Posted on 09/17/2008 9:18:32 PM PDT by Chet 99
WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska on Wednesday became the nation's most prominent Republican officeholder to publicly question whether Sarah Palin has the experience to serve as president.
"She doesn't have any foreign policy credentials," Hagel said in an interview. "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."
Palin was elected governor of Alaska in 2006 and before that was the mayor of a small town.
Democrats have raised questions about Palin since Sen. John McCain picked her as his vice presidential running mate. Most national Republican officeholders have rallied to Palin's candidacy.
Palin has cited the proximity of Alaska to Russia as evidence of her international experience.
Hagel scoffed at that notion.
"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 said. "That kind of thing is insulting to the American people."
A senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Hagel has been an outspoken critic of the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war and had considered making his own run for president. He skipped the Republican National Convention in favor of a trip to Central and South America.
Hagel, who says he has no plans to endorse either presidential candidate, traveled with Democratic nominee Barack Obama to the Middle East in July.
In criticizing Palin, Hagel broke with other Nebraska Republicans, including Gov. David Heineman, who have praised the selection.
Tom Kise, a McCain campaign spokesman, responded to Hagel's comments by questioning Obama's experience.
Kise pointed to statements that Obama's running mate, Sen. Joseph Biden, made during the Democrats' primary fight. At that time, Biden was seeking the nomination and questioned whether Obama was prepared to be president.
"It's much more alarming that Barack Obama's own vice presidential nominee doesn't think he has the experience or the judgment for the job," Kise said.
Palin herself has addressed the question of her foreign policy experience in a recent interview with ABC News.
"We've got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time," she said. "It is for no more politics as usual, and somebody's big, fat résumé, maybe, that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment where, yes, they've had opportunities to meet heads of state."
"I'm ready," Palin said. "I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink."
Hagel offered a couple caveats on his assessment of Palin: Experience is not the only qualification for elected officials — judgment and character are indispensable.
Washington experience isn't the only kind of experience, Hagel said, and he noted that many White House occupants have been governors with no time inside the beltway.
"But I do think in a world that is so complicated, so interconnected and so combustible, you really got to have some people in charge that have some sense of the bigger scope of the world," Hagel said. "I think that's just a requirement."
So is Palin qualified to be president?
"I think it's a stretch to, in any way, to say that she's got the experience to be president of the United States," Hagel said.
Hagel supported McCain's unsuccessful bid for president in 2000.
Hagel said voters ultimately will decide between McCain and Obama, and he hopes that the debates will refocus both campaigns on the important issues of the day, including the economy, energy policy and international relations.
One recent squabble between the campaigns revolved around whether Obama was being sexist toward Palin when he used a turn of phrase about putting lipstick on a pig.
That kind of back-and-forth is not what the American people want or need, Hagel said.
"It's terrible," he said. "It debases the system."
Sad thing is his words will get traction.....Hagel will be Obama’s republican Cohen.
Hagel - all presidential and vice-presidential candidates have had zero foreign policy experience until they took office, with the possible exceptions of Eisenhower, Nixon, Teddy Roosevelt, Zachary Taylor and the Founders. That's why you have advisors and senior officials to assist you.
ditto that
I'm not so sure he would get reelected this year. Perhaps that's why he chose to not stand for reelection this year.
hagel’s a jack@ss.
how did he ever get elected and re-elected from a conservative state?
Go home???
To hell with that! We don’t want him back. Hopefully he will make like Kerry and live among his liberal friends in another state without ever stepping foot in Nebraska again.
Memo to Sen. Hagel:
Most Americans don’t have passports because they are generally not required to travel on this continent, save for the occasional excursion to Mexico (forget Canada who the F would want to live there?) and perhaps other points south and in the Caribbean.
Maybe if Chuck had gotten off his duff and done something, more Americans could afford to travel to Europe and Asia and all of the other places a hotshot Senator gets to visit, courtesy of the excessive federal taxes they pay.
What’s most amusing is that with so many passport holders in our amazing, incredible and “cool” federal government, US foreign policy has been screwed up often in the past.
He's done now, he's out of politics.
This arrogant bastard should join the democrats- he’ll fit right in.
Yeah, well I never thought Hagel was ready for congress. I still don’t.
“Hey, stand up, Chuck, mentally. Oh sorry, forgot you are unable to do that.”
Do you really think so? Please let this be true.
Hey senator,Whats refreshing about governor Palin is she is not an entrenched $hithaid like yourself and other senators.What a waste of an R.
Haha! OK, I’m with you. So “Go to Moscow, Chuck! “ ;-D
“Hagel offered a couple caveats... Experience is not the only qualification for elected officials — judgment and character are indispensable.”
That’s the only worthy statement he made - and BHO has neither of those qualities - while Sarah has both. Besides, SHE’S not running for POTUS.
The article said Hagel hasn’t given support to either candidate yet. DUH, gimme a break. Is anyone fooled?
If the Dems can boot Lieberman out, why can’t we boot out this turncoat RINO???? The MSM just loves him as a poster child for “party dis-unity”.
Disgusting.
Hilarious. I had a passport when I was 12. I suppose that and my multiple Canada trips (and one big British/Dutch excursion) mean I’m qualified to be President. Nevermind that whole NOT being governor of Alaska thing.
Seriously?! Hagel should go fall on a spear somewhere and let the rest of us non-scumbags live our lives in relative tranquility, unfettered by his bloviations and machinations.
Thanks. Hopefully the Republican will win and he’ll be a conservative.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.