former ambassador james hormel coming up at the bottom of the hour. us now. good morning, representative. >> good morning, how are you? >> stephanie: good morning fiscal schiff. the fancy committee, i just remembered, you are on the house app probations committee, so you know a little something about something here. let's talk about the debt ceiling fight. >> he president will not play that game over the debt limit, this is holding the american country hostage. it costs billions of dollars last time that we don't have. so if they want to fight over shutting down the government that's up to them. but the debt limit just can't be something that we periodically bring the country to the brink over. >> stephanie: we were talking about some of the republicans literally waxing nostalgic. and not only was it a disaster for them politically, we were saying this isn't 1995 anymore. we are in a weak recovery, are we not? >> that ex-exactly right. and it's astounding to hear them talk about the fondness. it is do not what they should be talking about now. they sh

james hormel, the man hagel rejected and slandered had a very different take. quote, senator hagel stated in his remarks that he was willing to support open military service and lgbt military families. if that is a commitment to treat lgbt services members and families like everybody else, i would support his nomination. starting with hagel i'm joined by joel rubin director of policy and government affairs of the now shares fund and a congressional aide that worked closely with senator hagel's staff. thank you we're glad to have. >> you thank you for having me. >> john: were you surprised by this nomination? >> i was not surprised by this nomination. primarily because we heard of it over the last several weeks. senator haig settle hagel is a leader of independent mind, he has a deep background in foreign policy and matters. he has two purple hearts. this was a gutsy nomination by the president to put him forward. this is where the policies align very well with the president and that's what the american people asked for in the election in november. >> john: how

. >> back in 1988 senator hagel made comments about a man who served as ambassador james hormel went on to become the country's first openly gay ambassador. he at the time described him as openly agreasively gay. hagel issued an afollowing he never received it only the news did. gay, lesbian advocacy groups, so we can hip. knock down graig out controversy battle. >> oo thank you vogt incinerate would be going up. they increased premiums pes bit the rising cost of health kay. the most vulnerable peter duessy has more from washington. >> some states the accordable care act may not be liing up to its name. some insurance companies in ohio and florida already raised their premiums at least 20 percent. blue shield raises them 26 percent. hoet care costs even though obama care them before we review the tinker if it's an proved sheriff's department it's heart to denied the treatment yums. that could put a major strain on the system. >> they are heather not going oh get married. subsidiary dies are determined on a state by state level. >> people who buy them on their own are most vv fitable.

here is what happened. 1998 then senator hagel commented on a video james hormel mucking it up with theilitant sisters anti-catholic gay group in san francisco. hagel objected to that exposition and opposed hormel's nomination as the u.s. ambassador to luxembourg. ultimately bill clinton did send him to luxenberg. his mounts comments are now coming back to haunt him. this is a little complicated. hagel was objecting to this guy hormel, who was sitting on a news set yucking it up with these militant people out in san francisco. he didn't think that was good. he also said he didn't think a u.s. ambassador should be, quote, flamboyantly homosexual. he considered hormel to be that. >> right. >> bill: is that the reason you are opposing the nomination? >> we are opposing the nomination of chuck hagel first and foremost, bill because we are republicans. and as you see have seen. >> bill: so is he? >> yes there are a myriad of republicans who are coming out in opposition to a chuck hagel nomination for a myriad of reasons. secondly we are gay americans. it's incumbent to make him held accounta

he opposed the nomination of james hormel as ambassador to luxembourg in 1998 because he was openly gay. i think it is an inhibitor to be openly aggressively gay. he apologized recently calling the remarks insensitive. >> while the president was in the senate he formed a relationship of trust and candour with hagle. the president said he always admired his willingness to go against conventional wisdom. he said if confirmed he will continue to do just that. major garrett, cbs news hawaii. >>> hillary clinton proved she could take a jet on her first day back at work. she was -- take a little joke on her first day back at work. she was released from the hospital last week after treatment of a blood clot near her brain discovered after a fall. >>> a new report shows san jose firefighters are not getting to emergencies fast enough. the reason why they aren't making the grade. >> bay area man who wanted to get caught illegally, driving in the car pool lane. >>> paul deanno with the spare the air day coming up tomorrow. that and the big cool down, coming up this week. your forecast coming up ,

