WH taps GOPer McHugh for Army post

Posted: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:35 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: White House, Congress, Mike Viqueira

From NBC's Mike Viqueira and Mark Murray
President Obama today will nominate Republican Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) to the post of secretary of the Army.

Video: President Obama introduces Republican Rep. John McHugh as his choice to become the next secretary of the Army.

McHugh is the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee.

Strikingly, McHugh wrote a recent op-ed in The Hill, in which he outlined his view of the ways in which Republicans can serve as the "loyal opposition" to Obama. He argued that the GOP must be more than "the party of no," and put forward a set of national security principles that he said the party should pursue.

The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza writes that McHugh's departure from Congress could "set off an extremely competitive special election for" New York's 23rd congressional district. "According to Swing State Project calculations, Obama carried the 23rd district 52 percent to 47 percent over Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008 and four years earlier George W. Bush won it by a similar 51 percent to 47 percent margin."

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Comments

B I P A R T I T I O N S H I P !

New episode of " As the GOP turns "

Democrat's, have you had your Rabies shot today ?

Rick,Ky (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:44 AM)

Well, well, well another bi-partisan pick for the Obama Administration. It is good to get the opposition's point of view when they give it sincerely and not just to snipe. Because the Republicans seem to think they are more patriotic and into the militarism of any situation a GOPer is a perfect pick for the post of Army Secretary.

eagle1776 (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:47 AM)

Well, McHugh seems to be about as much as a Republcian as Colin Powell is. Just like with Powell, McCain probably wan't moderate enough for McHugh.

DnD (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:49 AM)

The entire Northeast has gone Democratic. And we see the results. Other then California, that region is the most heavily taxed in the entire country. Unemployment is a major problem in that area, and many of he states in that region can't even come close to balancing their budgets. People are moving out of that region in droves to lower tax, lower regulated states.

And as with Obama, when the Democrats in these states are asked to take responsibility for their states problems, they just blame Bush.

Dot Simmons, Texas (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:53 AM)

Apparently, Obama is working with the Republicans who will work with him

What are McHugh's proposed policies ?

How does he stand on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' ?

What about the high suicide rate among combat veterans ??

FR focuses upon the political implications
It's not all politics, there's GOVERNING involved, too

What are his views on Iraq ? fghanistan ? the VA ? torture and the Code of Conduct ??

MSierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:53 AM)

Obama hates republicans ... Right ?

Sub Sailor (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:55 AM)

ANOTHER 'JUDAS' REPUBLICAN --- JUST AS WELL THAT WE GET RID OF ALL THE WEAK-KNEED "SOFT" REPUBLICANS --- THEY CAN'T BE COUNTED ON ANYWAYS.

GOD BLESS THE ARMY --- THEY NOW NEED IT.

IS THIS ANOTHER "JUDAS" REPUBLICAN ? (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:56 AM)

Gee i sure wish you can name one thing positive that bush and cheney ever did for anyone, The world hates the US -- Greg Reminton

Don't know if the world hates the US, and don't much care. I do know that liberals like you hate the US, and that's why they/you adore Obama.

Tera Franklin (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:57 AM)

Also, BTW. Thanks to all who sent me birthday wishes over the weekend. I've been on vaca all last week and my entries here have been sporatic at best, but your wishes were appreciated.

NEW BLOG ENTRIES TODAY!
http://jawillie.blog.com jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:19 AM)

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Happy Belated B-day

Hoping your #43 was better than Americas...

:)

GP NW Indiana (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:01 AM)

I know the media likes to "score" everything, and looks at every move the President makes cynically, but I for one and THRILLED that the Obama Administration is seeking to fill positions with the most QUALIFIED person available, not just the best DEMOCRAT available.

That's the change that America really needs - enough of fake political fights and made for TV talking points that do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help the millions of Americans these politicians are supposed to represent.

Finally COMPETENCE over CONTRIBUTIONS!

P.S. To all the posters applauding Dick Cheney for sharing his national security briliance with us, can you explain why all of his wise counsel produced such horrendous results?

What is it that is Dick Cheney's crowning accomplishment that elevates his opinion above any of the posters here?

What has he been right about? Anyone?

It does not take bravery or discipline to talk alot of sh!t once you are out of office. The simple truth is, regardless of the sincerity of his belief, Dick Cheney has been proven time and time again to be WRONG. This is not my opinion, this is a fact.

