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Subscribe to RSSThe White House is circulating talking points for top surrogates on how to defend the president's Defense nominee, Chuck Hagel, according to outside White House allies.
In addition to providing details of their arguments for the former Nebraska senator, it also reveals the areas of top concern to he White House as hurdles to Hagel's nomination, including Israel, gay rights, a Democrat nominating a Republican, and Republican opposition.
Here's how the talking points, in the form of a Q&A, read:
Tough Questions
Q/ Doesn't he have a record of opposing Israel?
Hagel has a strong record of support for Israel. He voted time and again to provide assistance to Israel, and to enhance its security. In his book, he wrote "at its core, there will always be a special and historic bond with Israel exemplified by our continued commitment to Israel's defense." He has said that Israel's identity as a Jewish state must be protected as a part of any peace deal. And as Secretary, he will continue to carry out President Obama's unprecedented security cooperation with Israel.Q/ Are you concerned about his LGBT record / comments about someone being an "openly, aggressively gay" ambassadorial nominee?
Hagel recently said, "My comments 14 years ago in 1998 were insensitive. They do not reflect my views or the totality of my public record, and I apologize to Ambassador Hormel and any LGBT Americans who may question my commitment to their civil rights. I am fully supportive of 'open service' and committed to LGBT military families." As Secretary, he will continue President Obama's historic support for gay and lesbian service-members, including implementation of the full repeal of DADT.Q/ Why are you nominating a Republican as Secretary of Defense for the second time? Why aren't you confident enough to nominate a Democrat?
The strength of President Obama's record on national security speaks for itself - decimating al Qaeda's leadership, ending the war in Iraq, winding down the war in Afghanistan, strengthening our standing in the world. Chuck Hagel has been fully in line with the President's views on national security, including ending the war in Afghanistan and only going to war when we absolutely must. And in the Senate, he was willing to go against his own party when he became a critic of the Iraq War.Q/ Are you concerned about statements from Republicans opposing him?
We urge the Senate to confirm Senator Hagel as soon as possible. While some Republicans disagreed with Senator Hagel's criticism of the Iraq War, it would be hard to imagine many Republicans voting against a decorated war hero and long-time expert on national security issues like Chuck Hagel.
Leave a Comment:
@dari43
You wrote: "...just to show him he is not god...".
Clearly, you are lying - an atheist would never say such a thing!
What is it for people like Shelback, the Republican who can't participate in a discussion without becoming rude, crude and ignorant sounding. Their hate for a black Democrat with his beautiful family in the White House just elicits such rage and anger in these poor unhappy people. While we may not agree on policy or programs, there is no need to slander and use crude speech to make a point as there is no point at all for people like this.
...the only racist remarks I have read on the MSNBC boards has come from old-school Democrats against Allen West.......
I know that many in Washington FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE have voiced concerns about Chuck Hagel's appointment. But here's some people who are apparently very optimistic about his appointment:
Reuters:
Well at least the Iranians seem to support Hagel's nomination!
:)
After all, Hagel hates gays. So do the Iranians!
Hagel hates Jews. So do the Iranians!
And Hagel opposes sanctions on Iran!
.
.
.
So why wouldn't the Senate want to confirm the candidate that America's sworn enemies support?
as a political innocent, it sounds to me like the White House and Obama know something about the guy that they want to hide so are providing all this BS cover stuff.
Hagel detests the Isrealis and supports terrorist groups like Hamas. He'll fit right in with this administration.
ahmadinejad supports comrade obama and hagel!!!!
Sure. Hagel is being attacked by his own party (because they're all mentally defective?) because he represents a break from the neo-con Republican BS. Most Republicans are chicken-hawks who didn't learn a damned thing from disaster of the Iraq war, while Hagel is a veteran who did. That exposes the creeps, and they don't like it.
Hagel is a legitimate war hero and has served his country to the best of his ability. If senators are concerned about his comments on Israel then they should apply for a job there. They sure as hell aren't doing us any good and just create a huge expense. I don't know why Israel would take any of them on but as Shakespeare said "Hope springs eternal". Most of these really tough guys in congress and elsewhere have never put a uniform on. Being a war hero does not qualify him for a government job but it speaks volumes about his character.
Did kerry's uniform speak volumes for him, in your mind???
The last time I looked this country only had less than 6 % Jew - maybe koch and Senor should immigrate to Israel - Again Israel is a mjor problem for our country - Not spilling our young's blood for a poor neighbor like israel is paramount - Senor never served our country's military and for that matter never would - I wonder why??
Where did you serve???
Gary K- yes Kerry's uniform did speak volumes for him in my mind. I don't know whether he deserved his metals or not and I don't know anyone who does. I do know that he was there to get them either rightly or wrongly but I would never criticize a veteran who got any kind of metal. I also know that we will never have to be concerned about whether the majority of these congressmen or senators deserved theirs. Civilians do not get purple hearts or silver stars.
Is that all you know about kerry is that he was awarded medals???
The right thing to do would to be letting the nomination and selection process run its course; while respecting the process. OR,
Mr. Hagel could be vetted on The View. OR,
The White House can frame the discussion through its messaging and talking points.
Or we could just let the neo-con Republicans with a learning disability smear him like there's no tomorrow.
I am certain obama is telling them to "just blame the criticism on a video."
Joke of the Day
A lesbian in a mans body.
I was once told a joke used as pickup line that revolves around the man telling a woman that he is nothing more than a lesbian in a mans body. We all know who lebsians are.
The real kicker to the joke is this : If such a man uses the pickup line to attract a female does that really mean that since the man is really a lesbian that he like lesbians also enjoy bedroom activities involving shall we say male parts of the body?
Lol now thats funny.
Non-sequitur award of the day!