Obama should mull Sen. Hagel for veep

Published 9:16 am Thursday, July 17, 2008

Sen. Barack Obama should strongly consider selecting Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska to become his running mate for vice president of the United States. We need to end the expensive war in Iraq as soon as possible and bring this country back together again to focus on the real issues facing this country, such as the economy, education, transportation infrastructure, health care, the environment and the belief that government can actually focus on the big issues facing American families. I am pleased to see that Sen. Obama and Sen. Hagel will be making a joint trip to Iraq in the near future.

Sen. Hagel is a highly distinguished Vietnam War veteran and has been a consistent voice in support of ending the multi-billion dollar war in Iraq. In my opinion, the war in Iraq is one of the major causes of the temporary collapse of the American economy. Crude oil was selling for $30 per barrel before the war in Iraq. Today it was selling for $146 per barrel. Together, President Obama and Vice President Hagel will bring a safe and timely end to this immoral war that has cost thousand of lives, thousand of permanent injuries and hundreds of billions of wasteful spending.

Now is the time for us to join hands to focus on the real needs of Americans. Sen. Obama and Sen. Hagel have the ability to bring our nation together across party lines. I am supporting Obama-Hagel in 2008.

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Joseph E. Brown Sr.

Austin