E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
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."
Leave a Comment:
Dogs lick the boots of the abusive master who kicks them. That's the perfect analogy for the Republicans and the jews. The jews vote overwhelmingly Democrat in every election and the Republicans come crawling and beg to do the jews' bidding. Hagel understates the truth. The jewish lobby doesn't "try" to influence Congress. The jewsih lobby cracks the whip on their Republican lapdogs. Hagel actually served as a grunt on the ground in Viet Nam and might lend Barack a little credibility on military matters if Barack listens to him.
All these people playing politics on both sides have no idea but they ARE the problem in this country!
If all you folks held your sides accountable when they deserved it, we just might get somewhere.
For the last 4 years I haven't heard anyone from the left pointing out all the anti-american people Obama has surrounded himself with...ARE YOU ALL OK WITH THAT?
or are you just pawns for one political party?
John. Would you care to state your age? Mid 50's here. You seem to be young and inexperienced.
How about your education? 4 year engineering degree (plus) here... And was able to retire at 40.
The smart man says "I know sooo much".
The wise man says "I still have much to learn".
As soon as you think you got it all figured out, you than find out that didn't.
John--People on the left don't point out "all the anti-American people Obama has surrounded himself with" because only rightwingnuts think he has surrounded himself with anti-American people. The rightwing does not have a lock on patriotism. The left is just as patriotic as the right. And, as demonstrated by the last election, the American people understand that.
BTW Johnny boy, I'm someone that lives off investments, and haven't paid more than 15% in taxes in YEARS! Thanks to the GOP!
Seems you are too insecure to state your age or education! Why did I KNOW that would be the case?
You obviously don't know who Obama's czars are?
Don't you know he appointed Van Jones (communist and anti-capitalist) as his first czar?
How about Mark Loyd that wanted to trample on freedom of speech?
How about Cass Susstein that believes in manipulating people through new rules and regulations?
How about Donald Berwick which said he "romanticises" about socialized medicine and wants that in this country?
How about Keving Jennings which has his GLSN group promoting books and classes about gay lifestyles...Google "Keving Jennings fistgate" and you will see that our children are learning about fisting and the merits of spitting vs. swallowing!
Just Google "Obama's czars" and look it up for yourself my friend!
Johnny, young grasshopper. You know Reagan had quite a number of "Czars", or were you just a twinkle in your grandma's eye back then?
Google "Reagan Czars, Bush Czars" little Gumby!
Why are you AFRAID to state your age and education? Because you are YOUNG and CLUELESS!!!! That is clear!
Let's try this. When was the first time you voted for president?
Seems Johnnyboy had to head to bed, as his school bus gets there early!
John--The American people rejected your rightwing lies. For example, the bs about van Jones being a communist was the product of Glenn Beck's rather fervid imagination, nothing more. In addition, lots of people think that a single payer system would be best for this country. That doesn't make them unAmerican. What is unAmerican is labeling as unAmerican those who disagree with you.
Well said, Old Vet.
John 812, the "Obama czars" are equivalent to Jesus' 12 apostles. An Van Jones? You should listen to him more often and stop living in a time warp watching the same tape Fox plays days 24/7
John,
Those people (largely uneducated) that voted for Obama did not hold him accountable. The economic numbers are in the toilet, Gitmo is still open and comprehensive immigration reform has not seen an smattering of the light of day. In short, Obama failed completely on those three key promises he made prior to his first election. Conclusion: accountability does not apply to him when you have more low informed voters than educated ones.
Sorry to say, but these people have been hoodwinked. The middle class is completely screwed at this point courtesy of the POTUS. That is the reality. Just ask anybody you know in the middle class how they are doing. Very sad.
Truth--You know the truth--Obama was blocked on every one of those initiatives by congressional neanderthals. As for the middle class, you know, or should, that while the very rich prospered from 2001 to 2009, the middle class suffered. Remember the Republican candidate in 2012? You know, the guy who dismissed 47 percent of Americans (lots of them middle class)? Don't pretend that the Republicans are the friends of the middle class; they aren't. That may be the reason Obama won the middle class in the last election.
Old Vet,
Obama made those promises; nobody else did. Maybe he did not know how the Congress worked and that he was not King or something like that. IN any case, those were his committments and he broke them. Just like he is now screwing the middle class. They voted for him and they are too stupid to realize they are screwed. Note that your taxes just went up. Maybe the rich prospered because they are smarter, work harder or are luckier. It is irrelevent to you. Seriously, what do you care if your neighbor makes more money than you? Or, are one of those envious types? Envy is a horrible trait.
Face it; the guy lied to you and continues to. Flat out.
Mitch looks a wood puppet,,,looooooser
Of course the Republicans are against Hagel working for Obama, it smacks of bipartisanship!
