Hagel takes aim at Limbaugh, Senate colleagues
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/18/art.hagel.gi.jpg caption="Hagel had sharp words for Rush Limbaugh Tuesday."](CNN) - As his Senate career nears its end, Republican Chuck Hagel isn't holding back when it comes to criticizing members of his own party - including conservative talk radio hosts.
"We are educated by the great entertainers like Rush Limbaugh," Hagel said Tuesday during a speech in Washington, according to the Huffington Post.
"You know, I wish Rush Limbaugh and others like that would run for office," a sarcastic Hagel continued. "They have so much to contribute and so much leadership and they have an answer for everything. And they would be elected overwhelmingly. [The truth is] they try to rip everyone down and make fools of everybody but they don't have any answers."
Hagel has increasingly become critical of his party in the aftermath of the Iraq War and notably held back endorsing his longtime friend John McCain during the presidential campaign. He's reportedly under consideration for a cabinet post in the Obama administration.
Speaking at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Hagel also faulted Washington lawmakers for "raw, partisan, political paralysis."
"The American people don't like what is going on... they want us to start doing what leaders are expected to do, address the problems, find some consensus to governing. Get along. There will be disagreements, sure... but in the end we can't hold ourselves captives to this raw, partisan, political paralysis."
I think Hagel needs to overcome his bitterness toward Bush. It's time to get over Bush and move forward.
Mike Patton,
So your pal Rush spews hate and filth but that's ok in God's eyes since his party speaks out against abortion? This is the mentality that is leading your party into obsolescence...
YOU said it-MY FRIEND!!
It is actually idiots like Chuck Hagel that we need less of. Rush is right on 99 percent of the time.
I admire Chuck Hagel as a leader, straight shooter and a fellow American. He represents where we all need to be – thinking from the middle and weighing each issue with the good of the country in mind. I am a supporter of our new President-elect, Barrack Obama.
I still find it hard to believe there are people who think Limbaugh is some incredibly intelligent radio personality. What spews from him is a stream of insult and envy one expects from the schoolyard bully. If you don't agree with him, you must be evil. For those of you who are so protective of him, shame on you for following someone who thinks so little of you he names you "dittoheads." As far as he's concerned, you can't think for yourselves and that's the way he wants it.
Stand up for yourselves – read a newspaper – read two. Find out the facts, stop believing everything some voice on the radio tells you or that you read on some blog on the internet. Re-read the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and find out what they really say. Give some thought to the kind of place this would be if everyone took responsibilty for their own opinions, and the consequences of their own actions.
After all, if you stop and think about what those who disagree with you think, you might see things from their point of view. You still may not agree but you might grow.
Bravo..Senator Hagel.. we Americans are sick of the Rush Limbaugh types who are 100% negative and therefore . .they are the ultimate anti-Americans. They spend all of their time tearing down our country while they get rich!
Wow. This gives me hope that intelligence and thoughtfulness just might become fashionable in this country again.