Rumor has it that Hagel will travel with Obama to Israel

[JDPriestly]

Later this summer, Obama said he would be joined on a trip to Iraq, and possibly Afghanistan, by Senators Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebraska, and Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island. All three senators share critical views of the Bush administration's Iraq policy.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/14/america/obama.php

So, who is Hagel really? What is his voting record?

Abortion:

* Voted YES on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
* Voted YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
* Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
* Voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
* Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
* Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
* Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
* Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
* Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
* Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
* Voted YES on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
* Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
* Rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance (190 members). (Dec 2006)

Civil Rights

* Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
* Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
* Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
* Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
* Voted NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
* Voted YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
* Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
* Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
* Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks. (Dec 2005)
* Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
* Rated 11% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)

Corporations

* Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)
* Voted YES on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions. (Mar 2005)
* Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
* Rated 87% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)

http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Chuck_Hagel.htm

It's good to know who your friend's friends are. Oh, Obama is also taking Reed with him. Here is the info on Reed:

Jack Reed has voted with a majority of his Democratic colleagues 95.6% of the time during the current Congress. This percentage does not include votes in which Reed did not vote. See a list of his votes against his party since 1991, a list of all Senators in the 110th Congress with a similar score, or a full list of party voters.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/r000122/

Reed appears to be a Democrat.

But Hagel???????? After looking at Hagel's voting record, I have to ask why in the world a Democrat would hang out with Hagel??????? There are lots of qualified Democrats who could be accompanying Obama.

[TwilightGardener]

1. One of them is going to be Obama's Secretary of State, the other his SecDef.

I'll put bets on Hagel as SoS, Reed as SecDef, actually. And I don't think Hagel is joining him for the Israel leg.

[Nite Owl]

2. I remember reading somewhere

that because this is considered a congressional trip there has to be reps of both parties. No other repuke Senator is so against this war.

[Thrill]

3. Because Hagel can't stand McCain

[Pirate Smile]

4. Congressional delegations are supposed to be bipartisan.

Why don't Democrats focus on bashing McCain for a while - just for a change.

[Clark2008]

5. Who else is going?

[Pirate Smile]

7. Jack Reed (D- RI)

[JDPriestly]

9. Reed has a good voting record.

[Inuca]

6. Rumor has it?

The article in your link does not say anything about this.

[Sensitivity]

8. Obama said Hagel is joining him. That is not a RUMOR. It is BIPARTISANSHIP as promised.

Why do people gasp when Obama keeps his word and reaches across the isle?