Delicious. The WSJ is reporting that Chuck Hagel will join Obama on his trip to Iraq. This is an excellent development sure to piss off the McCain camp. A nice poke in the eye for them, considering that they've been using Lieberman to such annoying effect.
Story:
The buzz this week that Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska is planning to join Sen. Barack Obama on an up-coming visit to Iraq is correct, two sources with knowledge of the trip confirmed Friday.
Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, center, is joined by Democratic Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware, left, and Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, right, in a news conference on Capitol Hill on January 17, 2007 in Washington, D.C., to oppose the president’s troop increase in Iraq. (Getty)
A spokesman for Sen. Obama declined to comment on any details or even confirm the date uncertain trip, citing security concerns. A spokesman for Sen. Hagel did not respond to requests for comment.
While it is standard practice for such trips—known as CODELS, or congressional delegations—to be bipartisan, in this highly charged election year it is likely to raise eyebrows that the retiring Nebraskan senator—a prominent Iraq War critic—is the Republican expected to join the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee on what is sure to be a closely watched visit to the region.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Sen. Hagel has not yet endorsed a candidate in the race, and he has offered kind words for both Obama and Republican rival Sen. John McCain, although the two Republicans differ greatly on the war.
Hagel has been quite vocal in his his stance that he is not endorsing McCain at this point, and his wife has donated to Obama already. While Hagel's social views are certainly ripe for scrutiny from a progressive position, and probably makes VP a non-starter, he has been great on the war. I look forward to the visuals of Obama and Hagel together in Iraq.
Update: CNN (Situation Room) is reporting that Jack Reed will be joining the delegation. Gloria Borger and David Brody are concern trolling the speech to Germany, but Cafferty is smacking both down! It was great!
Link to CNN story:
Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island, is an Army veteran who is respected in both parties for his knowledge of national security issues. Democratic strategists privately say Reed is highly-regarded by Obama and could also find himself on the short list for a variety of posts in a potential Democratic administration.
There has been speculation that the delegation may also stop in Afghanistan, but sources familiar with the trip would not confirm the possibility of a second stop.