In defense of Chuck Hagel not playing nice

President Obama appointed former senator Chuck Hagel to be his next Secretary of Defense. As with any cabinet appointment, it will have to be approved by the senate. The New York Times dug into the predictable antagonism that will come from Republican senators to his appointment.

Why? Because it turns out they don't like him much. Like, they don't like his attitude.

One quote in particular stood out:

"But Mr. Hagel was no ordinary senator serving at an ordinary time. His outspoken, brusque style endeared him to television talk show bookers, but he was not known as a legislator or a deal maker."

Sounds like just about every commentator and politician that I see go on Fox News, anyone who claims allegiance to the Tea Party movement, and brings to mind images of Sarah Palin and the head of the NRA.

Outspoken? Brusque? From a citizens' point of view, I would say just about every politician looks and sounds that way. Even VP Joe Biden, with his goofy grandfather reputation, came out as what I would call outspoken and brusque when he debated Paul Ryan during the election.

Republicans need so leave this be. The attitude of their entire party on every issue for the last six months, from the election to the fiscal cliff to guns to reproductive rights, has been outspoken and brusque. I would hold it against them enough to not vote for them in the next election, but if their party was in power and a Republican president wanted to appoint someone with a long record of service in the Senate to a cabinet position, well, that's how the cookie crumbles. Not being qualified is a reason to block an appointment. Not liking them is no better than a smear campaign in junior high.

As Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn said, “It’s not a matter of personalities. Chuck Hagel is an honorable man.”

Let's hope so.

Image courtesy of roberthuffstutter via flickr