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Subscribe to RSSMultiple sources on Capitol Hill and in key special-interest groups involved in national security issues say they have been told to be prepared for a Chuck Hagel nomination for Defense Secretary, either as early as Monday or perhaps more likely Tuesday of next week.
Related: Former Sen. Chuck Hagel apologizes for gay comment
While it's still possible for the president to have a change of heart, all signs are pointing to a Hagel nomination.
When President Barack Obama returns to Washington this weekend, he will still have two big cabinet posts to fill and the current favorite for Secretary of Defense – Chuck Hagel – is taking heat on a range of issues. Obama 2012 traveling press secretary Jen Pskai and former RNC Chairman Michael Steele discuss.
That said, a White House spokesperson tells NBC News pretty emphatically that the president has not made a final decision and does not expect the president to make a final decision until he gets back from Hawaii.
The White House spokesperson adds, the "chatter" about Hagel-as-the-pick in the national-security and Capitol Hill communities is "premature." That said this spokesperson acknowledged Hagel is a "leading contender."
For what it's worth, the reason a lot of outside sources are being given a heads up on Hagel is that the White House knows if Hagel is indeed the president's choice, it's going to be a real fight.
President Obama responds to criticism of Chuck Hagel as a potential replacement for Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Hagel's 2008 statement that "the Jewish lobby" intimidates many lawmakers has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, and some have painted him as weak on defense issues. Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York, a top-ranking Jewish senator, passed on the opportunity to offer an endorsement for Hagel during an appearance on Meet the Press, while Republican Sen. John Cornyn called his positions on Iran and nuclear weapons "unacceptable."
Hagel also recently apologized for his 1998 opposition to an ambassadorial nominee whom he described as "openly, aggressively gay."
There are as many as 10 Democratic senators who could vote no, Capitol Hill sources say. But Hagel has some big backers besides the president who would become the key point people in getting Hagel over the finish line – Vice President Joe Biden and Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, both of whom are huge proponents of Hagel.
Asked on MSNBC’s Morning Joe about the opposition to Hagel, Obama political adviser David Axelrod defended the former Republican Nebraska senator.
“It speaks to the larger problem that we’re talking about, which is, we have to get the point, where, first of all, independence is admired and not discouraged, and we can disagree on some things and still work together on others,” Axelrod said. “And the notion that we demonize people because of a position that they’ve taken and disqualify them on that basis is what’s destroying the ability to get things done in this town.”
Dave Kaup / Reuters
Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) leaves a news conference in Omaha, Nebraska in this March 12, 2007, file photo.
Bottom line: It appears to be Hagel, but the White House says no final decision has been made.
News of the expected nomination was first reported by Foreign Policy magazine's The Cable blog.
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No doubt Hagel will be opposed by republicans. They have developed a far right mentality that will take them right down the tubes just like the liberals on the democrat side do from time to time. The venom in politics is overwhelming. You wouldn't believe the two parties live in the same country. Conservatives are like Romney in that they believe they are carrying the country and that the rest of the public are moronic moochers. Perhaps they will do themselves in by deregulating the financial markets and fighting more wars without paying for them. It is a shame. We have many problems to deal with and don't need a political prototype of Elmer Grantry to lead one of the parties.
Accepting this nomination is just going to allow the media to drag him and republicans through the DNC and media trash machine for months. Then they will approve him, and all the DOD wreckage from uncle leon will come out and Obama will burn another pawn with blame. Don't accept the nomination.
Republicans biting Republicans on the legs where they split apart. Olympia Snow said good by idiots King, Christie. Some times it takes people in your party that just want to puke on you before backers see how horrible they are.
Right job for the man! Right man for the job is always determined later.
BBB about the only Republican you can trust to do any job honestly. Honestly? Ok thats pushing it BBB.
In America we can honestly say the Republicans are always doing us a job.
Class warfare was created by the wealthy and they are winning. Don't give us your Fox crap here.
It is VERY IMPORTANT to choose someone that will not listen to most republicans any more than they would listen to democrats. Giving the repubs what they want is totally incorrect, they do not deserve to have so much control over the military and our policy to run it. The far right would pull a coup and run a military dictatorship immediately if they could, so do not put in a Sec of Def that will listen to the far right, only the moderate repubs are worth listening to in this job.
