Weiner reports: "Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has come out against Chuck Hagel's potential nomination as the next secretary of defense, due to the Nebraska senator's past derogatory comments about a gay ambassador."
Retiring congressman Barney Frank. (photo: Susan Walsh/AP)
Barney Frank Opposes Hagel for Defense Secretary
01 January 13
ep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) has come out against Chuck Hagel's potential nomination as the next secretary of defense, due to the Nebraska senator's past derogatory comments about a gay ambassador.
"I cannot think of any other minority group in the U.S. today where such a negative statement and action made in 1998 would not be an obstacle to a major Presidential appointment," Frank said in a statement. Moreover, he argued, the "aggressively bigoted opposition" to the ambassador was not "an aberration" but part of a record of voting against gay rights.
In 1998, Hagel opposed the nomination of a gay philanthropist, James Hormel, to be ambassador to Luxembourg, saying that an "openly aggressively gay" diplomat might be ineffective. Under pressure from gay rights groups earlier this month, he said those comments did not reflect his views and apologized for them.
Frank is retiring, and even if he stayed in the House he would have no control over the matter - Cabinet appointees are approved by the Senate. But it's possible that Frank will be chosen as an interim senator to replace Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who is in line to become secretary of state.
Whether or not he's ever in a position to block Hagel's nomination, Frank's comments carry weight - he was the first openly gay member of Congress.
Obama defended Hagel on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, pointing out that the former senator had apologized for his comments.
"I think it's a testimony to what has been a positive change over the last decade in terms of people's attitudes about gays and lesbians serving our country," the president said.
The Log Cabin Republicans, a gay Republican group, has also come out against Hagel. Hormel himself has said that while the timing of Hagel's apology "appears self-serving," the mea culpa itself is "significant."
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Time to ask key questions, such as what is Hagel's actual activities/acti ons, vs. speeches/promis es re. need to pursue an end to war, war, war for $$$ into the pockets of the military/indust rial/corp. and terrorism complex's greed and power over all addicted 1%ers. Sorry to say, this Pres.'s (for whom I so worked in '08 to help get elected, and for whom I held my nose as I voted for in '12) has failed us over and over again, with uppage of Bushwhacking takeaway of civil rights, appointments of dreadful appointees endoresed by the villainaire rulers, etc..
Critical thinking is critical !
There are distractions everywhere, and through it all, while we hear about schools built in foreign lands (with our money), Americans suffer here at home.
Passing homeless in the street with snow on the ground in Ohio is heartbreaking, and we haven't even had the disasters in NYC. My husband grew up in Gerritsen Beach, Brooklyn: go to gerritsenbeach. net to see what has happened there. The "Robin Hood" fundraising drive hasn't helped them either, and the government hasn't done anything at all, but give lots of promises, and those homes were flooded above the first floor, and most only have one story. Mr. President, don't be distracted from America!
If Barney opposes Hagel--I support Hagel.
The financial relationships that Rep Frank has forged with Wall Street--I suspect he prefers that we 'Don't Ask' about since he 'Won't Tell.'
Corruption knows know sexual preference.
Corruption knows no sexual orientation.
After all, 'reforming' Wall Street--to Wall Street's specifications- -like Barney, is a lot more lucrative than whatever politically incorrect acts Sen Hagel is alleged to have committed, in the eyes of Bibi Netanyahu's AIPAC.
Unfortunately, Frank is still in a position to continue selling us out to Wall Street and the Too Big To JAIL Banksters.
Which Heterosexual neo-con would you and the 'Dick' Cheney prefer?
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