There’s no doubt Senator Chuck Schumer’s endorsement of Obama’s defense secretary nominee gave a boost to Chuck Hagel. But it’s premature to claim Hagel is now headed for a certain victory. First, while Schumer makes it easier for pro-Israel Democrats to support Hagel, he is not the final word in Democratic opposition. Others will still need persuading, and some say Schumer’s 90-minute about-face wasn’t exactly convincing.
“I have a difficult time believing that Democrats will be able to follow Chuck Schumer’s lead of saying that they were reassured on issues as wide-ranging as his ability to implement the Commander-in-Chief’s ordered dismantling of [Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell], all the way to his misjudgment on engaging Iran and Syria, all the way through his decades-long denigration of the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship — all in 90 minutes,” a senior official at a Washington D.C. Jewish organization said. “By setting the bar so high, Schumer may actually have made it difficult for Democrats to find excuses to discover their support for Hagel.”
One name that immediately comes to mind is Senator Bob Menendez. Menendez has spent much of his Senate career painstakingly crafting Iran sanctions policy, and Hagel’s nomination is a direct slap in the face. While Hagel has suddenly disavowed his previous objections to sanctions, Menendez may be more difficult to convince than Schumer–particularly since the New Jersey senator has gone to battle with the administration in the past over this very issue.
“The only other chance [to sink Hagel’s nomination], barring any major revelation at the confirmation hearings … is if Menendez said something,” said one Jewish Democratic operative who supports Obama’s nominee.
Another obstacle for Hagel is Republican opposition. It’s unlikely the nomination would be blocked without any Democratic support, but the GOP certainly has the ability to do it. Senate Republicans haven’t broken unity on this issue, and leadership appears to be on board so far.
According to multiple Republican Senate sources, a filibuster isn’t off the table. Under that scenario, the GOP would need 41 votes to block Hagel’s confirmation.
“If Republicans filibuster, I don’t think [Democrats will] get to 60,” said an aide to a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
There is also no way to predict what will come out before or during the confirmation hearings. Hagel’s record is still being vetted by his opponents. Senator Bob Corker suggested earlier this week that former staffers for Hagel–who has a reputation as a temperamental boss–are coming forward with information about him. If staffers testify, or if Hagel responds poorly to questioning by the committee, that could shake up the confirmation battle. So while Schumer’s support will make it more difficult to block Hagel, that doesn’t mean the fight is over.
Chuck Schumer, a pillar of jello. let's hope the Republicans find a spine and reject the almost-always-wrong anti-Semite.
I did not have one moment of doubt that Cghucky would endorse Hagel. For al lthose liberal jews out there, you have given aid to the most antisemitic Administration in a long time.
shove that nonsense up your pooper. n nyou're an offensive little twit. to call people anti-Semites without any proof. n nplotz.
If all you have to retort is some sophomoric remarks, then you prove that I am right.And, by the way, you are amongst those self-hating jews too!
no sonny, heaping scorn upon your head does not offer proof that your noxious noggin contains truth. n nand you're yet still your of a low-life for suggesting that "self-hating" canard, michaelmudlark
better be a low life loyal to my people than be a hig life and a traitor to my people.
you understand not loyalty nor treachery, merely mudlarking and malice.
Schumer has always been nothing more than an opportunist. Schumer fancies himself a great man, but great men are not duplicitous in their ethics and morals. Sadly it seems Schumer has no honor either. Schumer says he is reassured that suddenly Chuck Hagel has had a "come to Jesus" moment towards Israel despite having surrounded himself with some of the most antisemitic persons in the foreign affairs cadre in Washington. Has Hagel suddenly decided to renounce Chevron and Deutsche Bank as well even though they have been his family's meal ticket?. No this is about Schumer being promised something of import to himself by the Obama White House and nothing more. Schumer has sold old the 6 million Jews of Israel (there is a word for that) and betrayed the people of the United States, (there is a word for that too) particularly his NY constituency, by facilitating the ignorant and dangerous foreign policy of the Obama administration. When Obama and Hagel's "moderate" Moslem Brotherhood calls Jews apes and pigs, and Hagel's partner in peace, Hamas, calls for genocide against Jews worldwide, I wonder if Schumer is that stupid to think they aren't talking about him.
Which states will lose jobs if the F35JSF is cancelled? n nWhich Senator will ask about women in combat? n nWhat happens if Hagel says "social engineering" and then, "oops"? n nSo, what if Hagel does not get confirmed? Will he then become Obama's NSA? NSA does not require Senate confirmation, and DOES influence policy. n nGet a grip. SecTreas is far more important. n n
I don't Hagel qualifies for NSA head. Well, probably not for Secretary of Defense either but Wiki has him as literally non-eligible: n n"The nominee must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate. In accordance with Department of Defense Directive 5100.20, dated December 23, 1971, the Director of the NSA must always be a commissioned officer of the military services. Because the assignment is currently part of a tri-hatted position, the Director of the NSA is appointed to the grade of a four-star general or admiral during the period of his incumbency. The Deputy Director is always a technically experienced civilian." n n n n
Alana, it's entirely over. n nHagel will be confirmed with no more trouble than Sotomayor. n nyour little mini-JRub campaign was no less lame than was hers.
I'm not so sure. I have no doubt that Obama is bring guns up right now as a distraction, and I think it is going to backfire on him, but all of the Hagel stuff hinges on NOTHING coming out at the hearing, and do not underestimate Kelly Ayotte. My guess is that she will pry something loose, even if disgruntled former staffers don't show up with stories to tell.
wanna bet? I’ll give you 10-1
Thumbs up for it being over, then I read the nonsense about the campaign being lame. Doomed, maybe, but certainly not unfounded — in either case.
I stand by my comment that Alana's campaign to portray the opposition to Hagel as being widespread and from various (gay, Armenian) quarters has been lame.
I respectfully disagree. The Gays & Armenians have been quite clear about their opposition to Hagel, and I'm waiting for some openly-gay former-staffer to show up at the confirmation hearings with some story about how Hagel treated him badly. Just a hunch….
and I respectfully say that they have offered criticism and not real opposition to the nomination. n n20-1 that the nomination is confirmed.
wanna bet? 10-1 ?
By the way folks, the Hagel issue has prompted the Jerusalem Post to come up with an excellent new euphemism for Israel Lobbyists. It is quite simply: "leaders who need to maintain access to the Pentagon." n n n n
My point of the difference between an "Israel" lobbyist and an "Israeli" lobbyist comes to mind here and I do wish that Glick had written that a bit more clearly. All foreign countries, and Israel is one, inherently have to have their advocacy efforts with their allies. This is what I think she meant.
Glick is sick
With the White House operatives holding a prostitution scandal over Menendez's head, I very much doubt we will see any opposition coming from the good senator. Visions of Rahm Emanuel's dead fish head stunt come to mind.
If it is the scandal I think it is, it is quite interesting. Allegedly a male illegal alien who had some vague something of a criminal history involving sex with an underaged boy was to be deported just before the election, but ICE didn't because he was a volunteer for Menendez, and they didn't want to make a Dem look bad. My question on reading about it was that I didn't know we were still deporting any illegal aliens after Obama ordered that to be stopped. n