Durbin defends Hagel as ‘serious candidate’ for top Pentagon post

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Sunday defended President Obama’s likely nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) as Secretary of Defense, calling his former colleague a “serious candidate.”

“Chuck Hagel was a Republican Senator from Nebraska, a decorated veteran of the Vietnam war, a person who has a resume that includes service on the foreign relations committee as well as the intelligence committee,” said Durbin on CNN’s “State of the Union.” Yes, he is a serious candidate if the president chooses to name him.”

“It tells me that he not only won the election but he wants to lead this country,” said Durbin of Obama, praising the pick as a bold choice. “Sitting back here and avoiding any confrontation and any controversy is going to make a weakened presidency. He needs to lead for the good of this nation.”

Reports Sunday said the White House had notified lawmakers to expect Hagel’s formal nomination as early as Monday.

Hagel’s selection will likely face fierce opposition in the Senate. 

Pro-Israel groups have questioned his support for the U.S. ally after a remark he made in office accused the “Jewish lobby” of intimidating fellow lawmakers. Pro-gay rights groups have also hammered Hagel over critical remarks he made toward an openly gay ambassadorial nominee.

Hagel apologized for those comments last month and Obama also publicly defended the former senator.

In an interview last week, the president said he had not made a decision about who would replace current Secretary of State Leon Panetta at the Pentagon, but said nothing in Hagel’s public record disqualified him from serving in that post.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday said Hagel could expect a tough hearing and called the likely selection an “in your face nomination” from Obama. 

Graham said Hagel would be the “most antagonistic secretary of Defense toward the state of Israel in our nation’s history.”

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