The Hagel question

In choosing former Sen. Chuck Hagel as secretary of Defense, has President Obama made an "in your face" appointment, as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) complains? Perhaps. Given criticism of Hagel by supporters of Israel and gay rights groups, his nomination was guaranteed to be controversial. So why did he do it? After deciding not to nominate Susan Rice as secretary of State in the face of GOP opposition, the president may have been determined not to surrender to criticism a second time.

January 7, 2013