It looks like President Obama has settled on Chuck Hagel to replace Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense. Gaining enough support to confirm him looks to be an uphill task for the administration.
President to nominate Chuck Hagel as Sec Def as expected, per 2 sources close to process. Sunday shows suggest bruising confirmation battle
— Ed Henry (@edhenry) January 6, 2013
Many conservatives have reservations about Hagel because he is not tough enough on Iran and has stood in opposition to Israel.
https://twitter.com/josh_hammer/status/288018343825399809
Chuck Hagel is a really terrible choice for DOD. Against sanctions on Iran, against Israel this is going to be a dog fight for confirmation
— Kameron Dodge (@k_dodger) January 6, 2013
https://twitter.com/jacobboyd/status/288017729162735616
Sen. Lindsey Graham makes his opposition clear:
.@CNNsotu: Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary "is an in your face nomination
— Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) January 6, 2013
.@CNNsotu: Chuck Hagel is "antagonistic" to the state of Israel”
— Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) January 6, 2013
.@Grahamblog on a Hagel nomination: "I'm very inclined not to support him based on his antagonistic approach to Israel"
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) January 6, 2013
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says the nomination of Hagel would make war with Iran more likely.
Ted Cruz: Iran should fear that a war is likely, but Hagel won't threaten war with Iran, which will embolden Iran, making war more likely.
— Protester for Truth (@Bobblespeak) January 6, 2013
https://twitter.com/JamesMAustin94/status/288002602791206912
Senator @TedCruz says it is hard to imagine a situation where he could vote to confirm Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense. @FoxNewsSunday
— Whitney Munro (@whitney_munro) January 6, 2013
Jonah Goldberg points out the hypocrisy on the Left:
.@SethAMandel Wait. Are you saying the same folks who booed God & Jerusalem at the Dem convention, don't object to Hagel? Weird.
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) January 6, 2013
In typical fashion, the lapdog media are beside themselves that a Republican would receive criticism from other Republicans.
RT @maggiepolitico: RT @BuzzFeedBen: RNC piping up on Hagel a notable contrast to @reince's total silence on the fiscal cliff deal
— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) January 6, 2013
Hagel is not running for office as an R. MT @maggiepolitico: RNC is going after Hagel. Official party apparatus going after GOP senator
— Area Man (@lheal) January 6, 2013
@RichardGrenell @maggiepolitico ask me or any of my fellow Nebraska Republicans if we still consider Hagel a member of the GOP
— Joel Schafer (@joelschafer) January 6, 2013
Newsflash to all leftists: Unlike your side, we do not feel like we have to unify behind someone simply because he is (or was) a Republican.
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