Graham: Hagel Pick An ‘In Your Face’ Nomination

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM



PEMA LEVY 9:55 AM EST, SUNDAY JANUARY 6, 2013

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Sunday that former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, President Obama's likely pick for secretary of defense, would be a problematic choice, particularly regarding to his positions on Israel and Iran.

"He has long severed his ties with the Republican Party," Graham said during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union." "This is an 'in your face' nomination by the president to all of us who are supportive of Israel.'

"It looks like the second term of Barack Obama is going to be an 'in your face' term," Graham added.

"Quite frankly, Chuck Hagel is out of the mainstream of thinking I believe on most issues regarding foreign policy," he said.

-30-

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/graham-hagel-pick-in-your-face-nomination

[TwilightGardener]

1. Bring it.

[SharonAnn]

38. Lindsay Graham has a very exaggerated sense of his own importance.

I doubt that President Obama spends a minute of time a day thinking about Lindsay Graham.

[TwilightGardener]

39. It's the Johnny McLame sidekick gig that got him famous and bought him

a near-weekly spot in living rooms every Sunday to reliably regurgitate the talking points of the week. I'm sure you are right that Lindsay believes in his own star power. He'd have been nobody-special in the Senate without Johnny Mac.

[salinen]

2. What

Lindsey Graham is out of the mainstream of thinking I believe on most issues regarding foreign policy.

[pangaia]

5. Out of the mainstream of thinking about ANYTHING on planet earth !

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Gasp! An apostate!

[PSPS]

12. LOL

[samsingh]

4. in that case i completely support Hagel

[wordpix]

27. me, too! Lindsay is way too bought and will do anything his corporate pimps ask him to do

[samsingh]

36. agreed

[Lil Missy]

6. In you face nomination? I don't have a problem with that. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

7. It is always fun when two vicious homphobes are kept busy attacking each other.

Gives Hagel and Graham less time to slander good LGBT people, even though lord knows the two agree with Hagel's declaration that being gay hinders a person's talents and ability to represent the United States as a diplomat.
Those who were angry at the treatment given to Susan Rice as a potential Democratic diplomatic nominee who excuse or rationalize Hagel's far more pointed and openly bigoted attacks against Hormel, another Democratic nominee for a diplomatic post are as hypocritical as it is possible for humans to be and they make clear that they hold different standards for attacks on gay people than they do for attacks on rich straight people like Susan Rice. Any DUer who condemned McCain and Co for what they did to Rice who is not equally opposed to Hagel is stating that they only care about injustice toward straight people. It is that simple.

[Enrique]

8. how did Hagel "sever his ties" with the Republican party? n/t

[blm]

15. Hagel spoke out against Bush's military decisions. Graham was 100% behind everything Bush did

and I'd like to see him DARE run for election crowing about his 100% support of Bush on all things.

[loudsue]

16. I suspect bush was behind Graham in more ways than one.

I always thought the two of them saw, well, eye to eye?

[David__77]

29. Gross.

But I do think it is McCain who is behind Graham these days.

[grantcart]

22. On foreign policy and military spending he is about as left as Sanders.

He will be ruthless on the Defense Budget.

[Hippo_Tron]

30. I suspect endorsing Bob Kerrey had something to do with it

[sulphurdunn]

9. If making it clear

that you took an oath of allegiance to the US Constitution and not a foreign state or its American lobby and that you appose war with Iran, then the majority of the American people are also outside the foreign policy mainstream, even in South Carolina.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. After what they did to Rice it damn well is time to get in their face

If they don't like it they can back off

[samsingh]

11. kick

[Botany]

13. fuck you Lindsey

Obama won the election

Obama can pick who he thinks is the best person

Chuck Hagel is a decorated combat soldier and he worked @ the V.A. too (he was picked by
St. Ronnie Reagan too)

And I really doubt that Obama could pick anybody you would not have a snit fit about.

BTW This is the longest statement you have made in the past 3 weeks you haven't mentioned
"Greece," you are slipping.

[Voice for Peace]

14. a wonderful, inspiring quote from Graham.. almost poetry

"It looks like the second term of Barack Obama
is going to be an 'in your face' term"

[Historic NY]

19. Lintseed woke up.

[TwilightGardener]

17. BTW, note that the Christian Neocon Graham is the one bringing up Israel.

The strategy for the confirmation hearings will be this: the christian Repub neocon crowd will insinuate that Hagel is anti-Semitic and weak on defense. The Senate Democrats, full of AIPAC members, will supposedly have cover provided to vote against Hagel via the 15 year old anti-gay comments, brought to you by the neocons, that Hagel has already apologized for. All trumpeted in Bill Kristol's Weekly Standard, which has suddenly become very interested in gay rights. Wedge, divide and conquer.

[liberal N proud]

18. Lindsey needs to realize that Obama won the election in spite of him and the Turtles efforts

No matter how hard they tried, they lost! They need to get over it and start worrying about running a country along side the President.

[NewJeffCT]

20. so, nominating a very conservative Republican

is "in your face"

what would nominating a Democrat like John Kerry for Sec of Defense instead of State meant?

[elleng]

21. Right, lindsey, in your self-centered, foolish face.

[GoCubsGo]

23. I'm not keen on this idea of nominating Hagel, but...

...if it pisses off Miss Lindsay, maybe it's not so bad.

[primavera]

24. Graham accusing anyone of being "out of the mainstream"?!

Pardon me while I fall out of my chair laughing!

[Ratty]

25. Thinking about Ashcroft and Bolton

I shouldn't have been but was shocked when Bush, after squeaking through the election by less than a thousand votes, acted like he had a mandate and nominated Ashcroft. I remember there was talk about how Bush might nominate some Democrats as a show of bipartisanship after the Florida fiasco. Stupid me for believing that. Then filled up the justice department with Liberty University "attorneys."

[MADem]

26. I had another phrase in mind...! But too fricken bad! nt

[putitinD]

28. Will somebody please teabag Miss Lindsey

[Blasphemer]

31. Out of the mainstream is exactly what we need

The mainstream has failed miserably. It's time for new thinking. I am very happy with the President for making a choice that could lead to a shift in thinking and new ideas being brought to the table.

[Gman]

32. YOu only have 44 votes, Mr. Graham. What the hell are you going to do?

[leveymg]

33. Who is Lindsey Graham, a RW extremist and a hawk, to assess what the mainstream is on this?

Assumes facts not in evidence.

[PDittie]

34. I was kinda hoping Obama would ram it down his throat

Lindsey Graham's, specifically.

[madrchsod]

35. hagel does`t have anything to do with foreign policy....

the republican party is down right desperate are`t they.....

[liberalgunwilltravel]

37. Not in your face.

No Senator, it's a "stick it up your aspic" nomination. Mr. Hagel shows greater loyalty to the United States than Israel and this is somehow a problem for the Republicans.