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\f0\fs30 \cf0 \cb2 (Image source: {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://frontpagemag.com/2012/ari-lieberman/islam-republic-and-stephen-walt-giddy-over-prospect-of-chuck-hagel-nomination/"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 FrontPage Magazine}}) \fs24 \cf4 \
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\b \cf4 BY JAMAL ANDRESS \b0 \
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\fs30 \cf0 Among rumors of former Senator Hagel becoming the new Secretary of Defense
he issued a written statement Friday apologizing for a gay slur he made in 1998. Here\'92s
{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://video.foxnews.com/v/2048429400001/concerns-over-chuck-hagel-as-potential-defense-secretary"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 Fox News}}.
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\f0\b\fs30 \cf0 \'93When President Clinton tapped James C. Hormel as the ambassador to
Luxembourg Hagel disparaged him as \'91openly, aggressively gay.\'92\'94
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\f0\fs30 \cf0 Hagel wrote in his apology, \b \'93My comments 14 years ago in 1998 were
insensitive...I apologize to ambassador Hormel and any LGBT Americans who may question my
commitment to their civil rights.\'94 \b0\fs24 \cf4 ({\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/hagel-apologizes-1998-anti-gay-comments-article-1.1225359"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 \ul \ulc3 Via New York Daily News}})\
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\fs30 \cf0 As you could imagine, certain groups aren\'92t thrilled with the prospect of Hagel
being in charge of a recently \'93don\'92t ask don\'92t tell\'94-free military.
\f1\fs24 \ \
\pard\pardeftab720 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/21/us/chuck-hagel-is-criticized-over-gay-rights-record.html?_r=0"}}{\fldrslt
\f0\fs30 \cf3 \ul \ulc3 The New York Times}} \f0\fs30 writes... \'93
\b Gay rights groups said Mr. Hagel\'92s comments raised questions about his ability to implement
the repeal of the law... In 1999, he said he opposed repealing the law, telling The
New York Times that \'91the U.S. armed forces aren\'92t some social experiment.\'92\'94
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\f0\fs30 \cf0 Hagel\'92s comments about Ambassador Hormel aren\'92t the only thing drawing criticism.
Former Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer tells {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/12/20/exp-tsr-strat-fleischer-hagel.cnn?iref=allsearch"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 CNN}} Hagel\'92s foreign policy opinions, specifically on Israel and Iran,
don\'92t align with either party. \f1\fs24 \
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\f0\b\fs30 \cf0 \'93He would be a disaster as Secretary of Defense because of the things
he\'92s said and the positions he\'92s taken...He\'92s a problematic choice for all issues in which
the American people are unified about our approach to the Middle East. \'94
\f1\b0\fs24 \ \
\pard\pardeftab720 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/exclusive-chuck-hagel-apologizes-for-gay-slur-85413.html?hp=t3_3"}}{\fldrslt
\f0\fs30 \cf3 \ul \ulc3 The White House}} \f0\fs30 compared the recent criticism Hagel
is receiving to what happened with Susan Rice and came to the defense of Hagel.
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\b\fs30 \cf0 \'93We\'92ve been through this before with Ambassador Rice where there is
an effort to go after somebody and we haven\'92t nominated anyone.\'94 \'a0
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\fs30 \cf0 The White House went on to say Hagel fought and bled for his country and
was an excellent Senator.}