The Huffington Post reports:
Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel attempted to put to rest any doubt about his commitment to gay rights on Tuesday, saying he supported the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and would work to extend equal benefits to gay and lesbian military families.
“I fully support the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 and value the service of all those who fight for our country,” the former Republican senator from Nebraska wrote in a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). “I know firsthand the profound sacrifice our service members and their families make, and if confirmed as Secretary of Defense, I will do everything possible to the extent permissible under current law to provide equal benefits to the families of all our service members.”
Until this moment, I was opposed to Hagel’s nomination. He offered what appeared to be a lame apology to James Hormel for his effort to sabotage Hormel’s nomination as Ambassador to Luxembourg. The Nebraska senator’s gay-rights record was hideous, regularly scoring a goose egg on the Human Rights Campaign’s congressional scorecard.
His latest statement has changed my mind. Whether he is sincere or just wants the top job is secondary to his public commitment to do the right thing. If his change of heart is political — well, that may be okay because it is Washington and he is a politician. I’m inclined to cut Obama some slack given his support for marriage equality and ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Finally, it is Obama, and not Hagel, in charge of policy. So, I tepidly give my approval to the nomination and hope that Hagel keeps this country safe from enemies foreign and domestic.
In terms of other criticisms regarding his views on Israel and Iran, I am unpersuaded that he is a threat to the Jewish State and is soft on Iran. It seems that special interests are exaggerating these issues so they can install a puppet who can’t think for himself. We hope that the confirmation hearings will clarify these issues as well.
I reserve judgment on Hagel, at least until hearings when he can be thoroughly questioned.
However, we have a tradition in this country that Presidents get the cabinet that they want.
By the way, as a Jew I share Hagel’s views on Israel.
I am glad Hagel doesn’t appear to be in the christianist-zionist’s pocket. It’s about time.
After Senator Chuck Schumer’s endorsement of Hagel it seems to be a done deal. Only a filabuster could challenge his confirmation.
I opposed this for several reasons and have been very prolific in writing posts to stop it.
Two of my main reasons one on extending benefits to gay military families, and another Hagel’s opposition to “all options on the table” with Iran were positions that Hagel changed in order to both comply with the President’s views and also to get the job..
I am glad that I specifically posted so many references to Hagel’s not stating his willingness to extend benefits that only Pentagon foot dragging and not DOMA was to blame.
I don’t think Hagel will have any direct influence on Israeli-Palestinian issues.
But it is very logical to expect that despite his new found willingness to threaten Iran with a military option if negotiations fail, the Iranians are likely to interpret his confirmation as more reason not to give up what to them is extremely important for political reasons.
This makes the chance of war more likely.
Of course, this issue is extremely complicated and hard to predict.
I share my hope with you that despite all the murky circumstances this country will be lucky and he and the President will be able to defend the US and Peace.