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Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images
President Barack Obama arrives with Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel during an event in the East Room of the White House on Jan. 7.
Updated 4:22 p.m. ET -- President Barack Obama named his choices for two of the nation's prominent national security posts Monday, teeing up a likely confirmation struggle over his pick for the Secretary of Defense, a position that's historically drawn overwhelming bipartisan support.
Obama tapped former Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican war veteran whose stances on Israel and Iran have angered some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, to head the Pentagon. He also announced Monday his choice of counterterrorism adviser John Brennan to be the new head of the Central Intelligence Agency.
"Chuck Hagel is the leader that our troops deserve," Obama said at the announcement at the White House. "He is an American patriot."
Noting that Hagel served in the Vietnam War, Obama said that the Purple Heart recipient "knows that war is not an abstraction."
Even before Obama made it official, the nomination of former GOP Senator Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense generated an outcry from both sides of the aisle. NBC's Chuck Todd reports.
"In Chuck Hagel, our troops see a decorated combat veteran of character and strength," Obama said. "They see one of their own."
Thanking the president for the nomination, Hagel pledged to offer his "honest and most informed counsel" to the administration.
The White House hopes to paint the sometimes gruff Hagel as a truth-telling war hero with extensive experience on the world stage, while opponents question his support of Israel and his commitment to preventing a nuclear Iran.
The former Nebraska lawmaker has also come under fire for his 1998 opposition to an ambassadorial nominee for being "openly, aggressively gay." He recently apologized for the remark.
(In his opening remarks Monday, Obama alluded to the recent repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy towards gay service members, referencing the Pentagon's commitment to allowing them to "serve the country they love, no matter who they love.")
Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay member of the Senate, told NBC's Andrea Mitchell Monday that she wants to speak to Hagel to determine whether his apology for the remark is "sincere and sufficient."
In an interview with the Lincoln Journal Star, Hagel charged that foes have "completely distorted" his record on the issues and that he now has "an opportunity to set the record straight" on Israel and other issues.
Part of that process has already begun, as the White House has been “reaching out to a number of groups and individuals with regards to this nomination,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said Monday.
Carney suggested such preemptive measures are necessary given how quick critics are to pounce: “it is certainly an unfortunate reality that has become the norm here in Washington, that even when names are bandied about in the press as possible nominees, that a process begins where critics jump all over them. And you know, that's just part of -- one of the reasons why Washington has become a more fractious place.”
Hagel's controversial nomination comes after U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration to be the next Secretary of State amid criticism for her role in the administration's investigation of a September attack on the American consulate in Benghazi.
If confirmed, Hagel would be the first former enlisted soldier to become the secretary of defense. His views of international conflict are heavily influenced by his own service in the Vietnam War; he won two Purple Hearts for his service and still has pieces of shrapnel embedded in his chest.
A vocal critic of the troop surge in Iraq, Hagel has questioned his own party's foreign policy strategy and further irked Republicans by endorsing Democrat Bob Kerrey in Nebraksa's tight Senate race last year. (Kerrey lost.)
Brennan, one of the president's most trusted advisers, has spent most of his career at the C.I.A. He was considered for the same post in 2009 but withdrew from consideration after critics said he had failed to speak out against interrogation techniques such as waterboarding that human rights groups believe to be torture.
Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a onetime POW who has been a vocal opponent of torture, said he has concerns about Brennan's nomination.
"I appreciate John Brennan’s long record of service to our nation, but I have many questions and concerns about his nomination to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, especially what role he played in the so-called enhanced interrogation programs while serving at the CIA during the last administration, as well as his public defense of those programs," McCain said in a statement.
On Monday, Obama praised Brennan for his "commitment to the values that bind us as Americans."
"He has worked to embed our efforts in a strong legal framework," Obama said of Brennan. "He understands we are a nation of laws."
Winning laughs at the generally somber announcement, outgoing Pentagon chief Leon Panetta said that, after a long career in public service, he would welcome the opportunity to spend time at his California walnut farm.
"Dealing with a different set of nuts," he joked.
NBC's Ali Weinberg contributed to this report.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, explains his comments that nomination Sen. Chuck Hagel to the Secretary of Defense position is the "worst possible message we could send to our friend Israel and the rest of our allies in the Middle East."
