Hagel Hearts Obama

Chuck Hagel may be crossed off John McCain's Christmas card list. Lately the Republican senator from Nebraska is letting no opportunity go by to heap praise on Barack Obama.

What's worse, Hagel (who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee) is now taking issue with McCain's recent criticism of Obama's promise to engage with Iran. McCain painted Obama as an appeaser, which Hagel says is a woeful -- and all too common -- tactic employed by the GOP. Hagel insisted engagement is the way to maintain peace.

Hagel then offered a wry tweak of his GOP colleague. "I am confident that if Obama is elected president that is the approach we will take. And my friend John McCain said some other things about that. We'll see, but in my opinion it has to be done. It is essential." ...

"If you engage a world power or a rival, it doesn't mean you agree with them or subscribe with what they believe or you support them in any way," he said. "What it does tell you is that you've got a problem you need to resolve. And you've got to understand the other side and the other side has got to understand you."

Hagel also criticized the press on Obama's behalf, urging reporters to focus on important policy issues and "not just why Barack [doesn't] wear flag pins on his lapel."

As Sam Stein put it, "Chuck Hagel is quickly becoming Barack Obama's answer to Joe Lieberman."