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Fischer and Johanns Split on Hagel

By   /   February 7, 2013  /   25 Comments

Joe Jordan | Nebraska Watchdog

In her first major vote since taking office last month Sen. Deb Fischer disagrees with her fellow Nebraska Republican, Sen. Mike Johanns.

Johanns will vote in favor of former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel’s nomination as Secretary of Defense, Fischer won’t.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, President Obama’s nominee for Sec. of Defense

“After witnessing his confusing and contradictory testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, I cannot support his nomination,” Fischer said in a letter Thursday to the Omaha World-Herald.

In an exclusive on camera interview (see video below) with Nebraska Watchdog last week it became clear that Johanns and Fischer were not on the same page regarding Hagel.

During his confirmation hearing Hagel was blistered by Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee including Fischer, who accused Hagel of being “extreme…far to the left of even this administration.”

Asked by Nebraska Watchdog if he agreed with Fischer’s use of the word extreme Johanns said, “I don’t know if extreme is the right word…I would say (Hagel’s) views were pretty dramatic.”

In 1998 when Johanns ran for governor Hagel backed him.

When Fischer was running for the Senate last year, Hagel backed her Democratic opponent Bob Kerrey.

Contact Joe Jordan at joe@nebraskawatchdog.org

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Joe Jordan

  • chrisden

    Deb Fischer is right. Chuck Hagel’s views on many issues especially with respect to the Middle East and in particular Israel are to the left of the way this Administration has, at least outwardly, portrayed itself. That in my view is very troublesome. Hagel should not be confirmed as Secretary of Defense.

  • http://www.facebook.com/the.handsome.halfbreed Raymond Phillips

    Nebraska made a grave mistake electing Deb Fischer. She is nothing more than a partisan hack.

  • Joan

    Oh please, which war did Ms Fischer receive a Purple Heart in? What exactly does Ms Fischer have in back ground experience other than the Nebraska land war that makes her qualifyed to judge a great American like Chuck Hagel. Who is she to call the kettle black when the Koch brothers bought and paid for her seat in the United States Senate. She is an embarrassment to Nebraska.

  • Chuck Drew

    Fischer is just proving what a Brainless Lapdog to the dysfunctional GOP that she is!!

  • resistwemuch

    Joan: I find it ironic that as a member of the progressive, liberal, socialist mindset that hated everything about the Vietnam war (that was started by all the liberals hero JFK and continued by LBJ) now finds it opportune to praise someone who served in that war and who was spat upon by the likes of yourself as Nixon put an end to it. Go figure.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1402412076 Dawn Tighe

    Well I didn’t vote for Fischer and served 22 years in the Army and I wouldn’t vote for Hagel on a bet!

  • ProgressiveOasis

    It would have been refreshing, if undiplomatic, for Senator Fischer to say, “Hey, this arrogant asshole campaigned against me a couple of months ago. There’s no way I’d vote to support him for anything.” No one thinks Hagel did well in his confirmation hearing. All that showed was that he’s either ignorant on lots of issues in which the Defense Dept. plays a large role or that he’s so arrogant that he didn’t think he needed to prepare for the hearing. I’d bet money on arrogant and that’s why a vote on moving his nomination to the Senate floor is being held up by the Dem who chairs the committee.

  • Joan

    Think what you may of me, I NEVER spat upon a veteran who fought for their country, I only have praise for them and every time I meet one I tell them so.

  • Buzz

    Sen. Fischer ; First vote=First embarrassment for Nebraska.

  • disqus_yqMFMP0Da9

    Never cared for Hagel much as a Senator, but he was always honest and straightforward which is more than I can say for the scriptreaderlandgrabber from the sticks. She doesn’t have the credibility to judge anyone in traffic court let alone a war veteran to head DOD. Stick to shit-kickin “Deb”.

  • chrisden

    Wow. Not one of the individuals commenting here have made any substantive remarks other than to malign Ms. Fischer. This is a worthless forum.

  • Guest

    In the end, Johanns’ opinion does not matter as he is not a senator who gets to vote.

  • Kevin

    I do not like Fischer. I don’t like Hagel either. Hagel did not do well at his confirmation in quantifying his comments of the past.

  • Watching_From_Lincoln

    She deserves maligning since she’s just plain malignant.

  • Watching_From_Lincoln

    Deb Fischer, once a petty, vindictive back stabber; always a petty, vindictive back stabber. I hope the 60% of Nebraskans that were ignorant and gullible enough to vote for this worthless excuse of a Koch puppet can live with her public embarrassments for the next six years. She does NOT represent “Nebraska Ideals”, she represents the Koch’s and Ricketts’ agendas only. I spent sixteen years as an Army Officer, and when it comes to Deb Fischer’s “qualifications” to judge the merits of Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense, she doesn’t merit the privilege of providing the saliva to spit-shine his shoes!

  • ToucheTurtle

    We lived with Ben Nelson didn’t we????

  • chrisden

    You just made my point. Name calling is not productive. If you disagree with Senator Fischer’s stance on Chuck Hagel then tell us why. Otherwise, your comments seem petty and sophomoric.

  • D. Mark

    I voted for Ms. Fischer and only time will tell if she was the best choice, which I think she was! I am betting on her and will stick with my choice.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Harbert/100001406372795 David Harbert

    i’ve got just a little bit more respect for Johans now. He did some serious thinking befor deciding.
    Now Fisher, she is proving her Teabagger credintials. She only sees black and white, friend or enemy. “Dont let the facts get in the way of what I think– or feel”

  • Jazzee

    amen

  • Jazzee

    wow seriously?

  • http://www.facebook.com/susan.smith.73157 Susan Smith

    I agree D.Mark, her vote to restrict Reid’s restriction on filibuster was a disappointment but her vote against Hagel is a good vote. My vote for her was still better than having Bob Kerrey.

  • Bam

    Chuck Hagel is the epitome of “polarizing figure” – that means there are people who like him and people who don’t. Personally, I think the vast majority of the people who profess their love of Chuck on here NEVER voted for him in the Senate – it’s only when Obama tabbed him that they think he’s the one for the job.

    Actually, I don’t see too many here speaking for Chuck – most of what you read here is an excuse to spout hate speech against Fischer.

  • Bam

    I assume you’re talking about her vote for John Kerry – they haven’t voted on Hagel yet.

  • Bam

    Exactly – there’s no political discourse of issues here, just a competition between Fischer-haters to see who can spout the most venom against someone who beat their guy. This whole exercise will be moot when Hagel’s name is withdrawn.