Chuck Hagel’s not the worst guy or anything, but when I vote for a Democrat for President I don’t think it’s asking too much to expect he’ll appoint Democrats to all the Cabinet positions.
It’s depressing that even after the Republican Party’s credibility on national security policy has been utterly destroyed by multiple foreign policy disasters a Democratic President still doesn’t feel confident nominating a Democrat for Secretary of Defense.
Obama had the edge in public opinion polls on this issue all throughout the campaign. This is not 2004. We do not need to cower anymore at “soft on terrorism” accusations.
Panetta is a Democrat. He was a congressman from California.