First on CNN: Santorum to oppose Hagel nomination
Washington (CNN) - Rick Santorum will launch a drive against the nomination of former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as Defense secretary, CNN has learned.
Santorum, the former senator from Pennsylvania and 2012 GOP presidential candidate, Wednesday will announce his opposition to President Barack Obama's Monday announcement that he's nominating Hagel to succeed retiring Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, according to John Brabender, a top political adviser to Santorum.
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And Brabender tells CNN that Patriot Voices, the pro-Santorum run 501(c)4 advocacy group, will go up with online ads opposing the nomination.
Santorum, who served with Hagel in the Senate ten years and who was a member of the Armed Services Committee, opposes the nomination because of Hagel's positions on Iran and Israel, according to Brabender.
Hagel has drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for his perceived lack of support for Israel. The former senator from Nebraska pushed back earlier this week, telling the Lincoln Journal Star that there is "not one shred of evidence that I'm anti-Israeli, not one (Senate) vote that matters that hurt Israel."
Republicans are also critical of Hagel for opposition to the 2007 surge of U.S. forces in the war in Iraq, and of his opposition to unilateral sanctions against Iran over its nuclear weapons program.
"I have not supported unilateral sanctions because when it is us alone, they don't work and they just isolate the United States," Hagel has said.
Santorum, once a long shot in the 2012 race for the Republican presidential nomination, came out on top in the Iowa caucuses and battled eventual nominee Mitt Romney deep into the primary calendar before suspending his bid. Santorum is seriously considering another run for the White House in 2016.
"I'm open to that possibility," said Santorum when asked on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" in November about another run for the White House.
–Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @PsteinhauserCNN
Santorum is in no position to dictate any policy or opposition to anything. In other words, who cares. Funny how Republicans pretend they care about Israel while spewing their hatred towards women and minorities at home.
The BEST ENDORSEMENT of Hagel I have heard so far.
A former Senator who was drummed out of office because he was living in another state and was using Pennsylvania's home schooling money for his numerous children doesn't pass muster here. He never served in any US Armed Forces, and Hagel has, being in tune with the boots on the ground. These same brave men and women were used by the chicken-hawks as cannon fodder, then discarded in VA hospitals full of vermin and filth. Santorum is a joke and needs to just shut up. He is as worthless as Palin.
We voted him out. He is just like Palin, always spouting nonsense.
A song ran through my head as soon as I read the headline: "The freaks come out at night, the freaks come out at night!".
lol – amazing – this would be like an endorsement for hagel cnn . lol – I feel sorry for obama in a way – I mean, it doesn't matter what he does, every republican is against everything he says or does, or wants to do, or even suggests. Obama has gone out of his way in many ways, not only putting republicans on his team – I mean he's even asked for input from republicans in his administration, and the congress constantly wants to do battle with him, no wonder D.C. is so toxic, and there's no bi-partisan ship.
Another inconsequential RWNJ. That seals the deal for me. McCain, Graham, and now Crazy Ricky coming out against one of their own. I'm all for Hagel!!
Anything any of these idiots are against, is alright in my book! I never, ever thought I could ever support a repub........
Lets see? Here si a guy who could not display leadership qualities that were nbetter than Mitt Romney but now knows more than the American people (once again) and more than the President whom Mitt Romney couldn't win over – Why can't these people just go quietly ibto the night when the stupidity is proven!
Santorum just wants his name back in the news cycle. When he said that he was running for POTUS to bring religious values to the government, he turned a lot of people off. People on the right complain about communism but they just do not see that combining religion and government is the ultimate control over populations. Law breaking becomes a sin, and it provides an atmosphere in which the extreme become the powerful.
Other than Birthers and anti women's rights groups, does anyone else really care about what Rick thinks?
So all of the anti-counrty GOP are going to fall on this sword, eh?
This is good news. The more they obstruct the business of American with nonsense like this the less popular they become.
How DID the GOP get to be so sick?
Santorum represents what is wrong with the GOP/Tea Party, too conservative, extreme, and out of touch with a majority of Americans. He preaches only to the base: white, rural, predominantly male, and aging.
Is there anyone in America that still listens to anything this man says?
What a snob. Next he will oppose education.
Well, THAT tells you Hagel's a good choice!
In what capacity? he was rejected even before Mitt. I am convinced that Chuck Hagel is the right person for the job oneof the reason is that his nomination is being opposed by people like Santorum. .
Last time I checked Santorum didn't have a vote in the US Senate. He needs to crawl back under a rock and leave politics to adults.
Does Santorum still have voting power? I don't think so, who cares what this loser oppose, he is just trying to keep himself relevant in hopes of a 2016 run. He was a loser in 2012 and will be in 2016, just ask Mitt Romney and John McCain how it works!!
What a shock! Someone want to remind Santorum he's not still in the Senate and nobody cares.
Since when do DEFEATED Senators get a vote on confirmation? Rick, we're not ready for 2016 yet (and we'll never be ready for you). Go find an honest job.
Rick Santorum our hero, He quit the primary before Pennsylvania election (he knew he will lose his home state to Romney) and destroyed Mitt Romney’s dream
Obama owe big thanks Rick Santorum
Santorum should be quiet, stay home, and take care of Bella whom he used as a campaign prop.
@ Tampa Tim – Don't give him Any of Perry's Ideas.
Another chicken hawk who has sacrificed nothing for his country calling out a man who fought among men who died for their country. Santorum is nothing but a self serving piece of "Christian" garbage.
These people keep on coming back like a bad smell. Can't Santorum learn from Romney whose name was on ballot on General Election? He has disappeared. Santorum should go and take care of his family. He has nothing to offer to the nation as he proved himself during the GOP primaries.