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Subscribe to RSSFormer Nebraska lawmaker, Chuck Hagel, is reportedly in line to be nominated for U.S. secretary of defense. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
Senators on Sunday indicated a tough confirmation fight for former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, President Barack Obama's reported pick to be the next Secretary of Defense.
On NBC's "Meet the Press," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Republicans in the upper chamber would treat Hagel "fairly" but that his past statements on Israel and Iran will be subject to tough scrutiny.
"I think he'll be subjected to the same kind of oversight hearings that any nominee for such an important position would expect," McConnell said. "And his views with regard to Israel, for example, and Iran and all the other positions that he's taken over the years will be very much a matter of discussion in the confirmation process."
Sen. Angus King, who sits on the Armed Services Committee, previews the upcoming nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel to become secretary of state.
"I think there will be a lot of tough questions for Sen. Hagel, but he will be treated fairly by Republicans in the Senate," he added.
That statement fell short of McConnell's past praise for his fellow Republican, a Vietnam War veteran and Purple Heart recipient who served in the Senate for three terms. When Hagel left the Senate, McConnell called him "a clear voice on foreign policy and national security."
During a pre-taped appearance on ABC's "This Week," McConnell appeared to back off that view, saying only that Hagel has been "outspoken" on foreign policy issues. "The question we will be answering if he's the nominee is 'do his views make sense for that particular job?'" he said.
Hagel has earned foes on both sides of the aisle for past statements about Israel -- notably his comment about how the "Jewish lobby" tries to influence lawmakers in D.C. -- as well as for his calls for direct negotiations with Palestinian group Hamas. He has also voted against some Iran sanctions and was heavily critical of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell discusses the goals his party is aiming toward in the upcoming Congress.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called the reported pick an "in your face nomination" by the president, while new Sen. Ted Cruz blasted Obama for ignoring bipartisan criticism of his reported pick for the Pentagon job.
"This is a president who has drunk the tea," Cruz said on Fox News Sunday "He's high on re-election right now."
Cruz said that he is "concerned" about Hagel's past statements.
Newly-elected independent Sen. Angus King of Maine said on "Meet the Press" that he would "reserve judgement" until the confirmation process begins, saying he believes generally that the president should be given considerable leeway to fill his cabinet as he sees fit.
"But I'm going to want to ask some serious questions and hear from Senator Hagel about the issues," he added. "He's a guy with a distinguished record and I'm going to listen to the answers."
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, a freshman Democrat from North Dakota, said that the looming fight over the expected nomination merely highlights the Washington gridlock disliked by the American public.
"Chuck Hagel is a tremendous patriot and statesman," she said on ABC. "He hasn't had a chance to speak for himself, so why all the prejudging? I don't know."
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1. ‘Most Horrendous’ Media Bias of 2012 Cited
The envelopes, please.
The “Damn Those Conservatives Award” goes to two Newsweek/Daily Beast staffers who discussed former Vice President Dick Cheney’s heart transplant in March. Senior writer Ramin Setoodeh said, “I would never give my heart to Dick Cheney. It would freeze over.” Assignment editor Allison Yarrow chimed in: “He may be one of the most evil people in the world.”
The “Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste Award” went to ABC’s Brian Ross and his coverage of the Aurora, Colo., theater massacre by accused shooter James Holmes in July. Ross proclaimed that James Holmes of Aurora had joined the tea party a year earlier, only to admit later that the tea party member was a different James Holmes.
NewsBusters gave its “Audacity of Dopes Award” to CNN’s Piers Morgan for fawning over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In September Morgan asked him, “How many times in your life have you been properly in love?” Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, responded, “I’m in love with all humanity. I love all human beings.” To which Morgan commented: “That might be the best answer I’ve ever heard to that question.”
But the “Quote of the Year” citation for 2012 went to MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry and what she called her “footnote for the Fourth of July.”
She stated: “The land on which [the Founders] formed the Union was stolen. The hands with which they built this nation were enslaved. The women who birthed the citizens of the nation are second class.
“This is the imperfect fabric of our nation. . . It’s ours, all of it. The imperialism, the genocide, the slavery.”
I haven't heard the other quotes, but I take issue with your insinuation regarding Piers Morgan. If you watch the interview with Ahmadinejad, you clearly see he is quite combative towards the Iranian president. The quote you have there is at the end of a very tense "discussion" when Ahmedinejad was extremely evasive when it came to questions of the holocaust, 9/11 and Israel's right to exist.
Cox,
Perry is right...about all three things.
We as a nation must learn to live with that truth and accept our criminal past.
A nationwide 12-step program of sorts for old white conservative American males.
Amends, please...
A decorated war veteran for Defence Secretary? My goodness what is the President thinking. Maybe he should find someone "qualified" like a Rumsfeld or Cheney type who is in the backpocket of the military industrial,war means profits lobby.
Cruz has been in the Senate 3 days and has firmly established himself as a right wing wacko. My advice to him is....shut up junior!