hagel also opposed the nomination of james hormel as ambassador to luxembourg in 1998 because hormel was openly gay. "i think it's an inhibiting factor to be openly aggressively gay like hormel."pe he recently apologized callinggr the remarks insensitive. president obama did not spend a lot of time in the united states senator. he forged a relationship on candor and trust with hagel partially during trips to iraq and afghanistan. the president today said he'ds t always been impressed with willing to go against hagel's'd wisdom.ress hagel said he if he's confirmedst he'll do just that. >> pelley: what about the man nominated to be director of central intelligence, general brennan? will he have an easier time? >> reporter: probably an easier time. wi he's been the number one advisor for the president dealing with every terrorist plot-- real, imagined, large and small-- for w four years at the obama white house. 25 year veteran from the c.i.a., up from the ranks, substantial experience, good relations ons, the hill, probably a slightlyce easier time than senator hagel. a >> pelley: than

i think he's put out i think a really great apology to james hormel and hormel did a gracious -- >> whatas he ambassador -- norway? >> luxembourg. michael guest who was a gay ambassador also came out in politico and issued a very fervent defense -- >> i saw that today. here is chuck hagel, he was under criticism from anti-gay groups for that comment he made. he called him openly aggressively gay. he recently apologized, and today tammy baldwin responded to the news of hagel's nomination. take a look on our network today. >> i plan to ask some tough questions, to give a thorough review, and to be fair, but i do want to speak with him particularly about his comments 14 years ago to see if his apology is sincere and sufficient. i want to hear how he's evolved on this issue in the last 14 years. >> senator kerrey, a lot of the opposition has been by what we call neoconservatives or hawks to keep it simple who basically don't think that he's got the same juice, the same instincts for warfare. what do you make of that? that he doesn't really want to fight as much as the hawks do, whether it's

hagel called james hormel aggressively gay.has renounced those words, but now a future senator who is obviously a leading advocate he told the "boston globe," quote . . . >> jennifer: so joining me now to discuss all of the president's cabinet appoints is michael o'hanlon of the brookings institute. welcome back inside "the war room." really appreciate it. >> thank you governor nice to be with you. >> jennifer: great to be with you too. brookings institution is a very respected organization. do you think hague sell a good pick? >> yeah, i tend to think he is. although i will say right up front is i think tough questioning of the type that mitch mcconnell talked about is entirely appropriate for a confirmation process, and i would be interested to see how senator hagel's views have changed or modified over the years. on iran i share some senator hagel's concerns about the distinct possibility of war, but i also think he was a little bit too optimistic about diplomacy at that time just like senator obama was too optimistic. presi

in 1998, hagel opposed james hormel an openly gay man to an ambassador's post. ago were insensitive, they do not reflect my views, i apologize to ambassador hormel and lgbt americans who may question their commitment to their civil rights. >> whatever chuck hagel's views were, if he does become secretary of defense, he will have to fall in line with president obama's policies on everything from defense spending to what to go about iran's nuclear program. barbara starr, cnn the pentagon. >>> child's play is turned into something resembling survival tackics with the daily threat of death from war. we take you inside one refugee camp where children are seeking safety below ground. getting there with the only tool they have. their hands. [ male announcer ] break the grip of aches or arthritis pain with odor free aspercreme. powerful medicine relieves pain fast, with no odor. so all you notice is relief. aspercreme. >>> in syria, a scathing speech today from bashar al assad, and more bloodshed throughout the country. >>> a syrian opposition group says at least 101 pe

