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Barney Frank 'Strongly Opposes' Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary

Barney Frank 'Strongly Opposes' Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary

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Hagel's negative statements and actions regarding LGBT people should disqualify him from consideration, Frank says.

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Barney Frank has taken a parting shot at Chuck Hagel, a possible nominee for secretary of Defense, saying he strongly opposes Hagel's appointment because of his antigay record and statements.

Hagel, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, in 1998 criticized James Hormel, a gay philanthropist nominated by President Clinton as ambassador to Luxembourg, as "openly, aggressively gay" and said that Hormel's homosexuality could interfere with his ability to do the job. Hagel recently apologized for the comments, but Hormel and others questioned his sincerity, and Hagel also had a record of voting against LGBT causes while in the Senate.

Frank, who is retiring as a U.S. representative from Massachusetts, released a statement Monday opposing Hagel's potential nomination, The Huffington Post reports. "Then-Senator Hagel's aggressively bigoted opposition to President Clinton's naming the first openly gay Ambassador in U.S. history was not, as Sen. Hagel now claims, an aberration," the gay congressman said. "He voted consistently against fairness for LGBT people and there does not seem to be any evidence prior to his effort to become Secretary of Defense of any apology or retraction of his attack on James Hormel. And to those of us who admire and respect Mr. Hormel, Sen. Hagel's description of him as aggressive can only mean that the Senator strongly objected to Hormel's reasoned, civil advocacy for LGBT people.

"I cannot think of any other minority group in the U.S. today where such a negative statement and action made in 1998 would not be an obstacle to a major Presidential appointment."

President Obama has not yet formally nominated a replacement for outgoing Defense secretary Leon Panetta, but Hagel, a Republican who broke with his party to oppose the war in Iraq, is said to be his top choice. Obama has said Hagel has shown "positive change" in his attitude toward LGBT people.

Frank would not be able to vote on Hagel even if he were staying in Congress, as only members of the Senate vote on cabinet nominations.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.