Hagel rallies GOP over Ricketts' bid (ties Ben Nelson to Kennedy)

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2195540

Published Sunday
June 25, 2006

Hagel rallies GOP over Ricketts' bid

BY ROBYNN TYSVER


WORLD-HERALD
STAFF WRITER

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Republican Chuck Hagel threw several sharp jabs Saturday at his U.S. Senate colleague Ben Nelson, saying the Nebraska Democrat showed his partisan stripes when he voted with Ted Kennedy to raise the minimum wage.


Sen. Chuck Hagel

Hagel, who refers to Nelson as a "pretend Republican," left no doubt in a speech before a GOP gathering that he plans to be one of Pete Ricketts' strongest, and most vocal, supporters in his battle to unseat Nelson.

Ricketts' race against Nelson, who is seeking a second term, topped the talking points at the Nebraska Republican Party State Convention in Grand Island.

About 325 attended the convention, including Gov. Dave Heineman and U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry.

The gathering was used by Hagel and others to try to convince rank-and-file Republicans that Nelson can be beaten by Ricketts, a political newcomer.

Hagel noted that he was once in a similar position, when he ran against then-Gov. Nelson in 1996 and was 24 points behind on Labor Day. Hagel went on to win by 14 percentage points.

He told his partisan brethren that the Nelson-Ricketts race had national implications, because seven GOP Senate seats are in jeopardy. A Nelson victory, he said, could propel Democrats back into power in Congress, where Nelson would be compelled to vote for a Democratic leader. That leader would then preside over two years of turmoil.

"If the Democrats win either house, you will see two years of nonstop investigations of the Bush administration," Hagel said.

He also criticized Nelson for voting for the minimum wage bill proposed by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. Hagel said the vote proved that Nelson was not a true conservative.

[napi21]

1. Soooo Chuck, are YOU giving YOUR pay raise back?????

Hmmmm, I didn't think so!

[skipos]

2. "partisan stripes when he voted with Kennedy to raise the minimum wage"

Jesus, does anyone buy this crap? Voting to get minimum wage earners *almost* above the poverty level is "partisan?"

Too bad for him Nelson'sapproval ratings are about as high as they get.

[liam_laddie]

3. ES&S closes the gap!

Sen. Hagel might have some insights about his stunning come-from-behind "win" -
perhaps facilitated by his position (an officer and a significant shareholder, IIRC)
at ES&S at the time, maybe until shortly before that election. Electronic vapor votes
or "lost" real votes or...the possibilities are endless, unfortunately. In Ohio here,
we MUST put the kibosh on SoS Kenny Boy Blackheart's election shenanigans!

[hezekkia]

4. gag

Nebraska may be a red state, but I doubt Sen. Nelson has to worry about losing many votes for supporting a raise to the minimum wage.

It's one Dem policy that has a lot of support even from Republican voters.

[Mz Pip]

5. Republicans

can always be counted on to raise the name of Ted Kennedy when they want to throw some dirt. They are pathological when it comes to the Kennedys. :eyes:

Is this the best they've got? "Ewww. He voted with Kennedy! He must be Satan!" How predictable.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[davidinalameda]

6. guess Hagel isn't a "maverick" after all

but another partisian hack-just like McCain and the rest of the Repukes

[JI7]

7. Hagel linked to lying swift boat scums

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2669843