Hagel: Palin experience a ‘stretch’
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/18/art.ap.hagel.jpg caption="Sen. Chuch Hagel said Palin 'doesnt have any foreign policy credentials.'.'"]
(CNN) – Sen. Chuck Hagel has become one of the most prominent Republicans to openly question VP nominee Sarah Palin’s qualifications on Thursday.
"She doesn't have any foreign policy credentials," Hagel said in an interview with 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."
On her first overseas trip last year, Palin traveled to Kuwait and Germany to visit Alaskan National Guard troops.
In defending her own foreign policy experience, Palin has said that Alaska’s proximity to Russia gives her international expertise. Hagel, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called that notion “insulting to the American people.”
"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," he added. "I think that's just a requirement."
Hagel, who broke with fellow Republicans over the Iraq war, has said he will not endorse either major party candidate. The Nebraska senator has said he would have considered being Obama’s running mate and was rumored to be on his VP short list.
Although Hagel is a longtime friend of GOP presidential nominee John McCain, he traveled to the Middle East with Obama in July. Hagel also came to Obama’s defense in May after the Democratic nominee and McCain had a dispute over the best way to deal with Iran.
Hagel, whose Senate term is drawing to a close, is not running for re-election to the Senate.
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Sarah Plain and Tall needs to go back to alaska where she is unwanted!
Thank you for some honesty Senator. It is refreshing.
Honesty is the Best Policy. Thanks Hagel for being an honest man.
A stretch is a polite way of saying this VEEP candidate's only credentials are those of cronyism, mismanagement of funds and abuse of power. I really think McDepends forgot his meds the day he picked Sarah "Barracuda"
Side story she got that nickname by be vicious and always tattling to the coach on her own teammates. Also for constantly sucking up to coach as well. Funny what some people are proud of.
Not just Hagel. Today KARL ROVE said Palin is underqualified !
And how much more foreign policy credentials does Obama have? Isn't that the reason he picked Biden – to shore up his own weak to non-existent experience? The real scary thing is that Obama is heading the ticket, and not the understudy.
Chuck Hagel for President! It's a breath of fresh air to hear somone speak the plain and simple truth of the matter.
McCain, dump Caribou Barbie, and pick up Hagel. You'll probably win.
Finally...........Someone willing to tell the TRUTH. I doesn't take a genious to see that this lipstick wearing hockey gun-totting woman-haten' wanna be mom is NOT RIGHT FOR AMERICA.
I don't think she has many credentials at all. She is just NOT QUALIFIED period. She is just another politician who lies and just says what she needs to say to get elected. Just look at what is happening now. Is she going to start to use the excuse of "executive privilege"? Pretty sad. I am not worrying what is going to happen in November. The Democrats will take back the White House. This Hillary Clinton supporter is voting for Obama.
It speeks volumes to MCcain's judgement and since the covention we got a lot to show the wimp he is despite being a war hero given that he could not control his own "staff meeting" or "old boys club" as they went wild and dished out lies !!!
THANK YOU SENATOR HAGEL....
In McCain's judgement, this young lady is fit to be POTUS.
AT LEAST CHUCK WILL SAY SHE'S A IDIOT
cnn POST BOTH OF MY COMMENTS
LOVES' YA CHUCK YOU SEXY THANG!!!
because they take us Americans for fools.
not gonna work this election,too many lives have been messed up in some way because of BUSH!
Thank you for your honesty.
Hagel stands for what I thought McCain stood for 8 years ago. McCain sold us out to win favor with the GOP base.
John McCain is a bad joke and Palin is the punch-line!
END THE DRAMA, VOTE OBAMA!
Republican vs. Republican SMACK DOWN! LOL
John McCain = He just doesn't get it.
Sarah Palin = Not the right choice.
Her own party is finally turning against her.
McCain blew it. He can't win.
Obama is in the lead by 3 points. Take into account the fact that none of the polls include first time voters or cell-phone users. And judging by how much support Obama has from the youth demographic, he's probably around 10 points higher than McCain.
Chuck Hagel is the only republican in the senate that actually calls it like it is. I'll miss his honest, independentv approach when his term is completed. hopefully, we'll see him in some other capacity (maybe a cabinet post in Obama's cabinet?).
I have a lot of respect for Senator Hagel because he is keeping it real. I could see him being offered a cabinet position if Obama is elected.
I agree with Senator Hagel. Seeing Russia from Alaska is not experience!!! Don't be fooled America. McCain-Palin...based upon lies...more lies...lies..lies...lies...
says the guy who considered running as obamas veep
she's as experienced as obama.. enough said