My advice to him is....shut up junior!
He is an elected US Senator & your giving him advice? A loser that doesn't have anything better to do than bitch about what a US Senator is doing & saying? Maybe you need to take your own advice. Junior. If you want your opinion to count for anything, run for office. By the way, I helped vote Senator Cruz into office & am proud of it.
Junior won his election to be sure, but he should at least wait until he knows where the men's room is before he challenges the nomination of a decorated war hero, respected former Republican Senator, and thoughtful human being. In short, he doesn't have to campaign and pander any more, he has to govern in the best interests of the nation.
LOL
No wonder the republicans continue to lose ground.
They once again cotinue to display their inability to govern by vowing to fight the appointment of one of their own.
Once again showing that they really are the party ruled by special interest fascist tendencies.
MSNBC "journalists" are a bunch of hacks! You WONT get the (whole) truth on ANY MSNBC article. Disgraceful to the name "journalism".
Then why are you here?
msnbc is sort of sucky for news, but they have the best comment sections after each article.
lol
Well, a New Year, same old republicans. "Speaker" Boehner says there will be a "battle" over the debt ceiling. Senator McConnell says there will be a "fight" over Kagel's upcoming nomination to be Sec of Defense. These two, especiall,y do not have a clue about how to govern. They show no statesmanship. No leadership. No willingness to compromise.
Wouldn't it be nice if the two parties could disagree without battles and fights...simply sit down and govern in a civilized, non-partisan manner for a change?
. . . Still no relief aid for the victims of Storm Sandy . .
HOW MANY MORONS WILL BE VOTING REPUBLICAN NEXT ELECTION. . . they voted themselves a pay raise....
IS THAT HOW YOU REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES ?????
Thre was 9 Billion in flood insurance money voted for on Thursday. On the 15th the other 52 Billion will be voted on so they can pull the Democrats Pork out of the bill. Some of Congress said that the Demorat lead Senate had added about 2/3rds of the bill in Pork . We can't hand out money we don't have. Why can't some of you idiots understand, WE ARE BROKE.
Sandy hit the U.S. in late October and it only took eighty days for the first smallish appropriation by Congress to be approved. 'You're doing a heck of a job, Republicans."
When acknowledging that we are broke, one must ask why? Iraq, Afghanistan, repeal of Glass-Stegall, the unfunded Medicare Part D giveaway to big Pharma, $4 billion to the oil industry, etc. etc. all come to mind.
The Democrats voted themselves a raise as well stupid.
So whats new?? All the GOP wants to do is fight, even if its within themselves. No suprise here.
Obama could nominate McConnell for the position and dumb $h!t McConnell would fight his own nomination...... Can you imagine what the litter would be like if McConnell and Bachmann were paired up - it would take at least two GOP lustrums just for them to learn how to walk upright. WAFJ this wannabe despot is.
Classic imagery. Love it.
It appears that you DO know Squat!
ANTI-SEMITE ANTI-SEMITE ANTI-SEMITE ANTI-SEMITE...blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda....If Anyone says anything about Perfidious israel (small "i" intended) they are an anti-semite. What Hagel says is true in regards to israel; the jewish lobby does try to influence lawmakers. You Perfidious israel supporters sound like the boy who cried wolf with your anti-semite rants. One day there will be a real anti-semite in sheep's clothing and you will suffer the consequences, hopefully. Long live Palestine.
Just a thought....Israel is on shakier ground than ever across the American heartland, way beyond 'can do no wrong.'
Were it not for the RWNJ's here at home, a brokered peace in Palestine would likely be attainable. It would take years, to be sure, but it would be attainable. WITH the RWNJ's, it will NEVER come to pass.
Patriors?
The same McConnell that voted time and again to raise the debt ceiling when Bush was president but now whines when Obama wants it?
The same McConnell who, like Hagel, voted NO to repeal a bill that would halt corporate welfare given to corporations that offshore jobs? And when we offshore jobs, we see ythe value of labor for those jobs reduces. Fewer jobs and lower wages mean less revenue for government, meaning it has to go into deficit spending mode.
So why are taxpayers giving money to corporations offshoring and everything else? Don't say "Americans aren't educated" because there are enough articles that point out how Americans had to train their own replacements or not get unemployment benefits... amongst other issues...
So if these two fellas are patriots, to which country are they patriots for? It's not America, based on their own actions.a
Jewish Lobby-The CHOSEN PEOPLE - the Blessed People-of Yahweh-that name cannot be spoken by Jews- Cecil De Mello barked and US took it.
These entities rob people of their hard earned money-these are everywhere all over the world-Finance Law Medicine Bureaucracy Senate House Governors State Senates assemblies BIG Retail All Insurance Banking- Real Estate Aerospace Defense-You name it and these are pegged.
Their mothers never told them word-enough-STOP.
McJoel Kentucky is not American and hence nobody should pay attention-dethrone this Joel and his kinds in Senate.
There is severe deficiency of honesty integrity and professionalism among its entities in Senate & House.
