Those Praising Hagel Now Opposed Him As SecDef And Are Using Him To Bash Obama
[su_right_ad]Oh, the irony! It was those praising Chuck Hagel the loudest today who were most opposed to him becoming Secretary of Defense. They are holding him up now as exemplary and blaming President Obama for it not working out.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon once called Hagel “unfit” to lead the Pentagon, but on Monday called him an “excellent Defense Secretary and a friend.”
“The Obama Administration is now in the market for their fourth Secretary of Defense. When the President goes through three secretaries, he should ask ‘is it them, or is it me?’” McKeon quipped.
Even Sen. John McCain, who dramatically confronted Hagel in his confirmation hearing over the 2007 Iraq troop surge and called Hagel’s performance “the worst I have seen of any nominee for office,” had nothing but praise for his fellow Vietnam vet.
“I have always considered him a friend, a patriot, and a dedicated public servant,” McCain said in a statement. “Chuck and I have worked well together, and we have often seen eye to eye on our biggest national security challenges,” he went on, then pivoted: “But ultimately, the President needs to realize that the real source of his current failures on national security more often lie with his administration’s misguided policies and the role played by his White House in devising and implementing them.”
Adding to the irony: The erstwhile nominee to lead the Pentagon was criticized in 2013 for being insufficiently pro-Israel, but as news of his pending resignation spread, one Israeli official told a Haaretz reporter it was a shame Hagel was leaving, since he was so great with the Israelis.[su_csky_ad]
tracey marie November 24th, 2014 at 8:13 pm
You just have to laugh at all the old men in the goptp that forget their words are captured forever with just a click. Old newt said The President is giving the middle finger to the repubs by getting rid of the only repub.
arc99 November 24th, 2014 at 8:33 pm
In a perfect world, Hagel would call out the BS and include in his resignation speech the follow comments.
“Congressman McKeon, less than two years ago you said I was unfit for this job. Now, in an attempt to question the President’s policies, you say I was an ‘excellent’ SecDef and refer to me as a friend. Well as a friend, I say this to you; take your concern trolling and shove it up your a$$. OohRah!”
arc99 November 24th, 2014 at 8:25 pm
Whatever the President is for, the GOP is against even if it means completely contradicting what they said in the very recent past.
Contemptible hypocrites, the lot of them.
The description of Sec. Hagel as “unfit” comes not from some misquoted news article, not from some pundit’s interpretation. It comes from Rep. McKeon’s own House website.
Republicans are a bunch of lying, amoral hypocrites. That is not just my opinion. It is a documented fact and my evidence is presented below.
http://mckeon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=318380
“It pains me to reach this conclusion, given Senator Hagel’s service in the armed forces and in the Senate; but at this vital time when our national security hangs in the balance, it is my opinion that Senator Hagel is unfit for the job of Secretary of Defense. When it comes to the safety of this nation, the security of our troops, and the well-being of the American people, we can and must do better. I urge President Obama to submit a viable nominee as soon as possible.”
OldLefty November 24th, 2014 at 9:01 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtMV44yoXZ0