“Only one SecDef candidate has been rejected in the past by the Senate: John Tower, also a former Republican Senator but seeking to serve a Republican Administration. Tower was rejected for drinking and fooling around, or for ties to defense contractors, depending on whom you believe.
“Hagel, however, is accused of what in a different context would be called political incorrectness. Though like any American politician who wants to get anywhere he has repeatedly celebrated U.S.-Israel relations, he has also shown some interest in the plight of Palestinians, and referred to a “Jewish lobby,” meaning advocates of Israeli interests in Washington, a town where chiropodists probably have a lobby and other religious groups certainly do, at least de facto.”
–Roy Edroso, quoted from his Village Voice column