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I think perhaps the President is being sarcastic when he said that "what better person for the job of cutting the pentagon / military budget than a former Republican senator" (paraphrased). In my experience a false patriotism Republicans show is most obnoxious and horrid when they are in office and tear down and reduce help for needy here in the USA and then spend trillions outside the USA in what is now national OFFENSE, not DEFENSE. What the USA is doing all over the world with it's military is no longer something that can be referred to as "national defense". Why do people refer to the generals at the pentagon as being intimidating and that the generals make it very difficult to reduce military spending... it's because they are viewed as being irrevocably patriotic and hold the fate of our lives in their hands. However we are getting too much of a good thing and the military has become self serving, as folks push for Republicans in office as they know only Republicans will increase the USA military budget in spite of looming financial deficit disaster. People should stop listening to what they are hearing and remember how after two different President Bush presidencies were done.... we sat at the bottom of the deep pit the Democrats inherited in 2008 of financial deficit disaster, and it was the military spending that was out of control, certainly not entitlements as these two Republican Bush presidents carried the same economic agenda as Romney was proposing. Even the same people from Bush's cabinet were in Romney's. Anyway it would be a miracle if the military spending could be brought down to levels that were around before the 9/11, assuming those threats have been finally delt with.
Many people have evolved on the issue of gay rights, and Hagel appears to be one of them (as is Obama). Senator Robert Byrd, a former klansman, endorsed Barack Obama. If people are sincere in the evolution of their views, and they apologize, their growth should be accepted. And what is wrong with Hagel saying he does not represent Israel? That is a fact--they are a close ally, but his allegiance should not be to Israel. So many in Congress will back Israel and its leaders no matter what. So when Bebe Netanyahou shows up in the U.S. and disrespects President Obama in public and Secretary Clinton and Joe Biden overseas, our Congress gives him a standing ovation. So Hagel does not support a proxy war in Iran? Good for him.
I thought we called that flipflopping? Are does that just apply to Romney?
Well I'm sure Panetta is getting pretty tired of the "chin nuts" associated with kowtowing to this POTUS.
UEM-
It looks like you added an couple extra letters: T and U
The Republicans are going to have to roll over again on this one too.... Just like they did with Obamacare, gay rights and taxing the rich.... Get used to it, righties !! 4 more years of this .... LMFAO, I love it !
I would be interested to hear what you are expecting from this apppointment, if confirmed.
Massive cuts in wasteful pentagon spending and less war mongering ....
No welfare puppy mill closures though? Getting money from the ATM at the casino.
Hagel's hatred towards Israel and Jews is exactly what took him to the top of the list.
And ? What's your point ?
GOP opposition to Hagel is just Republicans doing more of what they do best: being total d!cks.
!
Liking your own comment is the acme of self-gratification.
Screw the Jews,,let them eat sheet,,,l
It certainly would be entertaining if Republicans fight this one to the wire. I have always wanted to see something like this one---ever since my older sisters many years ago felt obliged to attend an engagement party being held in Veterans of Foreign Wars service club that due to declining membership had been turned over to something like a neighborhood association for the use of folks that lived in the area---it wasn’t fancy but it had a roof.
My sisters went because a blind child in the residential school in which they taught had asked them to come because the vent was being held for one of his aunts and her beau.
So they did and everything started out a little different but calm until the family of the intended bride got into a food fight with each other that soon escalated into a family brawl during which the family of the groom and other guests rather quietly departed. My sisters were spared going to the wedding---for some reason it never came off.
Wouldn’t it be something if the Hegel’s appointment hearing were to be held in the Capital cafeteria and broadcast as an episode of “Survivors”---sort of a national civics lesson.
The GOP is upset because Hagel isn't nearly as crazy as the remaining GOP crackpots.
Wow. The full-out racism is rampant in this thread today. My goodness, the 'baggers really have their panties in a complicated wad...
In any case, I support both Hagel and Brennan and there is FA the wingnuts can do to stop either nomination from going through. Sure some of the more fossilized of the GOP will vote no but I have a serious question.
Carrie, you claim members from "both sides of the aisle" oppose Hagel, yet I see no names. I have seen this claim elsewhere and I also see no Democrat names.
Provide a name. I want to know what Democrat or independent opposes Chuck Hagel and why.
Does anyone know what she is writing about? So far all I see is the same people from the party of no and the Faux News people salivating over this. I have seen no evidence thus far of anyone but the clear usual wingnuts opposing these noms.
And they are just plain bat guano crazy...
Why do you support them? Because they were nominated by Obama or because you belive intheir respective policy stances?
Great question Ulysesses...
I dont believe there are any Democrats who oppose Hagel. There are a few who have questions/reservations, for example, Shumer and Baldwin.
Thanks Tiberius. I've noticed again today that many people in this thread are pure, hateful racists.
I support Chuck Hagel because of his service to the country and the way he has not played on it, unlike other Republicans who loved him before President Obama nominated him and now oppose him for no other reason than the black man in the White House nominated him.
Had Romney nominated him, the 'baggers would have engaged in a standing ovation...
These folks are dangerous to themselves and others and it is being fueled by Faux News. Which is nothing but a propaganda arm of a person who is also not a citizen of the United States, Rupert Murdock.
