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In reply to the discussion: Secret Donors Finance Fight Against Hagel [View all]okaawhatever
(9,453 posts)key thing with Hagel is that he was one of it's earliest and most vocal critics. He sided with the democrats and one or two other republicans against Pres. Bush. It was a time when those opposing it were being labeled as anti-American and not supporting our troops, the death knell of a political career:
A fellow Vietnam veteran, GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, disagreed with McCain's assessment. Hagel said the resolution would make clear the Senate's belief that Bush's policy is misguided We can't change the outcome of Iraq by putting American troops in the middle of a civil war," said Hagel, who is considering a run for the White House in 2008. When McCain offered a counter-proposal that was supposed to outline goals for the war but also guarantee funding, He called McCain's proposal meaningless because it offers benchmarks but does not spell out what the U.S. government will do if the Iraqi officials fail to meet them.
"What are the consequences? Are we then going to pull out?" Hagel asked. "Are we going to cut funding? Now, that falls more in the intellectually dishonest category."
Hagel had to go up against Bush, McCain, Lindsey Graham and Richard Lugar. All the GOP heavyweights.
Hagel also endorsed Obama, effectively alienating those in his party. He did what he thought was right. I don't think Obama is compromising so much with Hagel being a Republican since clearly they held similar views when it came to defense.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16988301/ns/politics/t/mccain-war-detractors-offer-no-ideas/