Chuck Hagel, the former Republican Senator from Nebraska, gave an interview to the Financial Times that totally ripped into the Republican party, calling them out as “irresponsible,” and stating that he was “disgusted” with his party.
“The irresponsible actions of my party, the Republican Party over this were astounding. I’d never seen anything like this in my lifetime,” said Hagel. “I was very disappointed, I was very disgusted in how this played out in Washington, this debt ceiling debate. It was an astounding lack of responsible leadership by many in the Republican Party, and I say that as a Republican.”
Hagel also spoke about the way his Republican party bowed to every whim of the Teaparty;
“I think the Republican Party is captive to political movements that are very ideological, that are very narrow. I’ve never seen so much intolerance as I see today in American politics.
Watch the video here
Elizabeth Hasselbeck called Tea Party Politicians "the bedbugs of the Republican Party." I suspect the initial strategy of the GOP was to use the Tea Party to reign in the far right without appearing to do so. But it's a strategy that's backfired.