. >> some questioned james hormel's nomination as being in his words openly aggressively gray.e would later apologize. even many democrats take a wait and see approach to his nomination. >> let him get nominated if he is going to be nominated and let's hear what the senator had to say. >>> this may be announced as early as today. doug luzader in washington for us. >> the nomination of chuck hagel is the big talk this morning. >> cruise highly critical of the choice and the cities -- -- highly critical of the choice as the main issue. >>> if hagel is nominated it is difficult to look at the circumstances of his nomination. he is down this path despite his record is troubling. in my view the united states should stand unshakebly with the nation of israel. he is consistently advocating weakness with respect to our enemies with respect to the nation of iran he has opposed sanctions over and over again. the job of the secretary of defense is to be a serious credible detour rent and weakness of the secretary of defense invite conflict. >> what is your position with israel? >> with re

another problem is a remark he made when james hormel was nominated to be an ambassador remarks he madeut gay americans. this is more from martha raddatz raddatz. >> he made a comment about the ambassador to luxembourg calling him openly guy. then in 2002 he spoke out on the troops in iraq. >> the biggest blunder. >> and his comments about israel incensed many when he said lawmakers on capitol hill were intimidateed by the jewish lobby. >> it points to the anti-gay comments. hagel said 14 years ago, i apologize what i said. barney frank had a problem and now barney frank lobbying to become the place holder senator in massachusetts trying to get duvall patrick's name on the senate seat. he said, i support him. here is an apology. >> cenk: it's a stupid thing he said. am i openly and aggressively straight. >> it's not a made up issue. >> cenk: no, because it's republican who is pretend to back mitt romney, mccain. they're being funded by the neo-cons to put the ads out there. it's an amazing story. >> 100%. >> cenk: let's go to brennan the president had an announcement on him as well. >>

john cor zion and others are uneasy with comments opposing james hormel the ambassador to luxembourgeing openly aggressively gay and also his stance on israel. it looks like a rookery reception on both sides of the aisle when he has his hearings in washington. >> shannon: and jamie, senate minority leader mitch mcconnell says he's going to get a fair shake. he's going to get the tough questions, but we'll treat him fairly. sometimes covering washington ahead of the hearings, folks will say it's an allout war. do you think it comes true this time? >> i think there's going to be serious questions from, certainly the republican side, but i also think the democratic side. you've had not just mitch mcconnell say that and obviously he's trying to be diplomatic saying he'll get a fair hearing and i think he will. but a lot of questions regarding the stances. i think that some people see hagel as indicating, for instance, maybe a greater shift in the budget talks, i know we're going to get to that to cut defense department spending, because you have leon panetta, obama's current defense secr

in 1998, hagel opposed james hormel an openly gay man to an ambassador's post.s 14 years ago in 1998 were insensitive. they do not reflect my views. i apologize to ambassador hormel and lgbt americans who may question their commitment to their civil rights. whatever chuck hagel's views were as a senator, if he does become secretary of defense, he'll have to fall in line with president obama's policies on everything from defense spending to what to do about iran's nuclear program. barbara starr, cnn, the pentagon. >>> child's play is turned into something resembling survival tactics. with the daily threat of death from war and from the freezing cold. we take you inside one refugee camp where children are seeking safety below ground. getting there with the only tool they have, their hands. you know, i can save you 15% today if you open up a charge card account with us. >> you just read my mind. >> announcer: just one little piece of information and they can open bogus accounts, stealing your credit, your money and ruining your reputation. that's why you need lifel

in 1998 hagel opposed james hormel, an openly gay man, to an ambassador's post. ys my comments 14 years ago in 1998 were insensitive. they do not reflect my views. i apologize to ambassador hormel and any lgbt americans who may question my commitment to their civil rights. whatever chuck hagel's views were as a senator, if he does become secretary of defense, he will have to fall in line with president obama's policies on everything from defense spending to what to do about iran's nuclear program. barbara starr, cnn, the pentagon. >>> quiet in steubenville, ohio, today after days of media coverage centering on the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl. both sides are preparing their case for a february 13th trial inform a case that has divided the small ohio town. the two 16-year-old high school football players are charged with sexual assaulting the girl last summer. the alleged attack took place at several parties over the course of a night and were well-documented by students who were there. the defense attorney for one accused teen spoke to our own susan candiott

