Richard Lugar news stories on Newser

In Epic Statement, Lugar Rips Foe, Congress

Kevin Spak — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:37:55 CDT

Dick Lugar isn't going quietly into the sunset. The newly deposed Indiana senator has released a scathing 1,425-word statement lambasting his party, his opponent, and Congress in general, Politico reports. Lugar says he wants opponent Richard Mourdock to win because he wants to see a GOP majority for pal...

Obama Friendship Sunk Lugar

Kevin Spak — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:49:34 CDT

Dick Lugar's legendary Senate career came crashing to an end last night, and NPR laments that he was ironically "undone by his greatest strength." There were many reasons Tea Partier Richard Mourdock prevailed—Lugar is 80, ran a bad campaign, and was attacked for not owning a house in Indiana,...

Longtime Senator Dick Lugar Loses in Indiana

John Johnson — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:22:00 CDT

No miracles for Dick Lugar tonight: The six-term incumbent lost the GOP Senate primary in Indiana to Tea Party favorite Richard Mourdock, reports NBC News and CNN . The 80-year-old Lugar has been in the Senate since 1976, and he has ruled out running as an independent in November. He conceded...

Tea Party's Next Target: Dick Lugar

John Johnson — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:00:13 CST

Dick Lugar gets the "maverick" treatment from the New York Times and Politico, with both suggesting that the Indiana Republican's willingness to buck his own party on key issues leaves him vulnerable to a Tea Party primary challenge in 2012: Politico : Tea Party candidates are already "lining up to oppose...

GOP's Dick Lugar Endorses Elena Kagan

Kevin Spak — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:00:00 CDT

Looks like Elena Kagan will get confirmed for the high court with one GOP vote to spare: Republican Dick Lugar got on board yesterday, saying he'll back President Obama's nominee. "I have concluded that Solicitor General Elena Kagan is clearly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court" he said. "She...

Health Care Acrimony Could Kill Climate Bill

Kevin Spak — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:03:36 CST

Key GOP senators are warning that the bitter health care battle could spill over into the climate change bill, delaying it or scuttling it outright. Normally clubby senators are nursing wounds and blaming Democrats for the fiercely partisan wrangling. “It makes it hard to do anything because of the way...

Senate Votes to Expand Hate Crime Laws to Gays

Kevin Spak — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:40:02 CDT

The Senate has voted to extend hate crime protections to include those attacked because of their gender or sexual orientation, mirroring a similar measure already passed in the House, the Hill reports. Five Republicans, including Olympia Snowe and Dick Lugar, joined all the Democrats present in supporting the bill. Other...

Sotomayor Wins Republicans' Backing

Matt Cantor — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:17:15 CDT

Richard Lugar said today he’ll back Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court bid, making him the first GOP senator to do so, the Washington Post reports. Mel Martinez of Florida, the chamber's sole Republican Latino, quickly followed suit. “Judge Sotomayor has demonstrated a judicial temperament during her week-long nomination hearing,” Lugar, an...

6 Conservatives Worth Obama's Time

Harry Kimball — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:48:02 CDT

There are a few in the conservative camp who the Obama administration respects. “By respect, I mean, quite simply, the degree to which the White House responds to their worries and needs and believes that the time spent responding is useful and necessary,” Marc Ambinder writes in the Atlantic . Here’s...