Charity begins at home. Iraq Lebanon Palestinian and other wars were created by N Yahoo.
Lets put America First.
The pouty GOP is throwing another one of its hissy-fits because they want one of their own SOB's running the War Department. The GOP's concept of " fairly treating" any Obama nominee for any cabinet or sub-cabinet post is a pledge to not waterboard the guy.
It's that ideological purity pledge thing ...
Besides, the military-industrial corporations need a man on the inside to keep the warmongering juggernaut running and more importantly funded. The firm of Boeing Lockheed Grumman Inc call the tune and pay the orchestra . Now we'll see how Congress dances in the Grand Ballroom at the Pentagon's Masquerade Ball...
Naw, Hagel ain't no bagel-head. He may be more of a keffiyeh-head. To me, that's a "schmear" on his character for this position. Mr. Obama, three tries for a quarter- pick again, please.
Republicans are still locked into NO on everything syndrome, did they not learn anything from their poor showing in the election ? It does not matter what Obama proposes or who he nominates (even a respected republican) the Taliban teabaggers will opposes it . Is it not yet clear to the American people the Taliban teabaggers are all about ideology and to h3ll with women, country and the middle and working class poor ?
Is there anything the GOP won't attempt to block? I recognize that some GOP members of Congress may have legitimate complaints about one thing or another, but the general impression is that the GOP is against everything except repealing "ObamaCare." I long for the good old days, when a liberal like myself could find a Republican alternative to consider. I know there are thoughtful, patriotic Republicans out there (Colin Powell comes to mind), but the GOP seems intent on disowning them. Gov. Christie is probably next on the GOP hit list because he dared to put the citizens of New Jersey above the wishes of the party.
Hmmm . . . I don't think you've earned the right to consider yourself a Liberal if you think Colin Powell is a "thoughtful, patriotic Republican". Are you nuts?? That douchnozzle LIED to Congress about non-existent weapons of mass destruction, and I will always hold him partially responsible for the mess Bush and his gang got us involved in. Powell will always have blood on his hands no matter how much he's tried backtracking since then.
I am not even sure that Colin Powell knew that the information he had was a lie. The Bush administration was more than capable of lying to him as well as to us. Besides which, when you are under orders from the President, I'm not sure that you can refuse those orders. Powell has said on more than one occasion that he was sold a bill of goods and he very much regrets the testimony he gave.
SDAim, Powell's faulty presentation was to the United Nations. Others in the Bush Administration lied to Congress.
SDAim, I don't think you have a clue what either "thoughtful" or "patriotic" might mean, as evidenced by your response. A thoughtful person, like Colin Powell, is willing to admit when he made a mistake, as in the case of his presentation to the UN (not Congress), which, as far as is known, he believed to be the truth at the time. There is actually a difference between honestly reporting what you believe to be correct and lying, a difference that apparently escapes you.
How perfect that these GD Republicans can't even confirm one of their own here -- boy, obstructionist at all cost -- that's their motto. How pathetic and sad they are.
Hey, wouldn't all of the above make Hagel, the right man for the job!!? He's not afraid to call a spade a spade, especially when it comes to Israel, and the influence it has on American government! Mr. Hagel doesn't seem be a "war hawk," and all of his positions suggests he's perfect for the job!!!
Won't somebody please punch out McConnell's lights and wipe that bum-@!$%#ed look off his face. Such a backwoods, rural redneck. GEESH!
The Republicans would rather bring back Donald "We'll be out of Iraq in a few months" Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense.
I am surprised that no one has yet introduced a bill changing the name of the Department of Defense back to what it used to be: Department of War.
is it even remotely possible for republiCONs to be satisfied/happy with anything? even one of their own? christ on a crutch...they're soooo not revelant anymore.
This certainly proves that the GOP is only interested in obstruction. Obama nominates one of their own, someone they have widely praised for his experience in defense and foreign affairs, and he is suddenly unfit to serve. If Obama nominated Jesus Christ the GOP would challenge his appointment.
The GOP isn't interested in serving the country or improving the economy. They are only interested in obstructing the government process. They are not patriots. They are traitors and should be treated as such.
If Obama nominated Jesus Christ, what would the Jewish lobby do?
Sad reality: as indicated by the overwhelming majority of respondents here, the position of elected officals fails to represent voters who seek the deeper truth, but of those more easily sold by those who buy into the sort version played on FoxNews & other paid advertisementsm, all paid for by the wealthiest few, owners of big business & powerful groups such as the Zionists we speak of here.
Hagel is a real patriot and warrior…and not a chicken hawk.
this is just more @!$%#ing show like the cliff was. he knows he will be because this idiot you call a president wants him. wonder how many times he washed his ass to get this position. what happened to ketchup man????
Need some translation to understand your post. Could you try again - in English?
doghunt, No he didn't, he was referring to himself.....
I just want to know who the ketchup man is. <grin>
I'm Having fun with the ignore button today
Grandpa, a lot of that going around!