. >> how much is it -- i don't want to necessarily say how much does it help but given that james hormel accepted the apology given his facebook since he was the target of those comments and even though one person can be the focus and hurt all people to hear something like that, does that at all pull back some of the anger i guess against the nomination? >> i think that it does. i think that the apology was sincere and that was heart felt but like any apology, we would very much like to see some action here. >> all right. we'll see if that question or one similar asked in the process and what the answer will be from them. thank you so much for your time. we greatly appreciate it. >> a pleasure. thank you. >>> coming up, i'm talk to michael tomaski. first time here in the new year with a message not for the gop this time. he's got a message for liberals out there. upset over the fiscal cliff deal. stop complaining. he says president obama is not captain liberal but a president who has to lead. michael will join us to explain. all of you who are upset now. >>> but first, there's a lot goin

that hagel offered last month for comments he made in 1998 about the first openly gay ambassador, james hormelhagel called agressively gay. supporters say hagel's infantry service in vietnam, where he was awarded two purple hearts, among other medals qualifies him for the job of defense secretary and the white house has lined up high profile backers to defend hagel's record on israel. >> he has been over the course of a long career in public service a supporter of the state of israel and its security requirements. >> reporter: president obama told nbc news last weekend he sees, quote, nothing to disqualify hagel. in washington, james rosen, fox news. >>> there is the battle over whether to raise the debt ceiling again. right now, it is set at $16.4 trillion. you might remember, there was a fight over whether to set it that high. in february, congress will have to decide again whether to raise it. it's a decision that essentially covers money already spent. >> something i will not compromise over is whether or not congress should pay the tab for a bill they have already racked up. if congress r

hagel apologized and that former adviser, james hormel, now supports hagel's nomination. but much of the opposition to hagel is rooted in his loud split with the republican party over the iraq war and skepticism about his willingness to use force. in an interview with cnn, vice president biden argued that hagel is no dove. >> the idea of getting engaged in a ground war, in a country that's in transition is not a precipitation any military man would suggest. >> in many ways, obama's pick of hagel, who he forged a relationship with in the senate, then traveled with to afghanistan and iraq in july of 2008, along with cia nominee john brennan and incoming secretary of state john kerry represent a shift in the way the u.s. wages war and the president's attempts to put an imprint on u.s. foreign policy. today, hagel will have his first chance to publicly respond to his critics, in a 112-page questionnaire requested by the committee, hagel begins to do that on iran and israel. this is what he said in the questionnaire, and he'll be questioned about this today. on the questionnai

fairness and there does not seem to be any effort of any apology or retraction of his attack on james hormel those of white house admire and respect mr. hormel, his description of aggressive can only mean that the senator strongly objected to hormel's reasoned advocacy for lgbt people. i can not think of any other minority group in the u.s. today where such a action made in 1998 would not be an obstacle to a major presidential appointment. that was last week. barney frank last week. but considering the character of the opposition to chuck hagel that has emerged in the interim, barney frank has changed his mind. mr. frank said today, quote, the attack coming out of the right, i hope he gets confirmed. this fight over check hagel as secretary of defense gives an interesting window to what going on in the right sort of devolving in some ways. an architect of wildly expanded presidential power gets sent to nip at the heels of a president over this new guy having too much power. everybody is now supposed to see bill kristol as the arbiter of reasonableness in foreign affairs. the fight over chuck

