Sen. Lugar not planning "active" campaign for Mourdock

(CBS News) In his first interview since he lost his primary earlier this month, Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar said he had no plans to campaign for Richard Mourdock, who beat him.

"For the time being, I don't plan an active campaign," Lugar said on "Face the Nation."

The 80-year old lawmaker, known for reaching a landmark post-Cold War agreement on weapons reductions with Russia, has served in the Senate for 36 years. He lost to Tea Party-backed State Treasurer Richard Mourdock by 20 percent during the May 8 primary.

Lugar told host Bob Schieffer that Republican voters in Indiana wrote off the need for bipartisanship.

"A large portion of the Republican Party of Indiana believed, apparently, in the idea of individualism as opposed to community - a sense of compromise or a sense of talking across the aisle," Lugar said.

The senator largely dismissed the critique that he no longer had a residence in Indiana and spent most of his time in Washington or traveling overseas on foreign policy trips. He blamed the money and influence of outside groups, including the National Rifle Association, the Washington-based Tea Party group FreedomWorks, and the anti-tax lobby Club for Growth, for his loss.

"They are able to come in early on with hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars with negative ads, which turned around what usually was an approval that I had from 60 to 70 percent for all of these years, and it went down real fast in the last two or three weeks under that barrage," Lugar said.

The outgoing senator said he hopes Mourdock wins, to help Republicans regain the majority in the Senate, but he has some advice for the Senate candidate, who still faces a Democratic challenger in November.

"I have offered advice to my former opponent... as to trying a way he could be a constructive senator and how he could make any difference whatsoever. I hope he will, in fact, begin to adopt some of those ideas," Lugar said.

Known for his foreign-policy credentials as top Republican on the Foreign Relations committee, Lugar said President Obama "has been very cautious" in regards to Syria. "I think properly so."

[Mitch_Connor]

He's mad bro

[Sam2011]

Who exactly would desire campaign help from a "career" tax payer parasite who was so out of touch that he could not even answer, what exact address is on "his" drivers license?

[GeorgeKafantaris]

"[An] unrelenting partisan mindset is irreconcilable with my philosophy of governance and my experience [; it is] a rejectionist orthodoxy and rigid opposition to the actions and proposals of the other party."
Well said, Senator Lugar.
Too bad the majority of Indiana Republicans don't see it that way. But we don't have to join them.
Or have we reached the point where we are willing to sacrifice the good for our country so we can spite the other side? Why then have we resigned to electing people who promise to cut off our nose to spite our face?
Voting for such folks does not assert our individualism; it's just plain old spite.
Rugged individuals have built this land and it is high time for them to stand up to the unchecked political hatred that has taken hold of our country.

[OyVeyOyVey]

That is the problem with these long-term old-timers like Lugar, McCain, Specter, Hatch etc. They just do not understand when the time comes to go Yo has too go! Retire, let the young turks take hold of the rudder of the ship of state! Look at Sen. Lugar here grubbing for another term at age 80-years that is just totally SPAZ! Time to do a little fishing or like many of us old coot's go play the penny slot machines at the local casino, take the monthly bus trips to Amish Acres Niagara Falls etc! Go down to the local Senior Citizen's Community Center for the CHEAP lunches and play a few hours of Pinnacle or Bridge! Oy vey! Oy vey!! Oy vey!!!

[silvergoat1]

The sour grapes that Lugar shows is why he is no longer fit to stay in the Senate. He obviously doesn't like the results and resents his constituents decision that 6 TERMS is long enough.
Once he had class and honor, but rather than accepting the results with grace and dignity, he is pouting and taking his ball home to mommy. Sad when you think about it.

[Karl_Magnus]

Sen. Lugar, (the dinosaur that just screams for either term limits or mandatory retirement age), is acting like a petulant child.

Hey, Lugar, get out of the way and let someone who can accomplish something take over the seat you've held WAY TOO LONG!

BTW ... How's that "bi-partisanship" thingy been working out for ya, Dick? Man-Up, Dicky and support your Party and your successor.
~(A)~

[TJphoto]

Party First? This country is divided along party lines, left vs right, dems vs repubs. Nothing can get done because it's all about making the other guy look bad. They have you right where they want you. Good Luck in Nov.

[jguy1957]

Republican or Democrat making lifetime careers in the House or Senate is too much no matter what party or view. Once in place like Lugar for that period of time and he stops thinking of what is best for the people he serves, his party, and becomes interested in Lugar first. This is why no support for Mourdock. It really is simple we all have to vote these dinosaurs out of office and get new blood in no matter the party. Better would be Constitutional Amendments to put term limits in the House and Senate.

[mkarussell]

From the number of left liberal comments left here, it makes it very clear that 80 year old Lugar is indeed a wishy-washy moderate, i.e. a liberal in a Republican suit. Someone worries about Mourdock being of "the 1%," but no mention at all of the millions accumulated by Lugar during his 36 years in Congress. Fact is, the Democrats are getting ready to have their lunch eaten by the Tea Party and decent Republicans. And they know it.

[paulejb]

Typical RINO sore loser. It's always about them.

[Macotis]

I could not agree more.

[moron21]

moretruthnow, you want to know what is happening in US politics? Look at Wisconsin!! Your post is total bs, total 180 degrees from the truth. Believe Obama's "Hope and Change? SOCIALISM ! Does not work. Remember, the poor do not create jobs nor does the government. Your union pension will disappear. There is no Santa Claus! The free ride lasts until you run out of other people's money.