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Subscribe to RSSPUBLISHED, 11:25 AM ET - Former Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana had tough words for his party, his primary opponent who defeated him last cycle but went on to lose in the fall to a Democrat, and opponents of ex-Sen. Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s nominee for defense secretary.
Lugar, who had been chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and served with Hagel on the committee, said the former Nebraska senator’s positions were “legitimately held” and are now being “selectively pulled out of context,” he told NBC’s Chuck Todd on MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown. That’s something Lugar called “unfortunate and unfair.”
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd takes a "deep dive" look into former Sen. Dick Lugar's recent parting comments on partisanship and Republicans in Congress. Lugar joins The Daily Rundown to discuss.
More broadly, Lugar was critical of the Tea Party without naming it. Asked if it has been detrimental to the GOP, Lugar said, “I believe that this is generally the consensus.”
He added, “Republicans, who really want to see a majority in the Senate, there really have to be able candidates that appeal not just to core Republicans, but to independents, and even some Democratic crossovers.”
Lugar declined to criticize Richard Mourdock, his primary opponent, by name or say if the right person won in the Indiana Senate race. Mourdock and Democrat Joe Donnelly had been in what appeared to be a 50-50 race until Mourdock said that if a woman was raped it was “something that God intended to happen.”
But, Lugar did say, “My opponent made some very egregious errors,” emphasizing that Mourdock’s performance was a drag on Republicans up and down the ballot, including on newly elected Republican Gov. Mike Pence, whom Lugar said would have likely won by more.
“There were consequences to the Senate situation,” Lugar said.
As for his own campaign, Lugar said, “I have no regrets.” But he added that low turnout in the primary is what doomed him. “That was my problem,” he said. “We needed to get our votes out.”
Lugar praised President Obama, calling his State of the Union address “comprehensive” and describing the president as someone “who really does have a unifying spirit.”
But he knocked down speculation that he had wanted to serve in the Obama administration and said the president needed reach out more to members of Congress on important issues, like the budget.
“The fact is,” Lugar said, “I did not want to serve in the Obama administration. I did not want to be an appointed official.”
And: “I did receive a few invitations [to the White House] and appreciated those opportunities. Nevertheless, there was very little of it.”
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"Brickwall" what did you expect, praise from the right wing........never! They wouldnt agree if Obama was 100% right anyway!
The political pundit and news shows should be interviewing Lugar and other recent retired repub senators and other pols that will point out how crazy the GOP has become in the past few years. Let the senior repubs DRESS DOWN the newbies that have gone over the far right edge of the earth and want to take all the USA over that edge, and put those seniors on all the TV shows to do the dressing down.
Thank you Richard Lugar for standing up for Hagel. The republicans now are idiots who really show how hateful they are to a fellow republican who should be confirmed as the Defense Secretary without this hateful behavior from the republicans. The GOP is acting like nitwits. Behaving so ridiculous toward Hagel is making the republicans look just like fools which they are.
How many Americans know this man?
Why not take one of our fine generals and put them up for Secretary of Defense? Because that makes too much sense, doesn't it. To put into the role one that knows a great deal about our combat situation around the world.
I'm getting to the point where I just don't care.
The US is embarrassing me on all points. Lacking the expertise to manage a nation is profoundly horrific to me.
I just do not see the difficulty of it all that these men make it seem.
Actions speak louder than words.
I'm tired of words.
Take some freaking action and do what is right by the United States or get the hell out of your duty.
If you can't cut it - leave.
Quit blocking.
You are impressing no one and taking up space and tax dollars that is injurious to the nation.
There are too many people in this country that can do every one of these jobs and do it well.
Why are we putting up with this bullcrap?
I'll tell you - there are times I just want to say - take them out behind the Capitol building and put them before a firing squad. Their conduct isn't far from treason.
They are preventing Americans from receiving life necessity that desperately need it every bit as much as the Germans caused against their own to control and intimidate them by force to do their will.
So - I'm sorry to say that - but there are times when we have to do what is right by our citizens that are the top priority of the United States - it isn't the other way around.
If this man isn't right for the job - find someone else and quit wasting our time in the process. It is not that difficult to read a resume.
Get it done or move on.
Chuck Hagel should get some respect and then confirmed. We have a seasoned GOP heavy implying that the "teaparty" is harmful to the GOP and perhaps to the betterment of the nation. Those two years of their folly didn't help the country at all.
How come Willie53 gets a pass on being a racist? Mexigrease? Really? And Hagel is getting all the respect he deserves.
The Republican party,THE PARTY OF SCUM. McConnell,Boehner,Cantor, Scott, Branstad, Rubio, McCain, Graham etc,etc.....
Wow..Media Matters..Cut and Paste..
automated...B.U.L.L.Shyytte
Democratic party kills people that oppose their agenda. Are they upright and good?
I hope these knuckle heads continue to be obstructive until they are fully and finally obstructed by the voters. Sweet revenge will be launched by the citizens of this US against these stupid GOPhers . Gindal said the Republican party is the stupid party and he is right
Dick Luger is one of the Republicans that I remember from the days when I was a Republican and being conservative didn't mean you had to be a total moron. Luger knows that all this bull over Hagel's confirmation is all Tea Bagger politics and serves no good purpose except to further damage the Republican brand. Luger got primaried by the baggers and now there is one less voice of reason in the Senate. I truly hope we get back a conservative voice in our government but as it stands now all we hear is shrill wingnut screams without reason or even sanity. For those of you who think the wingnuts are finished, think again.
Too all that want to join, are or have been in the US military and risked and sacrificed your life in it's wars, observe the treatment of Chuck Hagel by these same politicians that start these wars to see what they really think of this sacrifice he made in Vietnam
The GOP is off the hook, get out the straight jackets and tranquilizers.I have never in my life seen more grouchy old white guys bound and determined to handcuff the US President .
Feisty Redhead...Can you objectively analyze anything? I think not. Re. Lugar...He's just being a whiner. He wanted to remain in congress & enjoy the good life. He got beat...He should move on. There are plenty of members of congress on both sides just like him...Career politicians.
HAGEL
and The BULL-SHE-VIK-in-CHIEF..
BOTH
MASOCHISTIC
MARXISTS..
GOOSE STEP....Together...
HAGEL and HESBOLLAH..
Hagel and HAMMAS...
BUDDIES.....
No.
Unfortunate and unfair is when women that are divorced, deprived of alimony, deprived of child support by higher earning male partners or husbands, deprived of medical care receive no opportunity in this life educated or not by American society, are labelled as "welfare moms" and their children that earned degrees are looked down upon or rejected though they have much to contribute - so that their family languishes without opportunity or advancement in pay or success.
That is realistically unfortunate and unfair - while more men gain and profit. That is grossly unfair.
What WAS..IS
Really unfair..
Is THE ..B.U.L.L.SHYTTE...Ineffective..OBAMACARE..
Being RAMMED UP Americans ...
A Plan That WILL NOT WORK..and NO ONE..can afford
YES..we OBSTRUCTIONISTS..Do want to Obstruct and make a Stand..
Against..The > LIAR-in- Chief..<
And His Choice .....for OBERSTURMFURER
Even the sane Republicans can't tolerate the Tea Baggers.
Right on.