Obama Chooses a Republican?

So you think you know who Barack Obama's running mate may be? Think again.

Perhaps the best way to prove one is a new Democrat with the ability to reach across the aisle and heal a deeply divided nation is to actually choose someone to run with you from across that aisle. For a candidate who has pushed all the boundaries, this could be the biggest push of them all.

Choosing a sitting Republican senator would certainly be an attention-grabbing maneuver.

Chuck Hagel
Sen. Chuck Hagel is the name that seems to be at the top of the list. He and Obama recently shared a trip to Afghanistan and Iraq.

The two also share similar views on the Iraq War. Hagel has been an outspoken critic of the United States' involvement in the country.

First elected to office in 1996, many thought it was a hopeless run for Hagel, who was running against Ben Nelson, then the sitting governor in the state.

But Hagel won, and his conservative credentials have never truly been called into question.

He has a good rating with the American Conservative Union and served as a deputy administrator of Veterans Affairs under President Ronald Reagan in the early 1980s.

Party Loyalist?
But while Hagel has solidified himself as a person who appreciates conservative values, he also has been somewhat of a thorn in the side of the GOP. In the 1980s, he quit his post as deputy administrator in the Office of Veterans Affairs after disagreements with the administrator about funding and the seriousness of Agent Orange.

At one point in 2005, he was quoted in the Washington Post as saying, "I took an oath of office to the Constitution. I didn't taken an oath of office to my party or my president."

Though he originally voted in 2002 to authorize the use of force in Iraq, he has since become highly critical of the situation, saying there will be no defeat or victory for the United States in the country. Further, he has advocated, with Democrats, for a timeline for phased troop withdrawal. He did this at a time when most Republicans were against a timeline. Many Republicans may soon be joining him, now that the situation has calmed down significantly.

Also in line with Obama, Hagel has advocated for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship.

Retirement
Now, Hagel is apparently set to retire from political office, barring anything unusual. He is not seeking re-election to the Senate and his term expires at the end of this year.

This could also make him an attractive choice for Barack Obama. Because he is retiring, he has no need to placate Republicans in his home state, or across the nation.

Taking a Republican from the middle of the country in a heavy Republican state could also put some other states into play for Obama that have been considered out of reach up until now, including Nebraska.

Criticisms
The number of people from both sides of the political spectrum who have said it is not a good idea are numerous.

Obama, a liberal, would likely find it hard to deal with a conservative vice president. This could lead to a great deal of infighting within an Obama Administration.

While Hagel has had some issues in recent years where he has sided with the Democrats, that is not because he is a Democrat but rather because he possesses an independent mindset based on his own beliefs. His disagreements would likely only increase with a Democrat in the White House.

Democrat leaders have also been wary of Hagel as a possible candidate, saying delegates could reconsider their vote at the National Convention. Though delegates have not broken with primary and caucus results in the past, there is no rule that mandates they vote a certain way.

For his part, Hagel has said he would consider serving as vice president in an Obama Administration.