I do not oppose Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense, but I sure won't applaud this right wing pig. He did oppose neo-cons, and I give him credit for that, and he came to understand the error of his vote to invade Iraq, for which I also give him credit. In addition, he opposes a war with Iran. And I understand that he favors further cuts at the Pentagon. That's enough for me to defer to the President's choice for Sec of Defense and not oppose the choice (as if anyone gave a shit whether I opposed or supported).
But I will not participate in the applause and claims about how Hagel is a good person. He's not. Leaving aside his comments about Hormel, he opposed a man for the position of ambassador because he was an out-of-the-closet gay. Not just words, but active discrimination. Wait until you see his voting record below. Every vote against equality. He's okay on immigration, but very poor on labor rights. He did vote once to raise the minimum wage, after years of opposing any increase.
Along with voting for the AUMF, he supported some other biggies during the Bush administration:
Voted for the Patriot Act
Voted for the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts
wikepedia
Zero rating by NARAL. Voted to ban abortions on military bases. Has a terrible voting record on engery and the environment, tax policy and labor. His voting record is bad on affirmative action and very anti-gay.
I am disappointed in his selection. There are plenty of decent people who could do the job. Like I said, I don't oppose it, but I don't like it and will not join in any whitewashing of Hagel merely because President Obama appointed him. And I sure won't call my senators and ask them to confirm Hagel. But I won't call and ask them to oppose. I'll sit this one out.
More of his votes after the orange squiggle. You can review them there and retch, or follow the link for an even greater list of all his key votes over an ignominious 18-year senate career.
Reproductive health of women:
Voted YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
Voted NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
snip
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
snip
Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-life stance. (Dec 2006)
Chuck Hagel On the Issues
A zero on reproductive rights. Yes, President Obama sets policy, thank God, but this is a man with a proven record of discrimination agaisnt women and opposition to reproductive freedom. No friend of women or gays in the military as I see it.
How about civil rights. Well, his record is not friendly to African Ameircans or gays:
Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
Voted YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
snip
Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Issue a commemorative postage stamp of Rosa Parks. (Dec 2005)
Rated 0% by the HRC, indicating an anti-gay-rights stance. (Dec 2006)
Rated 11% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance. (Dec 2006)
Chuck Hagel On the Issues
But he loves big business:
Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing & restrictions. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001)
Rated 87% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Chuck Hagel On the Issues
He did vote for one minimum wage increase.
Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Feb 2007)
Voted NO on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
Voted YES on killing an increase in the minimum wage. (Nov 1999)
Voted YES on allowing workers to choose between overtime & comp-time. (May 1997)
Rated 8% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
Chuck Hagel On the Issues
The war on drugs? Seems to like it:
Voted YES on increasing penalties for drug offenses. (Nov 1999)
Chuck Hagel On the Issues
On Energy and climate change? Abysmal:
Voted NO on tax incentives for energy production and conservation. (Jun 2008)
Voted NO on addressing CO2 emissions without considering India & China. (May 2008)
Voted NO on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies. (Jun 2007)
Voted NO on making oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. (Jun 2007)
Voted NO on factoring global warming into federal project planning. (May 2007)
Voted NO on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR. (Nov 2005)
Voted NO on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas. (Oct 2005)
Voted NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%). (Jun 2005)
Voted NO on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on Bush Administration Energy Policy. (Jul 2003)
Voted NO on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. (Jun 2003)
Voted NO on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill. (Mar 2003)
Voted YES on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Voted YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002)
Voted YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling. (Apr 2000)
Voted NO on ending discussion of CAFE fuel efficiency standards. (Sep 1999)
Voted NO on defunding renewable and solar energy. (Jun 1999)
[ONE GOOD VOTE!]
Voted YES on approving a nuclear waste repository. (Apr 1997)
Rated 17% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence. (Dec 2006)
Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. (Jan 2007) [WELL, IT'S SOMETHING I GUESS]
Chuck Hagel On the Issues
The environment? Pretty bad.
Voted NO on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations. (Sep 2005)
Voted YES on confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior. (Jan 2001)
snip
Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Chuck Hagel On the Issues
Loves trade agreeemnts that screw American workers:
Voted YES on promoting free trade with Peru. (Dec 2007)
Voted YES on free trade agreement with Oman. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade. (Jul 2005)
Voted YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
Voted YES on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China. (Sep 2000)
Voted YES on expanding trade to the third world. (May 2000)
Voted YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority. (Nov 1997)
Rated 92% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record. (Dec 2002)
Extend trade restrictions on Burma to promote democracy. (Jun 2007)
Chuck Hagel On the Issues
You can look at other votes at the link.
Here's some quick glimpses:
Rated 78% by NTU, indicating a "Taxpayer's Friend" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the CTJ, indicating opposition to progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)
snip
Rated 0% by the AU, indicating opposition to church-state separation. (Dec 2006)
snip
Rated 22% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Chuck Hagel On the Issues
All in all, a shitty and disgusting voting record. We know Mr. Hagel by his works.