Ted Cruz said Obama is "High on re-election High." Does that mean the Republicans are low on Loser's Low?
No, the GOP is just drunk. They've been that way since Nov and Karl Rove blew a gasket!
Can you even imagine a head line "Repubs will vote for it without a fight". They look for reasons to fight, whine, complain, and generally make fools of themselves on a daily basis. Who would vote for a Repub? Yep I know, those damn 37% nut balls.
They will always be avenging Mitt's loss.
Both sides inrich themselves and we are left fighting on wich crook is the best.
At least McConnell didn't promise to filibuster the nomination.
Oh just wait. He's got a few days to plan that brilliant move! (again)
Leave it to MSNBC (My Special Narcisist Barack Co.) to make it look like the GOP is going to question his appointment - there will be plenty of Dems who voted for the sanctions against Iran the Hagel didn't vote for who will question him also - and justifiably so but you won't hear Barry's favorite joke of a news organization mention that - seriously did all your employees get rejected by the Enquirer?
Gumby. This is NOT MSNBC. Are you this clueless about EVERYTHING?
Looking at Hagel, a wounded Nam vet, must remind McConnell of how he took the easy way out of that war. He milked his student deferments as long as he could and then, while serving as an intern to a senator from Kentucky, in the spring of 1967 got into the reserves. Those of us who were around in 1967 know how hard it was to find a reserve slot and also remember that everyone knew that the reserves were not going to be mobilized for Nam. McConnell, the chickenhawk, must feel small next to Hagel, the decorated veteran.
The same goes for Bush. He was in an Air National Guard Unit during Vietnam yet he didn't bother to show up. He should have been drafted in the regular Army after he was A.W.O.L.for his N.G. duty. No one in his unit even remembers his face (cause he didn't show). But "W" claimed he was there.
He was out partying with the cocaine cowboys.
Frickin' chickenhawks. I respected GHW Bush because he went to war when his country needed him. I have no respect for his son or any of the other draft-dodging Republicans who think war is wonderful as long as someone else does the fighting and dying.
Don't you Republicans see whet is going on here? this is a ploy to divide your party and cause more division.
You are taking the bait.
The largest upset of the decade mitts loss,,,haha hehe hoho
Why can't the repubics just let one damn thing that president does go by without creating drama like little girls? McConnell, Cantor, Ryan and the rest are STILL in the 'make the president fail' mode. If Hagel were the choice of a repubics he'd be their perfect nominee. He hates the jews, he's intolerant as hell so he's the perfect conservative pick. BUT, Mr. Obama picked him so it's a "bitter fight" over a simple nomination.
It's time our President showed some cojones and bitch slapped these stick in the mud conservatives that lost the election. They don't get it and the public is sick of their games.
They're the nerds we knew in school that would snitch on you for skipping class or passing notes. Real low life types that will do dirty crap to other people and than point their finger at someone else that does the same thing.
The repubics are the kind of people that never have friends.
I can't speak for "republicans" but how can you support someone that is not at least friendly to Israel?
We hear from the left that the right are the haters, but you all just show your true colors when the word JEW comes up....
what's your problem with Jews anyway, do you buy that nonsense that Jews run the world?
Hitler would be so proud of some of you folks!
Johnny boy. You googled "Reagan Czars" yet?
When was the first time YOU voted in a presidential election? Or when will be the first time you're old enough?
Johnny. How do YOU feel about a crooked casino and brothel owner that spent $100m trying to get Mittens elected as the US President of Israel???
Look up Sheldon Adelson.... After you google "Reagan Czars", that is!
Are you seriously suggesting that we should not criticize this administration because corruption occurs on the other side, or are you just deflecting so you don't have to face the truth about "your guy"?
You're the reason people hate politics so much..you defend "your side" and only attack the "other side".
You should be ashamed of yourself!
Johnny. You need to learn that no elected official is perfect. And you can't call others "unamerican" because they don't agree with your inexperienced views!
Old vet,
I agree,he is a coward,like most of congress who never served
Harley--If these freakin' draft-dodging chickenhawks had a sense of shame, they would be ashamed of themselves.
They are the losers who don't know when they have lost,,,now that's a real loser
Wow, I thought Obama would cave on this fight too.
Herron, I know what you are trying to do and I won't play your game...
If I say I'm younger than you, you'll just say I don't know any better...
If I say I'm older than you, you'll say something about your "life experience" being better...
If I say I have more education, you'll criticise my school....
If I have less schooling, you'll just use that....
You "know" what you "know" and you won't know any better until the proof is right in front of you....BTW, I liked Obama from about 6 months before his election until roughly 6 months after!
I had to see with my own eyes the people he appointed to positions of power and I couldn't believe that the media covered it up...I'm guessing you didn't say anything either and that tells us everything we need to know about you.
Have you googled "Reagan Czars" yet? Or are you afraid to be proved a fool (again)??