Larry Robinson the Liberatarian. Just what sense does a Liberatarian have in a Democracy? Lets see all the roads are built, Health care should not be an issue, If they can't afford it let them all die. Ayan Rand took SS and medicare before she died. What a lie these people try to provoke on our society by calling all our people welfare queens. We can do better without big government. Then get the F--- off our roads and go live in your perfect world where nothing will harm you. (Without Each Other We Are All Alone.) They only call on government when there is a disaster and then say woe is me. They don't want to pay taxes to make a government work just pretend they can take care of it all by themselves. To call Republicans Socialists is a true sign of stupidity no matter how much you think about yourself. Trouble is Liberatarian you are all alone! Maybe if you said Republicans are Fascist we could talk. Until then go kiss yourself for the glory you get by knowing yourself.
I am sure Hagel is not anti-Israeli, he is just an objective thinker that believes we must judge the situation prior to backing any ally's military actions that they initiate. We all know he would not have survived being a republican senator if he was not strong on military force use to back Israel, the current repubs in congress are just trying to use his objective logical thinking against him and President Obama because they want a Sec of Def they can control under the table. Also since repubs hate socialized things like socialized or public option medicine and free college many socialized European countries have (Canada and Japan too) then what do they think of socialized medicine and college education + required military service in Israel? Here is the wiki description of the med program there- "Health care in Israel is universal and participation in a medical insurance plan is compulsory." Generally repubs hate other countries for their socialized medicine and college education systems, so just another double standard of the GOP?
Sense looms with you BBB.
It is easy to hate what is not afforded to you.
Medicare for all Americans!
W's medicare part D. What a farce and deception on Americans. Charge us what ever you fell fitting big Pharmaceutical companies because you got W reelected from your support.
I am proud to be a recovering GOP member. I promise I will never go back again until all the greed and hatred is gone , and the deception that our people collect more welfare than corporate welfare is brought to task for the lies Committed
"lies committed"??
.
President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign has been fined $375,000 by the Federal Election Commission for reporting violations related to a set of donations received during the final days of the campaign.
The fines are among the largest ever levied on a presidential campaign by the FEC and stem from a series of missing filings for nearly 1,200 contributions totaling nearly $1.9 million. Campaigns are required to file the reports during the final weeks of the campaign.
Obama campaign spokeswoman Katie Hogan said the 2008 campaign had more than 3 million donors and "the very few outstanding questions have now all been resolved."
© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Republican party wiil try anything to discredit the president and people like you with no common sense.
I myself have recieved another contract and soon maybe a 2%er. The only difference with me is my 3 employees enjoy all the wealth and benfits that I will receive That is what makes me happy! $70,000 plus for my employees brothers and sister and the families we hold together make me a happy man. I have a good life and I want everybody who makes me successeful to enjoy the same things I do. I love them all! That is the American and Christian way!
So is the Romney campaign going to get a spanking for their Saudi Arabia donations?
Remember ! The Republican party made up super pacs to hide it all.
Hope is gone. yeah for you all hope is gone. Once brainwashed the chances of getting a new brain is slim at best.
The Neocons and chicken hawks hate him. He gets my vote.
Fox can make an issue out of toilet training and make the weak of mind believe it. I heard they are going to check every ones birth ccertificate. Maybe even the Presidents. LOL
Donald Trump Might start the new whig party since he knows so much about them.
Under the new Obama law Republicans can get a rebate on their misused and ubused brains to quit wasting energy for a certain party.
Good night my grand daughter just asked Papa to play.
If the Jewish Lobby doesn't like him, then I think Obama made an excellent choice.
This is just one more example of how Barack Obama is willing to work with anyone: Democrat, Independent, Republican, if they are the right person for the job. Obama is this supposed "polarizing" figure and the media feeds into this narrative by even suggesting it could be an argument. These people need to be called out for such ridiculous claims.
Any of the nitwits on here that call Obama a radical 'lefty' need to look at his record. But, my guess is that they won't and will simply post some stupid about socialsim or Benghazi. It is pathetic.