Hagel draws criticism from senators
President Obama hasn't even nominated him, but Chuck Hagel's prospects for Defense secretary took some heat on Sunday.
"I think it would be a challenging nomination," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on NBC's Meet The Press.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., on CNN's State of The Union also predicted "a very tough confirmation process" for Hagel if Obama puts his name up for the Pentagon post.
While Hagel is a former Republican senator from Nebraska, current senators have criticized him amid reports that Obama may pick him to eventually replace Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
Some Republicans say Hagel has been too critical of Israel and not critical enough of Iran. Some gay rights groups have also attacked Hagel over past statements.
One key Democrat -- Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. -- said little when asked on NBC about the prospect of a Pentagon nomination for Hagel.
"I'd have to study his record," Schumer said.
Some of the Republican salvos are reminiscent of the attacks on U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice as Obama considered her for secretary of State.
On Friday, Obama announced he would nominate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the 2004 presidential nominee, to replace the retiring Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; Kerry is expected to win easy Senate confirmation.
One Republican -- Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia -- told ABC's This Week, "I have no problem at all with John Kerry. I've served with him for four years on the foreign relations committee. He's done outstanding work, particularly in the Middle East. He's been a great envoy and a great diplomat for the United States and I think he'll do a great job as secretary of State."
As for Hagel, Isakson said: "I served with him in the Senate, but he hasn't been nominated yet. ... I'll reserve any judgment until after the hearings we have on confirmation if in fact he is nominated."
It should be noted: Panetta hasn't said when he might retire, and Obama is not committed to a Hagel nomination in any event.
From the Los Angeles Times:
"A top White House adviser said Friday that Obama was still considering Hagel, but that he was also looking at Michele Flournoy, who was Pentagon undersecretary for policy in Obama's first term, and Ashton Carter, the current deputy secretary, the Defense Department's second-ranking position.
"The adviser said Obama hadn't settled on Hagel and was not deterred by the criticism now. But with Rice out of the running for a Cabinet post, Obama may seek diversity among his new team and give greater weight to nominating Flournoy as the first woman to run the Pentagon.
"As criticism mounted, Hagel broke his silence Friday by apologizing for his comments in 1998, when he denigrated a nominee to be ambassador to Luxembourg as 'openly, aggressively gay.' In a statement, Hagel called his remarks 'insensitive,' and said 'they do not reflect the totality of my public record.'"