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Subscribe to RSSSen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) is one of those senators some in the Tea Party have vowed to make a prime target in 2012. But Lugar -- who worked with Barack Obama when he was a senator on nuclear proliferation, voted for START, and voted for President Obama’s Supreme Court nominees -- swatted aside Tea Party threats in an interview with an Indiana TV station.
On START, he says, “Get real”: "I've been working systematically for 20 years going to Russia trying to help direct a situation in which we're taking warheads off of missiles every day, destroying missiles that were aimed at us; destroying submarines that carried misslies up and down our coast. I've got to say 'Get real'. I hear Tea Party or other people talking about they were against START. I said 'Well, now, hang on here.'" More: "If you want to get into START, let's talk about it, but realistically as Americans, not as some Republican renegade. [I'm] trying to take warheads of Russia [out of circulation] so they won't hit Indiana."
On the Supreme Court votes: "I hope people sort of understand that because otherwise we polarize the Supreme Court business to a point that conservative justices offered by a conservative Republican president -who'll be elected at some point- are going to have trouble.”
On the early start to the campaign: "I don't think I've ever been involved in a campaign for a statewide office that started the whole year before the year. But nevertheless, here we are and we're very competitive."
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I've always like Dick Lugar. Republican, or not. He's a very decent fellow.
I bet the Teabaggeretts hate him, if for no other reason than that.
He's one of the few remaining Republican statesmen. A Republican who cares about what is good for the country.
I remember when he was considered a conservative. I still believe he is a conservative and a loyal Republican. Unlike the Tea Party Republicans they have no loyalty and that splinter group has turned the GOP upside down. Dick Lugar is a man of integrity and a worthy adversary. I say that as a dyed in the wool Democrat from the Democratic wing of Democratic Party.
That all Indiana needs a lame Tea Party Senator. Thanks we already have enough unrealistic TP clowns like Rand Paul in Washington.
I've always liked Dick Lugar, too, even if I disagreed with him on many issues. Heartlight is right, he is one of few remaining Statesmen. He put aside politics and voted for what he knew was right. Good to see him "swat" at the Tea Party. The GOP in general would be wise to do more of that.
Kudos to Senator Lugar.
Senator Luger you are a blessing to Indiana and the US. Wish we had more like you to help the country.
There are some issues that just shouldn't be partisan and I think nuclear proliferation is one of them. Thanks to Sen. Lugar for his leadership in this area.
Good for Lugar to speak honestly, with the advantage of his experience. I hope we don't lose more reasonable, experienced congressmen and senators.
To me, it seems like the Tea Party has a tendency to be against anything that President Obama is for...even when it is an issue that they would agree with if the president was a Republican....START treaty for example.
Additionally, they have a tendency to act like issues are simple...when in many, many cases they are complex. Like the president said, if there was an easy solution to a problem, it wouldn't have landed on his desk.
Lugar is truly a national treasure, a statesman who puts country first. I hope that his constituents stay loyal to him, he is one of the few Republicans I could still vote for.
Thank you, Sen. Luger. You are a class act.
I want Lugar still up there representing the American people even - or especially - when I disagree with him.
The Democrats love to pick the weak Republican candidates for office. When I hear a Democrat applaud any Republican I smell defeat for that Republican (see the Democrat's early favorite for the Republican presidential nomination, John McCain). Like Ed Kennedy, Lugar has been there too long. Time for some fresh faces. I will support his Republican opponent with my vote and my money.
Yeah why don't you get rid of the guy who gets things done not only for Indiana but the reat of country too! Rodney his tenure and statemanship speaks volumes about your State and the people from Indiana. Much better than that dunce Dan Quayle.
Rodney, you would vote against Lugar just because Democrats like him? Have you even bothered to look at his record? Are you really going to throw away experience of any kind just to satisfy your paarty agenda? America last?
So sad.
He needs give them a swift kick in the pants! Good Luck Senator. Here's to the Tea Party Express high siding the next turn.
I applaud Senator Lugar. He is truly one of a dying breed, a true statesman, Democrat or Republican. TP hacks should take a lesson. The way they're going they'll never measure up to his stature. Senator Lugar is truly on the side of ALL AMERICANS, not just the few noisy, rude ones.
Well if the Libs like him KICK his *** out of office. On a serious note Sorry for you libs that you dont know that a lot of those nukes are not accounted for or that we only have there word that they been destroyed. Too bad we really dont know where those destroyed Nukes are. Trust the Russians, yea when pigs fly.
It tells a lot about the narrow minded Tea Baggers,Waldo Pali,Bachman,Rev Beck,Rush,Hannity and the Hooter's Fox Network..
Bill what ever Lib, get over yourself o forgot that is trait number 1 for libs.
Yeah, sure! Trust the Russians. See how reliable they have proven to be under Putin (yeah he is really still running the country)? Why shouldn't we trust them along with Iran and Korea! That's worked out well!
Good for Lugar. He isn't afraid of the Tea Partiers. Who do they think they are anyway. They think they have all the Republicans scared and will do anything they say. Well some of them do, but the Republicans should have more men like Lugar. GOOD FOR YOU SENATOR LUGAR.
These Tea Party members need to realize there are certain issues where they just cannot blindly say no when they do not really know the issues involved. Senator Luggar has been at this for 20 years. I think he may have just a bit more knowledge than they do. Sometimes you need to listen to your elders. The START treaty is not something to be played with just for politics sake. And what, pray tell, is wrong with trying to reduce nuclear proliferation. Always saying no is just not an option anymore. They need to think before spewing.
Senator Luggar - a Republican with common sense. I'd listen to him before I listened to anything John McCain has to say. Wonder if there are more Republicans like him. If so, please step up.