in 1998, he called james hormel, who was then president clinton's choice for the president of luxembourg openly gay, and he said his sexual orientation, i will quote him again, would prevent him from doing a good job. he recently apologized. he said he thought the apology was insincere and subsequently put out a statement saying the timing appears to be self serving but he believes the words are unequivocal and they are a clear apology. is there anything hagel can do to change your mind as something out there fighting for gay rights in america? >> it's unlikely. it's not just a matter of the statements chuck hagel said about hormel. we're looking at his entire record. in the apology he asked everyone to look at the totality of his record when it came to gay and lesbian issues. and what our washington post issue looks at is his issues. the defense of same-sex marriage, and also his references to don't ask don't tell, saying he would be opposed to repeal because it would be social experimentation, and that has no place in the military. long cabin republicans has spent a significant amount

of the comments he made just a little over a decade ago about american ambassador to luxembourg james hormelho is gay. i know he's apologized for these comments. what are your thoughts about that? there are still a number of gay rights advocates who have serious concerns about chuck hagel. >> this is a watershed moment in our country where the don't ask, don't tell policy has been repealed. chuck hagel has recognized the wisdom of that. came out forcefully with a response saying that he rejected what he said in the past. and has been accepted by griffin and others, steve clemens who's notable in washington on foreign policy has argued that hagel is progay and very committed to these issues. this will, again, wash out in the discussions. likely this is going to be a touchstone in the near term. but hopefully as the commentary goes forward, people will see that chuck hagel is the right man for the job. >> we talked about the democrats who have some concerns of their own. there's the new political article that cites a senate democratic official as saying this. quote, i don't think dems just fal

was truly genuinely sorry about this, he could have issued that apology -- he could have called james hormelectly instead of releasing this apology via media sources. secondly, the fact that this apology came out just at the time his name was being floated as a potential nominee for secretary of defense is also something that gives us cause for concern. so is it good that he apologized? hey, i mean, this is something that it's always good when people move forward on issues. but there's an entier portfolio of issues we're looking at. the entire totality of his record we're looking at. it gives us cause for concern. we do not think he should be the nominee for secretary of defense. >> when president obama has said that he accepts his apology and also says that anybody that's going to be working with me understands where my administration is going and what my administration stands for, don't you think that that means that chuck hagel has to step into this role and fulfill the fact that don't ask, don't tell, why it has been fully repealed, will continue to not be an issue moving forward in defe

joining me then joaquin castro, james hormel, the monday who was referred to as openly aggress he havelyuring his senate confirmation hearing, and on the monthly jobs numbers we'll have ron insana and jared bernstein joining us. now with alex wagner comes up next. supporting some of the biggest ideas in modern history. so why should our anniversary matter to you? because for 200 years, we've been helping ideas move from ambition to achievement. and the next great idea could be yours. ♪ get coricidin hbp. the number one pharmacist recommended cold brand designed for people with high blood pressure. and the only one i use to relieve my cold symptoms without raising my blood pressure. coricidin hbp. so, i'm working on a cistern intake valve, and the guy hands me a locknut wrench. no way! i'm like, what is this, a drainpipe slipknot? wherever your business takes you, nobody keeps you on the road like progressive commercial auto. [ flo speaking japanese ] [ shouting in japanese ] we work wherever you work. now, that's progressive. call or click today. living with moderate to semeans living wi

the diplomat in question, ambassador james hormel, has accepted hagel's apology; log cabin republicans have not. last sunday, president obama was asked about the remarks on nbc's "meet the press". >> he apologized for it, and i think it's a testimony to what has been a positive change over the last decade in terms of people's attitudes about gays and lesbians serving our country. and that's something that i'm very proud to have led, and i think that anybody who serves in my administration understands my attitude and position on those issues. >> suarez: indeed, hagel already serves this administration. he's co-chaired the president's intelligence advisory board since 2009, after he left the senate. in his sunday interview, the president called hagel a patriot, but he also said there's been no decision on a nominee. this is the second time in recent weeks that a potential high-level obama administration nominee has come under fire. last month, united nations ambassador susan rice withdrew her name as a potential nominee for secretary of state. she'd come under fierce republican criticism

