Tag Archives: Chuck Hagel

In a holiday message posted earlier this month, outgoing Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and his wife included an image of a gay sailor proposing to his boyfriend. (Via Towleroad)

Carter was Deputy Secretary of Defense from October 2011 to December 2013.  He’s thought to be an uncontroversial choice, but you-know-who might try to block the nomination just because.

The announcement is due at 11AM.

The “pushed or jumped?” chatter is lighting up Twitter.

Via the Associated Press: In an unprecedented move, the Pentagon is trying to transfer convicted national security leaker Pvt. Chelsea Manning to a civilian prison so she can get treatment for her gender disorder, defense officials said. Manning, formerly named Bradley, was convicted of sending classified documents to anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. The soldier has asked for hormone therapy and to …

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel today declared that National Guard units in all states are now in compliance with his directive that same-sex spouses be allowed to register for military benefits. Here is his full statement. On October 31, I called on the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to work with several states to fully implement DoD policy by …

GOP Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin today announced that ALL married couples, including straight ones, will be denied marriage benefits at the state’s National Guard bases. Last month Fallin threatened to sue the federal government rather than comply with the edict handed down by Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. In announcing the decision, Fallin said “Oklahoma law is clear. The state of …

The New York Times reports: While a majority of states ban same-sex marriages, most are not fighting the new policy. But Pentagon officials say that in addition to Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia have balked. Each has cited a conflict with state laws that do not recognize same-sex marriages. (A West Virginia official said, however, that the …

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryan says that he will defy Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who has ordered state National Guard units to grant benefits to the spouses of gay military members.  Bryant’s stand sets up a showdown with the Pentagon at a time Mississippi is trying to hang on to its military installations and is seeking to show it is a …

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that he was ordering all National Guard units to comply with Pentagon policy regarding spousal benefits for gay soldiers. Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin may go to court to stop him. Alex Weintz, spokesman for Gov. Mary Fallin, said she “is working with Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to evaluate the legal options available …

As I’ve reported several times, National Guard units in several states have refused to grant spousal benefits to legally married gay couples, claiming that state laws supersede federal military policies. That’s going to stop. From a speech given last night by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel: Today, I directed the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Frank Grass, to …

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“The Department of Defense welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision today on the Defense of Marriage Act. The Department will immediately begin the process of implementing the Supreme Court’s decision in consultation with the Department of Justice and other executive branch agencies. The Department of Defense intends to make the same benefits available to all military spouses – regardless of sexual …

From a Family Research Council petition to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel: Reports indicate that senior Pentagon officials have recently consulted with radical secularists to formulate a policy that would put military chaplains and other leaders who “promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion” in danger of court-martial. Our brave troops …

It was a mere formality once the filibuster ended earlier today. The Senate confirmed former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel (R) as the next U.S. Secretary of Defense on Tuesday, ending a long and contentious nomination process marked by an unprecedented GOP filibuster of a presidential cabinet level nominee. The final vote tally was 58 in favor, 41 opposed. All of …

Minutes ago the Senate voted to end the filibuster of Chuck Hagel’s nomination for Secretary of Defense, clearing the way for a formal vote on his confirmation. The vote was 71-27 to end debate and send the nomination to the Senate for a full vote, which is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Hagel’s confirmation seems virtually assured, as Democrats control …

Clips are via AmericaBLOG where John Aravosis writes: Former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel was asked twice today about gays in the military, and gave answers that sounded somewhat rambling and confused. Which is odd, since he was obviously prepared for these kind of questions after the controversy over the past month regarding his past anti-gay statements while serving in the …

“I fully support the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 and value the service of all those who fight for our country. I know firsthand the profound sacrifice our service members and their families make, and if confirmed as Secretary of Defense, I will do everything possible to the extent permissible under current law to provide equal benefits …

UPDATE: The White House press office sends us this statement about Chuck Hagel: President Obama has come to know and trust Senator Hagel over nearly a decade, dating back to their time together in the Senate. Together, they travelled to Afghanistan and Iraq in the summer of 2008, and they share a commitment to end the war in Afghanistan responsibly. …