[Peace-discuss] Roll Call: Has Kirk's Office Been Running a Secret Anti-Hagel Campaign?

Thu Jan 10 00:43:29 UTC 2013

I understand that Mark Kirk has now recovered from his stroke
but not from his pre-existing brain problem.

On 01/10/13 6:26, Robert Naiman wrote:
> Our Senator at work - even when he's not at work.
>
> Kirk's Office Been Running a Secret Anti-Hagel Campaign?
>
>     * By Meredith Shiner <http://www.rollcall.com/reporters/67.html>
>     * Roll Call Staff
>     * Jan. 9, 2013, 5:05 p.m.
>
> A top aide to Sen. Mark S. Kirk 
> <http://www.rollcall.com/members/7051.html>, R-Ill., has been 
> distributing anti-Chuck Hagel emails to a large, undisclosed listserv 
> of staffers — including Democrats — beginning as early as Dec. 20, 
> according to the more than a dozen emails obtained by CQ Roll Call.
>
> Richard Goldberg, a deputy chief of staff in Kirk’s office who also 
> focuses on foreign policy issues, has been sending as many as three 
> emails a day to the list, which CQ Roll Call confirmed includes 
> reporters, Republican policy staffers and some Democrats. The emails 
> typically include links or text of articles that cast Hagel — a former 
> Republican senator from Nebraska and President Barack Obama’s 
> secretary of Defense nominee — in a negative light.
>
> Many Republicans have expressed reservations about Hagel’s 
> appointment, 
> <http://www.rollcall.com/news/hagel_to_face_concerted_opposition_for_top_pentagon_post-220610-1.html> questioning 
> the Vietnam War veteran’s positions on Israel and Iran sanctions, two 
> issues upon which Kirk has concentrated throughout his congressional 
> career. But Kirk himself has not publicly opposed Hagel’s nomination, 
> especially not to the extent that the emails from his staffer 
> collectively suggest.
>
> “I appreciate and respect Senator Hagel’s record of service to our 
> country, especially as a decorated combat veteran,” Kirk said in a 
> Jan. 5 statement. “I am concerned about his past record and 
> statements, particularly with regard to Iran and the U.S.-Israel 
> relationship. Should he be nominated to serve as Secretary of Defense, 
> I will join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in a rigorous 
> examination of these and other issues of concern.”
>
> When asked about Goldberg’s emails, Kirk’s office reiterated the 
> senator’s concerns, but did not address whether Goldberg was 
> authorized or asked to mount the anti-Hagel campaign.
>
> “The Senator has made it very clear that he has concerns about Senator 
> Hagel’s past record and statements on a number of issues and will be 
> asking serious questions as this process moves forward,” the statement 
> provided to CQ Roll Call said.
>
> The chatter within Republican circles, however, is that Kirk’s office 
> has been taking a lead role in the campaign against Hagel’s 
> confirmation. Two sources said they expect Kirk will be more vocal 
> about his concerns in the coming days.
>
> The Illinois Republican has long been an outspoken supporter of Israel 
> and an ally of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. AIPAC has 
> remained relatively quite since Obama announced Hagel as his pick for 
> the Pentagon’s top seat, but it remains unclear how the powerful lobby 
> — at the center of one of Hagel’s most controversial remarks — will 
> advise its friends in Congress.
>
> Kirk also was one of the lead co-sponsors of an Iranian sanctions 
> measure included in last month’s National Defense Authorization Act.
>
> It’s notable that Goldberg’s first email was sent in December, weeks 
> before Kirk, who missed nearly an entire year in Washington after 
> suffering a stroke, returned to the Capitol 
> <http://www.rollcall.com/news/kirk_makes_inspiring_return_to_senate-220514-1.html> and 
> well before Hagel was officially tapped by Obama.
>
> A selection of the subject lines include: “Breaking: Chuck Hagel Once 
> Opposed Nominee Because He Was ‘Openly Aggressively Gay” (12/20/2012); 
> “ICYMI: Chuck Hagel’s History of Homophobia” (01/01/2013); “Iran State 
> TV Praises Obama’s ‘anti-Israel’ Hagel Selection” (01/06/2013); “Must 
> Watch: Maddow Slams Hagel’s ‘Akin-esque’ Views on Rape, Abortion, LGBT 
> in the Military” (01/08/2013); “ICYMI: Hagel’s group sees Iran as a 
> future ally” (01/09/2013).
>
> According to one source, at least four Democratic foreign policy 
> staffers have been receiving the notes and multiple GOP sources 
> confirmed that their foreign policy aides have been receiving them as 
> well. Another source indicated that the anti-Hagel emails actually 
> began earlier in the month, but those missives were not among those 
> reviewed by CQ Roll Call
>
> http://www.rollcall.com/news/has_kirks_office_been_running_a_secret_anti_hagel_campaign-220664-1.html?zkPrintable=true
>
>
> -- 
> Robert Naiman
> Policy Director
> Just Foreign Policy
> www.justforeignpolicy.org <http://www.justforeignpolicy.org>
> naiman at justforeignpolicy.org <mailto:naiman at justforeignpolicy.org>
>
>
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