These same folks are now trying to misappropriate the phrase "low information voters" - even as it only applies to them. For instance, I immediately went over the the Washington Note that has a full transcript of Chuck Hagel's 2006 speech to the Brookings Institute, and read it in its entirety and came to the common-sense conclusion that Hagel knows what he is talking about and the 'baggers are bat guano crazy as usual, driven by a Faux News faux controversy that they are simply making up as they go along trying to save their failing network.
The true low information voters, those that take Faux News seriously and think it is real, they are simply not worthy of answering except occasionally poking them as the trolls that they are.
The knock against Brennan is yet another false accusation that he is somehow responsible for administration leaks, largely because of a press conference he gave about the Bin Laden operation where President Obama successfully got rid of that monster with the expert help of Leon Panetta and Seal Team 6.
I welcome seeing hearings about that successful operation because President Obama has yet to get the deserved ticker tape parade in Times Square. Mission Accomplished, by the black man, the one who just resoundingly won four more years over the keep his money overseas Mitt Romney.
Mission Failed by the poser, Bush Jr. who was on vacation for a huge part of his presidency, unlike the hard working and driven President Obama, the scholar, and black man that can run intellectual circles around the 'baggers...
Shoot yourselves some more 'baggers. Soon enough the GOP won't be electable as dog catchers...
And the Israeli "supporters" among them will have only themselves to thank for the inevitable One State Solution(tm). They have been warned repeatedly, yet they cannot be bothered to go read the UNSCR's about th
Thanks Tiberius. I've noticed again today that many people in this thread are pure, hateful racists.
I support Chuck Hagel because of his service to the country and the way he has not played on it, unlike other Republicans who loved him before President Obama nominated him and now oppose him for no other reason than the black man in the White House nominated him.
Had Romney nominated him, the 'baggers would have engaged in a standing ovation...
These folks are dangerous to themselves and others and it is being fueled by Faux News. Which is nothing but a propaganda arm of a person who is also not a citizen of the United States, Rupert Murdock.
These same folks are now trying to misappropriate the phrase "low information voters" - even as it only applies to them. For instance, I immediately went over the the Washington Note that has a full transcript of Chuck Hagel's 2006 speech to the Brookings Institute, and read it in its entirety and came to the common-sense conclusion that Hagel knows what he is talking about and the 'baggers are bat guano crazy as usual, driven by a Faux News faux controversy that they are simply making up as they go along trying to save their failing network.
The true low information voters, those that take Faux News seriously and think it is real, they are simply not worthy of answering except occasionally poking them as the trolls that they are.
The knock against Brennan is yet another false accusation that he is somehow responsible for administration leaks, largely because of a press conference he gave about the Bin Laden operation where President Obama successfully got rid of that monster with the expert help of Leon Panetta and Seal Team 6.
I welcome seeing hearings about that successful operation because President Obama has yet to get the deserved ticker tape parade in Times Square. Mission Accomplished, by the black man, the one who just resoundingly won four more years over the keep his money overseas Mitt Romney.
Mission Failed by the poser, Bush Jr. who was on vacation for a huge part of his presidency, unlike the hard working and driven President Obama, the scholar, and black man that can run intellectual circles around the 'baggers...
Shoot yourselves some more 'baggers. Soon enough the GOP won't be electable as dog catchers...
And the Israeli "supporters" among them will have only themselves to thank for the inevitable One State Solution(tm). They have been warned repeatedly, yet they cannot be bothered to go read the UNSCR's about th
Thanks Tiberius. I've noticed again today that many people in this thread are pure, hateful racists.
I support Chuck Hagel because of his service to the country and the way he has not played on it, unlike other Republicans who loved him before President Obama nominated him and now oppose him for no other reason than the black man in the White House nominated him.
Had Romney nominated him, the 'baggers would have engaged in a standing ovation...
These folks are dangerous to themselves and others and it is being fueled by Faux News. Which is nothing but a propaganda arm of a person who is also not a citizen of the United States, Rupert Murdock.
These same folks are now trying to misappropriate the phrase "low information voters" - even as it only applies to them. For instance, I immediately went over the the Washington Note that has a full transcript of Chuck Hagel's 2006 speech to the Brookings Institute, and read it in its entirety and came to the common-sense conclusion that Hagel knows what he is talking about and the 'baggers are bat guano crazy as usual, driven by a Faux News faux controversy that they are simply making up as they go along trying to save their failing network.
The true low information voters, those that take Faux News seriously and think it is real, they are simply not worthy of answering except occasionally poking them as the trolls that they are.