When was the first time you voted in a presidential election? That does NOT show your lack of education or young age, as you might just have not voted until you were 40!
Did you finish HS? I did!
No, Johnny, we'll attack your rightwing lies and your unAmerican attitudes. See 368.8.
Are you seriously suggesting that we should not criticize this administration because corruption occurs on the other side, or are you just deflecting so you don't have to face the truth about "your guy"?
You're the reason people hate politics so much..you defend "your side" and only attack the "other side".
You should be ashamed of yourself!
Johnny, I now understand. You were a first time voter in NOV. You only like someone that agrees with you on everything, 100%.. That does NOT happen in ANY election and ANY candidate.
If old vet thinks I'm unamerican, you are sorely mistaken...I love my country and that's why I don't support Obama.
I have paid very close attention to everything Obama has said and done, and it is deeply troubling that the people (yourselves included) have no idea what's going on. You can thank the media for that I guess...they have covered up everything negative about this president from day one so maybe I shouldn't expect you folks to know any better.
Just do the math....his anti-american czars, he has no intention to do anything about spending us into collapse, look into his father figures and mentors (which don't even LIKE this country)...
Once you put it all together you CAN'T believe that he loves his country.
Johnny clodhopper. YOU were the one calling others "unamerican" because you didn't agree with them!
Did you finish 8th grade?
John--Your post makes you sound like someone who was bullied as a child. Is that the case? Is that why you are so paranoid about people attacking you? Maybe that's why you're taken in by the right wing lies of Glenn Beck and other mentally unstable persons. I'm sorry for you. However, to falsely accuse people of not loving their country because they disagree with you is unAmerican. You cannot love your country and despise its most basic precepts.
Mitts world,came down n him very very hard
It was nice to see him lose,,I was happy
Karl Rove is still licking Mitten's wounds....
Hey,I'm 48 I'm am younger but I have been around the world ,,lmao
Yah,and never left your bedroom,hope he enjoyed it.
And am retired at 45 and am well off ,,,
Unemployment is only called retirement by liberals.Hope those government checks keep cominfor ya, huh.
President Obama do not extend any deference to Republicans. When are you going to get off that train...it leads nowhere. Today's GOP eats its own, ask Richard Luger,ask Bennet of Utah.
There's too much at stake to give these destuctive party an inch. They'll ruin your Presidency and the USA if you flinch
If the Senate blocks Hagel the President should allow a Palestinian embassy in DC
The house next to McConnells!
After he gives them the embassy,why not let them claim the U.S.like they claim Israel.Oh no,it already belongs to the chinese,we're just squatters now.By the way,what do obama,hegal,and al quiada have in common?They all hate jews(Israel),denigrate women,pretend to hate gays ,while practicing those activities,love sharia law.
yhbua -
"If the Senate blocks Hagel the President should allow a Palestinian embassy in DC"
There's already a Palestinian embassy in DC...it's called the White House...
If you want a hoot, read McConnell's biography. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_McConnell. He's the sleazeball's sleazeball, absolutely devoid of honor or principle, the worst sort of politician, a politician who gives politicians a bad name.
The fact that he was actually born as a "Ninja Turtle" was bad enough, but this too?
Old Vet -
"He's the sleazeball's sleazeball, absolutely devoid of honor or principle, the worst sort of politician, a politician who gives politicians a bad name."
That's just a definition of all politicians...what's insightful about a definition???
Dee--He's worst than most. George Herbert Walker Bush had principles. Ronald Reagan wasn't for sale. I can recall people like Adlai Stevenson, a man of great principle. Chuck Hagel was not above risking his career for principle.
Old Vet -
Do you know these people personally...or do you just fall for the PR stories you like best...and then repeat the PR stories...
Dee--Much worse. I'm a professional historian of modern America, the worst kind, one with AB, MA, PhD in the field, 35 years of university teaching, publications, professional memberships, the whole nine despicable yards. Do I know these people? No. Do I know enough about them to have a professional opinion? Yes. I can also tell you what was wrong with each: Stevenson couldn't make a decision, Bush couldn't relate well to regular folk, Reagan often didn't know what was going on, Hagel made stupid remarks about gays. But they were all more principled than McConnell.
Not all politicians are terrible. Lincoln was a politician of the best sort and George Washington was certainly a politician.
repulican'ts
Hagel truly seems like a perfect nominee for secretary of defense. He has a tremendous amount knowledge in foreign affairs, has military experience and experience in congress. He has proven to be very wise and cautious in engaging in military conflicts. As a republican senator he stood up to Bush and the neocons to oppose the Iraq war when that was a politically dangerous thing to do, and Hagel was right in his opposition and his assessment of the harm that war would cause.
But that is why the neocons, warmongers and military-industrial complex advocates are out in force to oppose him.