Why McCain turned on Hagel
For old McCain allies, it was an all-too familiar scenario: their champion pulled back into the fray by his friend Graham, a likable but impulsive figure caught up in his own political battles with the right in South Carolina. By reversing himself, McCain effectively sacrificed his own credibility to buy Graham more time to continue his campaign against Hagel — an issue that plays to Graham’s advantage as he prepares to run for reelection in 2014.
“This is just a bone thrown to Lindsey Graham, who keeps painting himself into corners and then pleading with friends to crawl in there with him in a vain attempt to save a little face,” one Republican insider told POLITICO. And making it more poignant and personal in this case: the Graham friendship dominated at the expense of McCain’s earlier one with Hagel.
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Yup – Graham is good politician – sorry to say – but he is.
jake-the-goose on February 18, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Oh, please.
Jeff Weimer on February 18, 2013 at 9:32 AM
Or maybe, and I’m just spit-balling here, McCain doesn’t really trust Hagel anymore since Chucky is more than willing to be the GOP face of Obama’s gutting the military. One consistent trait about McCain is that if you cross him, he remembers. This is why he does not get along with Barry.
Zaggs on February 18, 2013 at 9:41 AM
That’s some excellent writing there, Politico. Good strong description. Vivid. Classy, even.
Mr. Arkadin on February 18, 2013 at 9:48 AM
What’s all this fuss I hear about about John McCain getting turned on by Chuck Hagel, and giving his bone to Lindsey Graham? Come on, old shriveled-up progressives need love to! We should embrace love, not criticize it!
Oh … never mind … B*tch.
Next topic: ‘Making Puerto Rico a steak’
Pork-Chop on February 18, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Cause he was acting Maverickly?
trs on February 18, 2013 at 9:59 AM
Maybe – just maybe – McCain knows a helluva lot more about Hagel then say, I dunno, Politico or most of the other ass-hat journos.
Perhaps John knows Hagel’s real viewpoints, and that’s why Hagel is tanking hard. Chuck knows that John knows, so he was relying on McCain to cover for him.
budfox on February 18, 2013 at 10:24 AM
Maybe McLame doesn’t think our boys should be saddled with a third-rate political hack like Hagel.
phreshone on February 18, 2013 at 10:50 AM
It’s Politico, folks. The remarkable thing would be if they wrote an honest report. Do they actually ever quote anyone directly?
Garbage in, garbage out.
Maybe hack candidate outhacked himself out of a job. Nothing more, nothing less.
kim roy on February 18, 2013 at 11:26 AM
Why did McCain turn on Hagel? Let me quess without reading the article. Hagel didn’t worship the Holy Surge and to McCain that was blasphemy.
VorDaj on February 18, 2013 at 11:49 AM