Chuck Hagel

Charles “Chuck” Hagel (b. Oct. 4, 1946) is a former U.S. Senator from Nebraska. A recipient of two Purple Hearts while an infantry squad leader in the Vietnam War, Hagel returned home to start careers in business and politics. A member of the Republican Party, Hagel was first elected to the Senate in 1996. He was reelected in 2002, and retired in 2008. On January 7, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Hagel to serve as Defense Secretary in his second term. The nomination is considered controversial due to past comments Hagel made about Israel, Iran and Gays. [ Wikipedia → ]

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U.S. Senate confirms Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm Chuck Hagel to be the nation's next defense secretary. The vote Tuesday was 58-41, with four Republicans joining Democrats in backing President Barack Obama's nominee. [ Read more → ]

Senate clears the way for confirmation of Hagel as Defense Secretary

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

WASHINGTON — The Senate cleared the way Tuesday for confirmation of Chuck Hagel to be the nation's next defense secretary after Republicans dropped their unprecedented delay of President Barack Obama's choice to head the Pentagon. [ Read more → ]

U.S. Senate panel approves Chuck Hagel for Pentagon chief

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A bitterly divided Senate panel on Tuesday voted to approve President Barack Obama's nomination of Chuck Hagel to be the nation's defense secretary at a time of turmoil for the military with looming budget cuts, a fresh sign of North Korea's nuclear ambitions and drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. [ Read more → ]

Defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel faced his confirmation hearing before the Senate on Thursday.Photo: Michael Key, Washington Blade

Hagel pledges to move ‘expeditiously’ on benefits for gay troops

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel has pledged to “move forward expeditiously” on the issue of extending partner benefits to gay service members if confirmed for the role as defense secretary. [ Read more → ]

Hagel commits to extending partner benefits to gay troops

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Defense secretary nominee Chuck Hagel has committed to extending partners benefits “permissible under current law” to gay service members as part of attempts to allay concerns among Democratic senators about his potential performance as Pentagon chief. In a letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Hagel... [ Read more → ]

Chuck Hagel: A disappointing choice from Obama

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Rather than use his mandate from winning re-election to reward his key constituencies, President Barack Obama has poked a stick in the eye of the LGBT community by turning to former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary -- a man who had an abysmal voting record in Congress and drew criticism for using anti-gay slurs back in 1998. [ Read more → ]

Baldwin cautious on Hagel nomination, questions if apology was ‘sincere’

Monday, January 7, 2013

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the first openly gay member of the U.S. Senate, said Monday she would not to commit to supporting former Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination as Defense Secretary until she is more confident that his apology for anti-gay remarks he made in 1998 is “sincere.” [ Read more → ]