Key Jewish and gay groups aren't ecstatic about President Obama's decision to
nominate Chuck Hagel on Monday to lead the Pentagon, but leaders representing
both communities are signaling that they won't wage war against the pick.
While there is reluctance from groups and individuals generally supportive of Obama, critics from the Jewish and gay communities aren't going on the record with outright opposition to the choice of the former Nebraska senator.
Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League said in a Monday statement that Hagel "would not have been my first choice" but that it's the "president's prerogative" to choose who he wants serving in his Cabinet.
Foxman does, though, hope that the confirmation process will clarify Hagel's positions that "seem so out of sync with President Obama’s clear commitment on issues like Iran sanctions, isolating Hamas and Hezbollah and the president’s strong support for a deepening of U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation."
Foxman also wants to see Hagel "clarify and explain his comments about the 'Jewish Lobby' that were hurtful to many in the Jewish Community."
While there is reluctance from groups and individuals generally supportive of Obama, critics from the Jewish and gay communities aren't going on the record with outright opposition to the choice of the former Nebraska senator.
Abraham Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League said in a Monday statement that Hagel "would not have been my first choice" but that it's the "president's prerogative" to choose who he wants serving in his Cabinet.
Foxman does, though, hope that the confirmation process will clarify Hagel's positions that "seem so out of sync with President Obama’s clear commitment on issues like Iran sanctions, isolating Hamas and Hezbollah and the president’s strong support for a deepening of U.S.-Israel strategic cooperation."
Foxman also wants to see Hagel "clarify and explain his comments about the 'Jewish Lobby' that were hurtful to many in the Jewish Community."
Just-retired Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) had been a vocal critic of the pick as recently as a few days ago -- in part because of Hagel's 1998 comments that a U.S. diplomat was "openly, aggresively gay," for which he has since apologized -- but has come to terms with Obama's choice. “I was hoping the president wouldn’t nominate him,” Frank told the Boston Globe on Monday morning, but he's willing to look past Hagel's controversial comments on gay Americans in the interest of the country's national security priorities.
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