Hagel Apologizes For Anti-Gay Slur

It has been rumored for quite a while now that former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel will be President Obama's choice to become Secretary of Defense when Leon Panetta retires early next year. While I am not exactly thrilled that a Republican will be nominated, the two-time senator does have some things in his favor.

First, he is not a teabagger, but a moderate who has the courage to oppose his own party when necessary and the intelligence to compromise when appropriate. He is a decorated veteran (which should probably be a requirement for Secretary of Defense) and served in Vietnam. He was also one of the first senators to realize the Iraq War was a mistake, and voted with Democrats for a plan to withdraw.

Another thing in his favor is that the teabaggers don't like him. Just a few days ago Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) came out in opposition to Hagel's nomination -- and frankly, anyone Cornyn doesn't like is worth consideration at least.

But in the last few days, Hagel has also run into a little trouble with progressives. They don't like an insensitive (and rather stupid) statement he made back in 1998, when James C. Hormel was nominated by President Bill Clinton to be ambassador to Luxembourg. Hagel said Hormel was "openly aggressively gay" and wouldn't properly represent the "values" of Americans. Last Friday, Hagel apologized for that. Here is what he said:

“My comments 14 years ago in 1998 were insensitive. They do not reflect my views or the totality of my public record, and I apologize to Ambassador Hormel and any LGBT Americans who may question my commitment to their civil rights. I am fully supportive of ‘open service’ and committed to LGBT military families.”


Now I don't wish to make excuses for Hagel's original anti-gay statement. He deserved to be raked over the coals for it. But I do think progressives should consider a couple of things before writing Hagel off as not fit to be appointed. First, the statement was made 14 years ago. This was a much different country then, and in the last 14 years a lot of progress in equal rights has been made -- and a lot of the American public have changed their minds about the LGBT community. Isn't it possible that Hagel is one of those people?

Second, this didn't sound to me like the basic Republican non-apology apology. This sounded like a real apology. I'm not ready to whitewash him and forgive him of all his sins, but I do think he deserves the chance to prove that he has changed and really believes in equal rights. What do you think?