the diplomat in question, ambassador james hormel, has accepted hagel's apology; log cabin republicans have not. last sunday, president obama was asked about the remarks on nbc's "meet the press". >> he apologized for it, and i think it's a testimony to what has been a positive change over the last decade in terms of people's attitudes about gays and lesbians serving our country. and that's something that i'm very proud to have led and i think that anybody who serves in my administration understands my attitude and position on those issues. >> suarez: indeed, hagel already serves this administration. he's co-chaired the president's intelligence advisory board since 2009, after he left the senate. in his sunday interview, the president called hagel a patriot, but he also said there's been no decision on a nominee. this is the second time in recent weeks that a potential high-level obama administration nominee has come under fire. last month, united nations ambassador susan rice withdrew her name as a potential nominee for secretary of state. she'd come under fierce republican criticism

plans on questioning hagel for his anti-gay comments. 14 years ago hagel criticized ambassador james hormel being aggressively gay. baldwin wants to know if his apology is sufficient and sincere and she wants to see how he's evolved on that issue particularly in the area of don't ask, don't tell. another obama appointment yesterday, he tapped counter terrorism adviser john brennan to lead the c.i.a. much the controversy there has to do with his involvement in the use of armed drones and his views on waterboarding but it is resparking a debate over the white house cyberleaks. president's aides purposely let out some information to help his re-election chances. but some republicans say they won't confirm brennan until the investigations are complete. more bill press is coming up after the break. stay with us. (vo) brought to you by lysol. a mission for health. before the sneeze, help protect with a spray. before the tissue, help defend with a wipe. before the cold & flu season help prevent with lysol. because when you have 10 times more protection with each hand wash... and kill 99.9% of germ

in 1998, hagel opposed james hormel, an openly gay man to an ambassador post.now says my comments 14 years ago in 1998 were insensitive. they do not reflect my views. i apologize to ambassador hormel and any lgbt americans who may question my commitment to their civil rights. >> barbara starr is joining us right now. on that last point that you just made, i assume he is totally committed to making sure equal rights for gays and lesbians serving in the united states military will be fully honored, no going back to don't ask, don't tell or anything along those lines? >> well, that's absolutely right, wolf. when you are the secretary of defense in this country, you carry out the president's policies. this is mandatory. there's no choice on these matters. so by accepting the nomination and being willing to serve as secretary of defense, he will have to do this. in fact, many members of the gay and lesbian community are looking for additional rights to be granted to them when they are partners of either those serving in the military or in the military themselves. i

hagel made 14 years ago regarding president bill clinton's nominee for ambassador to luxembourg, james c. hormelsenator hagel had questioned his qualifications for the position because he was "openly, aggressively gay." hagel apologizes for the remark last month. this is president obama's response. >> with respect to the particular comment, he apologized for it. i think it is a testimony to what has been a positive change over the last decade in terms of people's attitudes about gays and lesbians serving our country. that is something i'm very proud to have led. i think anybody who serves in my administration understands my attitude and position on those issues. >> your response? >> there's been some lingering gay rights lobby groups and individuals who oppose chuck hagel, but some of the larger groups, human rights campaign is probably the most influential gay equality group in washington, can around after hagel's apology and said they welcome him into the fold and consider him an ally for gay equality. >> ambassador hormel was not as generous. >> he gave sort of an equivocal acceptance of hege

i could ask about chuck hegel, one of the things he raised was the comments that he made about james hormel who came under fire by anti-gay groups. i am wondering, he made those comments 15 years ago and did not apologize for them until a month ago when it was clear he was in the running to be the secretary of defense. why that kind of delay? does she have to explain this comments -- does he have to explain his comments? >> he regretted them and they do not represent the totality of his use. -- his views. i would point you to the statement he made. and he will have -- senators will have an opportunity through the confirmation process, as they do traditionally and routinely, to ask him questions about his views on issues. the secretary of defense -- senator hagel, when he is confirmed, as we hope he will be -- carries out the president's policies. and i think the president's policies on lgbt issues are both commendable, supported by the lgbt community, and will continue to be the policies of this administration as long as president obama is in office. so, again, i think you've seen what sena