Adam Kredo reports that former undersecretary of defense for policy Michele Flournoy may have replaced Chuck Hagel as the current frontrunner for the secretary of defense nod:
Former Republican Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel may no longer be President Obama’s favored pick to run the Defense Department, sources told the Free Beacon.
Hagel immediately drew a frosty reception from observers who criticized him for advocating in favor of direct unconditional talks with Iran and for backing sizable cuts to the defense budget. …
Michele Flournoy, a former undersecretary of defense for policy, is currently viewed as the frontrunner for the post.
“She will be the likely candidate as there has been criticism from liberals for possibly replacing a female secretary of state with a male, and [Flournoy would be] the first woman secretary of defense,” said one senior Senate aide with knowledge of the process. “Hagel could have been a test by the president—if Hagel’s positions could be supported then likely so would Flournoy.”
Flournoy’s name has been batted around as a more acceptable alternative to Hagel. But this is the first recent report I’ve seen that says she’s the most likely candidate. Either Obama has already determined a Hagel nomination isn’t worth the fight, or some senior Senate aide is trying to pump up speculation about Flournoy.
Flournoy would certainly be easier to confirm than Hagel, and Obama wouldn’t have to worry about defending someone who has made questionable comments about Israel and the “Jewish lobby.” That wouldn’t be the only benefit, either. BuzzFeed reported yesterday that women’s groups are clamoring for Obama to appoint the first female secretary of defense (especially since he’s losing a female secretary of state).
“I think she’s definitely getting a second look after Rice,” said a longtime Democratic defense policy hand, referring to U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice’s withdrawal from consideration for the post at State.
Feminist groups are also pushing the White House to appoint Flournoy.
“There is no doubt that the woman knows her business,” said Marie Wilson, the founder of the White House Project, which advocates for women to take on leadership roles in all spheres.
“It’s Defense — the area where we have the slowest movement of women into top positions,” she said. “It would be a breakthrough.”
Obama’s reliance on the votes of women to defeat Mitt Romney raises the pressure on him to do more than seriously consider a woman for the top job, said one Democratic strategist.
It also can’t help Hagel’s case that this Emergency Committee for Israel ad will be running tomorrow and Thursday throughout the Washington, D.C. area:
With Flournoy Hussein gets Hagel's policies free of the anti-Semitic baggage. Furthermore, a woman will help bullet proof him from anti-Israel charges, allowing him to discreetly infer that her critics are misogynists.
Your post illustrates why I was skeptical of the anti-Hagel campaign. Hagel likely represents the President's views and policies quite well. Why allow the President to mask his own views? n nWhat I don't get is why gender is a qualification. (Other than the cynical posturing you anticipate.)
you know why gender is a qualification. they're losing HRC and they have to keep the female quota up. Democrats only see grievance groups, they don't see people. so any woman in any cabinet post is equivalent to Hillary at State. n
Your point is certainly worth considering. After all, an appointment to the cabinet is not the same as one to the Supreme Court, where the nominee has both a life-time appointment and near total autonomy to decide as he sees fit. Cabinet members generally execute the policies favored by the president. If Hussein wants to publicly announce that he is openly anti-Israel with appointments like Hagel and to a lesser extent with someone like Rice why not let him do so and pay the political price, rather than to allow him to continue wearing the pro-Israel fig leaf while acting in a contrary manner. Again, it is a good point that requires further analysis.
Flournoy was always the favorite. Quite a resume, albeit no "real world" experience. nHer husband is as qualified to be SecDef as she is. n nIf only Sheila Bair could be SecTreas.
btw, in thinking about SecDef in terms of "the Clinton influence", I would not be surprised if Evan Bayh is a surprise nomination.
Evan Bayh would be great. Hope you're right.
It's all rather silly. None of Obama's cabinet officers make the least difference. They are all mouthpieces for Obama himself. Mouthpieces he keeps around until he needs to throw someone in front of a train. So they tap a woman. Is she black? A lesbian? A Muslim? In a wheelchair? A Mexican? Great. Wheel her out.
the last piece of trash wheeled out was at Obama's first inauguration and was the outgoing vp, churlish as ever.