afraid to ask. GUTS! And people have the audacity to try and say its just grandstanding for the media. Here he is killing his own political ambitions in his own party. He has taken a lot of grief for his honesty. And still is. "

 Good one wrote on July 16, 2008 10:58 pm:
" "If you are pro life, should you compromise your values with the pro ABORTION side?"

That's about as partisan and typical of red state NE as you can get. "

 MarkyMark wrote on July 17, 2008 8:45 am:
" These polarized posts are the perfect example of why Nebraska is such a hick state. You people that are too busy hanging on every word of Limbaugh or Hannity are only hurting yourselves. I see why you relate to Bush because the truth hurts and it's easier for you to manipulate facts into your twisted idealism. The reason for the success of these AM radio spin doctors is that you seem to crave people telling you what you want to hear. Be an American rather than a Neo-Con. It's much healthier for you. "

 Wade Roe wrote on July 17, 2008 8:49 am:
" Pro Abortion party? In case you haven't noticed, there is no "Pro Life" party anymore. For 6 years, Bush, the Congress, and the Senate, had full power to change any law on the books. They could have overturned Roe v Wade overnight. They could be drilling oil wells everywhere. If you have a problem with our laws, blame them. The were the lawmakers. "

 Thomas Jefferson wrote on July 17, 2008 9:24 am:
" Bipartisanship is nice for America, but politically, and Obama-Hagel ticket would be a stupid move for the Democratic party. The Vice President breaks all tie votes in the Senate. Why would they want to have the Senator with the most Conservative voting record in the Senate, as the Senate tie-breaker? "

 JB wrote on July 17, 2008 11:53 am:
" Glad to see a man who is using his brain and knows what is right. That party to the right would jump off the bridge if the other does. Stop working off a script. "

 John wrote on July 17, 2008 1:48 pm:
" It is the Nebraskan Republicans who are out of step, not Hagel. He is very conservative on domestic issues, but uses his brains on international ones. "

 stand up for what you believe wrote on July 17, 2008 6:49 pm:
" It is not someone who has an independent mind, but rather someone who stands by their convictions that we need in Washington. I have seen Hagel claim to be a conservative Republican, but he continues to go against the wishes of the people he represents. All the more reason to celebrate that he is not going to be representing our state. "

 Jonathan wrote on July 19, 2008 11:45 am:
" DC Husker:

The fact that you are proud Hagel is respected by those in DC is laughable. Pretty much anything those guys say in that town is a joke and usually only serves their selfish motives of getting re-elected. Hagel is doing what is best in his interests. This trip is not a shock to me, he hasn't been a true republican for years. "

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