Washington, D.C. (February 26, 2013) — The Republican Jewish Coalition released the following statement about today’s Senate vote on the nomination of Chuck Hagel to be secretary of defense:
We are disappointed that Chuck Hagel’s nomination won confirmation from the Senate. Respecting the President’s prerogative to name his Cabinet members does not outweigh the Senate’s duty to examine nominees and withhold consent from someone who is not qualified for the office. Read more »
Press Release by RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks says: “This nomination is a blow to U.S.-Israel relations, to the President’s relationship with the American Jewish community, and to U.S. security in the Middle East. It signals that the President, having been re-elected, will now distance himself from Israel. We hope that when Senator Hagel’s weak record is laid on the table, Senators will rightly decline to support his nomination.”
The RJC was the first major Jewish organization to go on record as strongly opposing a Hagel nomination. Many others, including the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors, JINSA, and the Zionist Organization of America, have also signaled their serious concerns about Hagel.
H/T to the RJC for digging up this 2009 story in the Weekly Standard: Josh Rogin reported today that former Senator Chuck Hagel will serve as co-chair of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. Hagel was also the keynote speaker at last night’s J Street gala dinner. Naturally, Hagel is not a big supporter of Israel (this seems to be a theme among J Street speakers). The Republican Jewish Coalition had some fun pointing reporters to an old statement from their rivals at the National Jewish Democratic Council:
Indecisive Senator Hagel has Questionable Israel Record Read more »
