Chuck Hagel's mea culpa to the LGBT community

A few days ago there was speculation that President Obama would introduce two Cabinet nominees last week -- Sen. John Kerry for secretary of State and former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska for secretary of Defense. But Kerry stood alone with Obama on Friday. Does that mean that the president is caving to criticism of Hagel from supporters of Israel and, more recently, from gay-rights supporters offended by comments Hagel made in 1998 about a gay nominee for an ambassadorship?

By Michael McGough

December 24, 2012