Israel Matzav

Hagel anti-gay?

A reader emails to tell me that there may be a second front to open against Chuck Hagel: He is virulently anti-gay.

Carl, I'm learning of another  ugly incident in Hagel's closet. He detests gays. He voted down one of W's ambassador's to Luxember for being openly gay. Hagel described him as "aggressively, openly gay" He also got a zero rating(out of 100)for his votes on gay issues. Specifically he was on record as being strongly anti gay in the military. This has direct impact on his leadership at defense since his attitudes on multiple issues(not just Israel and Iran)contradict US policy.

I believe the gay issue may open a second front in the senate amongst democrats. Note that Schumer is mum on this as is Feinstein. The republicans will question him harshly. I believe the gay thing could be the nail in his coffin.

The New York Times confirms the Luxembourg story. But it was Clinton and not Bush who submitted the nomination.

The new round of criticism is focused on comments Mr. Hagel made in an interview about James C. Hormel, a San Francisco philanthropist nominated by President Bill Clinton to be ambassador to Luxembourg in 1997.

Mr. Hagel, a Republican and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was approached by his fellow Nebraskan in the Senate, Bob Kerrey, on behalf of Mr. Hormel, whose nomination was being held up by conservative Republicans.

Mr. Hagel did not oppose the nomination when Mr. Hormel came before the panel. But he later spoke out against it, saying that an “openly, aggressively gay” man should not represent the United States.

“They are representing America,” Mr. Hagel said in an interview with The Omaha World-Herald. “They are representing our lifestyle, our values, our standards. And I think it is an inhibiting factor to be gay — openly, aggressively gay like Mr. Hormel — to do an effective job.”

Although Republicans succeeded in preventing a vote on the nomination, Mr. Hormel received a recess appointment from Mr. Clinton and went on to serve in Luxembourg.

Gay rights groups said Mr. Hagel’s comments raised questions about his ability to implement the repeal of the law prohibiting openly gay people from serving the military. In 1999, he said he opposed repealing the law, telling The New York Times that “the U.S. armed forces aren’t some social experiment.”

And I'm sure we're going to find out that some 'Zionist blogger' was the first to out that story. Just like Chas Freeman with China. 'The work of the righteous is performed by Heaven.' Heh.

Labels: Chuck Hagel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:44 PM