Hagel in Obama's cabinet?

[Smull]

Barnstorming Obama plans to pick Republicans for cabinet - Times Online

This really surprised me, I hope they're sincere about this, I would love to see Obama back up his bipartisan rhetoric, and I can't think of a better way to do that than to appoint competent republicans like Hagel and Lugar to his cabinet. Does this bother any of the liberals out there? Would any of the Republicans be upset if McCain (or any republican) appointed Democrats? Does anyone know if there is any modern precedent for this? Lincoln is the only one I can think of to do this. The closest I can think of is appointing people like Colin Powell or Alan Greenspan and they weren't exactly strict Republicans or Democrats. If this pans out it would almost certainty solidify my vote for Obama.

[JaJae]

His bipartisanship is the reason I support him over Hillary in this upcoming election. This may hurt him, but it definitely favors my vote.

[motivez]

I'm all for bipartisanship, and whoever the next President is should pick the absolute best people, regardless of ideology, for Cabinet positions..

That said, I have a real problem with the wording:

Larry Korb, a defence official under President Ronald Reagan who is backing Obama, said: “By putting a Republican in the Pentagon and the State Department you send a signal to Congress and the American people that issues of national security are above politics.”

Korb recalled that President John F Kennedy appointed Robert McNamara, a Republican, as defence secretary in 1961. “Hagel is not only a Republican but a military veteran who would reassure the troops that there was somebody in the Pentagon who understood their hopes, concerns and fears,” he said.

Not because of my ideology, but because it reinforces the widespread perception the Republican party has worked so hard to create.. that you need a Republican to really take care of defense issues, that you need a Republican to be able to deal with troop issues.

I think it's a false perception, and the sooner we can move away from the notion that only the Republican party can protect us, only the Republican party REALLY supports the troops, only the Republican party has the backing of Jesus, etc.. the better.

[RMNIXON]

He is still one of the most Liberal members in the Senate and has a week voting record in support of bipartisan Bills.

I am less than impressed, but if he continues a campaign where he is not required to give any real answers to these kinds of questions perhaps he can pull it off?