The knock against Brennan is yet another false accusation that he is somehow responsible for administration leaks, largely because of a press conference he gave about the Bin Laden operation where President Obama successfully got rid of that monster with the expert help of Leon Panetta and Seal Team 6.
I welcome seeing hearings about that successful operation because President Obama has yet to get the deserved ticker tape parade in Times Square. Mission Accomplished, by the black man, the one who just resoundingly won four more years over the keep his money overseas Mitt Romney.
Mission Failed by the poser, Bush Jr. who was on vacation for a huge part of his presidency, unlike the hard working and driven President Obama, the scholar, and black man that can run intellectual circles around the 'baggers...
Shoot yourselves some more 'baggers. Soon enough the GOP won't be electable as dog catchers...
And the Israeli "supporters" among them will have only themselves to thank for the inevitable One State Solution(tm). They have been warned repeatedly, yet they cannot be bothered to go read the UNSCR's about the conflict and realize just how badly Israel has botched its attempted land and resource grab.
It's going to be one great 2013. President Obama is going to be counted as one of the finest US Presidents in modern times. And the poor widdle wingnuts weep...
NObama
YesObama.... For 4 more years or have you been living in a cave ?
Here are a list of jack offs we can all do without,
1.jew ass kissers
2.tea. Baggers
3.Old redneck gopers
4.nra extreemists
5.red states
6.all people who mimic spending cuts
7.fox Taliban
8all religion
9.all people who push god Into every thing
You forgot to put yourself on that list
and racist SPENDOCRAT vampire wannabe dictators
Vampire.
I didn't know that. Thanks for the information.
Vampire.
@Harleyguyvet. That list is a good start but you foreget a few people/groups.
SuperPACs
AIPAC
Talk radio
TV pundits
Why do the powerful and rich use the phrase..."class warfare" to look like targets from progressive policie?. The poor and lower middle class get the shaft every day and have no friends in powerful places. Who's winning the war, I ask?
You have BHO.
You have BHO's shaft up your anus just like every other American!
Had enuf...Are you into sodomy, you worthless piece of vulture intestine? Get the hell oit os America and join the Israeli army.
Thank You for your service sir!!
Pace,of sheet
One word
Loser
Gee...what an INTERESTING choice for Secretary of State. A homophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-Israeli type of guy...AND a Republican to boot. Seems to fit right in with Barak Hussein Obama's agenda.....
The media is mobilizing their heavy excavating equipment now. They will proceed with the digging up of Hagel's skeletons.
Sorry...I guess it's a homophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-Israeli, Republican Sec of Defense...so sorry...MY bad....
Well you,have four more years right tard.
Dick Cheney threw a fit whe he learned he was not picked.
Nice to watch the Liberals eating their own! First complaining that the no tax increase of the fiscal cliff agreement actually turned out to be a tax increase. Now questioning the anointed one on his choices? With the lies he and his administration told about Benghazi, Fast and Furious and the like, can't wait for the coming investigations...
Oh wait...with a Liberal Media, we won't hear of any of this. My bad.
Warning !! Stop watching Fixed News immediately and seek treatment for delusional paranoia, Its cover under Obamacare...Hurry !! You are dangerous to yourself and others !!
Flipper retard
You have four more years,,haha hehe hoho.
We've got a helluva lot more than 4 more years. By the time Barry gets out of office and his credit card bill shows up, past due again, it is not going to make any difference. A gallon of milk will be $11 and a loaf of bread will be $5.
Sen., Mitch McConnell was a VERY strong supporter of Sen. Hagel while he was in the Senate as well as when leaving. But it seems the GOP is AGAIN playing politics with the national security of the US!! ( Like we're surprised!)
McConnell in 2007: Hagel “One of the Premier Foreign Policy Voices”
http://www.lobelog.com/mcconnell-in-2007-hagel-one-of-the-premier-foreign-policy-voices/
You go for it President Obama, shove it down the GOP’s throat and make them choke and die on it! The GOP and the Tea Baggers needs to be abolished so that America can be the great country we should be!
A broken socialist country, yea those have worked out so well in the past. To bad you people are to stupid to learn from history. Hope you like your new taxes moron.
Socialist......... LMAO!
NO new taxes for the middle/working class! the FICA tax simply returns.
You dont get it do ya?? Nobody BELIEVES you guys anymore!!!
Good! Maybe he will do away with stupid concepts like "Rules of Engagement", and actually let our military go into a conflict (when one is necessary) with the intention of WINNING IT A.S.A.P.
An Obama pick do something that would be productive? Surely you jest.
and Obama was hear saying, To hell with what you people want and to hell with the American people, I've got an agenda. You moron's should have vetted me in 08 and re-electing me, well now, that's a special kind of stupid.
WHAT THE PUCK ?
OBAMA Taps Hagel - What - From The Behind ?