The war is not the only issue, and Chuck Hagel does not belong in a Democratic Administration

[ruggerson]

Ending the war is extremely important. So is preserving a woman's right to choose, rebuilding our schools without the interference of the religious rightwing, mobilizing the country for stem cell research, revamping our healthcare system, strengthening social security, making the tax code fairer, and appointing justices and judges who will stop issuing decisions in favor of corporate rights and start defending the rights of the average American citizen.

Chuck Hagel has been right on the war and WRONG on almost everything else.

And to those who say, well he'll just have a post in the DOD: the DOD (and State and DOJ) all decide on issues within their purview that are intertwined and have to do with many other issues beside the war in Iraq.

As Secretary of Defense, for example, in an Obama administration, he would be charged, hopefully, with overseeing policies making it easier for enlisted women to have access to reproductive choice healthcare. He would be charged with overseeing the ending of DADT.

The problem is, these are things he OPPOSES.

The Christian Coalition gives him a 100% rating approval on their issue.

That's right - 100%

http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/Chuck_Hagel_Families_+_Children.htm

He's terrible on civil rights issues.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Chuck_Hagel_Civil_Rights.htm

He's abysmal on the environment.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Chuck_Hagel_Environment.htm

Going down the line, he had voted against virtually everything real Democrats believe in, except for the war, where he sided with us.

This man does not deserve to be in a Democratic cabinet and he does not deserve the cabinet or Veep boosterism that I've seen from some DU'ers.

There are plenty of decent anti-war Republicans, WHO AGREE WITH DEMOCRATS ON OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES, to utilize in a Democratic administration.

I'm glad Chuck Hagel had the good sense to part ways with the Republican party on the war in Iraq. He deserves credit for it.

But that's pretty much one of the few times he has ever deviated from rightwing party line ideology.

Chuck Hagel, thanks but no thanks.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

1. Those are pretty much dealbreakers for me, too.

I hope Obama listens to progressives on this.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. I agree, let's not forget that the man got elected on voting

machines that he himself sold to the State of Nebraska?????????

I don't care how much money his wife gave to the Obama campaign - he's a pig. He's a repuke. Enough said.

[gateley]

3. I think the mention of Hagel has come solely from the pundits --

not from anyone associated with Obama's campaign.

Regardless, it won't happen, so don't worry about it.

[ruggerson]

6. I see it on DU every day

so it's not just from pundits.

But, I agree, I haven't heard it from anyone in Obama's campaign, and if anyone there starts to make noises about it, I hope we make ourselves heard.

[gateley]

7. But I don't think any of us are on Obama's committee to vet a VP.

So we're safe. :7

[ruggerson]

8. Let's hope

:)

[Faygo Kid]

4. Agreed, and have always thought this way.

I take him at his word that he wants to join the "private sector."

That's normally code for a million-dollar K Street lobbyist, and I wish him well. But you are correct about his positions on other things than the war.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Agreed. And let me say that sticking an anti-choicer on the ticket is a dealbreaker for me, period.

And I know I'm not the only one.

[stillcool]

9. Chuck Hagel and Joe Biden..

are very good together when they speak about foreign policy. But that is the extent of the up side to Chuck Hagel. The only Republicans that I can think of as a possible VP have become Democrats.

[David Zephyr]

10. I agree with your post, but he did get the war in Iraq right.

That doesn't make him a progressive, but he spoke out against the war when it was a popular one. Something all of our candidates didn't do with the exception of Kucinich, Obama and Gravel.

There's no need to disparage this man here.

[thoughtcrime1984]

11. I don't want him either. nt