So why is it that all of a sudden his opinion is so important? Because it's catnip to the media and a lifeline to all the folks too proud to say the simple words "We were wrong."

Yet another distraction.

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:04 AM)

What-there were no qualified Democrats? If anyone sees this as anything other than Obama's clearing the decks for another Democrat to win a congressional district, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn. Oh, never mind. You ARE that gullible.

By the way, First Read-there seemed to be some problem getting posts through yesterday, so I will re-state my question: is there a policy about paid bloggers? Nashville Fan outed herself yesterday in response to another post. I don't mind, but I do believe that paid bloggers should identify themselves as such, so that their posts can be put into context.

no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:07 AM)

I wonder how long before the republicans turn on Rep McHugh. It seems the righties here have already started.

So Sad. Punishing someone that wants to work with the President.

Fixed News Translator (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:08 AM)

ANOTHER 'JUDAS' REPUBLICAN --- JUST AS WELL THAT WE GET RID OF ALL THE WEAK-KNEED "SOFT" REPUBLICANS --- THEY CAN'T BE COUNTED ON ANYWAYS.

GOD BLESS THE ARMY --- THEY NOW NEED IT. - IS THIS ANOTHER "JUDAS" REPUBLICAN ?
--------------------------------------------
So in your view, any Republican that works with the President trying to make our country stronger is a Judas? If so, how do you expect this country to get ahead. I'm very confused by your lack of reason!

Try the Truth (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:16 AM)

Obama hates republicans ... Right ?
Sub Sailor

Obama hates Americans.

Capitalist Pig (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:18 AM)

It is really quite entertaining watching the Republican Party send all of their most talented people into the Obama Administration . . . what a brilliant strategy! :)

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:21 AM)

Lol, you have to wonder if the Obama Administration isn't trying to find a way to silence any reasonable Republican, leaving only the Rush Limbaugh's to man the opposition microphones.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:25 AM)

To Tera Franklin, who says:
"Don't know if the world hates the US, and don't much care."
------------------------------------------------------
You should care. We depend on China to keep our economy afloat. We don't make much of anything anymore (except debt). The Europeans have shared legitimate intel over the years with regard to terrorist threats. We depend on many allies around the world in many different arenas.

You isolationists just don't get that- as great a nation as America is- we cannot function on our own. Those days of being self-sustaining are over.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:27 AM)

Lol, you have to wonder if the Obama Administration isn't trying to find a way to silence any reasonable Republican, leaving only the Rush Limbaugh's to man the opposition microphones.
Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA

Tell the truth. Before today, had you ever even heard of McHugh?

Janet E., Chicago IL (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:29 AM)

If anyone sees this as anything other than Obama's clearing the decks for another Democrat to win a congressional district, I have a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.
no joe, no bo, nj (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:07 AM)

---------------------------------------

If the GOP is unable to field a candidate capable of winning that seat when did it become President Obama's problem?

Just Asking (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:31 AM)

Dear no joe,

I am not a "paid blogger", but I am honored that you think enough of my work to feel that I deserve to be paid for it! :)

Have you found any "facts" to go in your posts yet, or are you too busy hiding under your bed to escape North Korea to do any research?

lol

Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:35 AM)

Don't know if the world hates the US, and don't much care. I do know that liberals like you hate the US, and that's why they/you adore Obama.
Tera Franklin (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:57 AM)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeah… that’s the ticket… yes us ‘nasty liberals’ hate the U.S.! Exactly why the U.S. elected (fairly this time around) him as our 44th President!

Us liberals don’t hate our country in fact we love it very much! That’s why we put the best man for the job in office. To clean up after the Party of No’s escapades over the last 8 years! And to drive right wing whack jobs to the edge! If we left it up to the party of NO we would be a 3rd world country by now!

Country first my a@@ - it has been and always will be Republicans FIRST the rest of you are on your own!

Nice try!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:36 AM)

It is a wonderful idea, the Republican party is turning more and more to the angry old party and not the grand old party, what happened to diversity of ideas and perspectives. It is sad that the partisans are blinded by their own so-called loss of privilege, that they rail against any change what so ever.
As far as working with anyone that will work with you, excuse me, I thought that was the American way.

Timothy Jones, Ann Arbor, Mi (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:41 AM)

Good for Obie.

This is something he almost had to do after Sotomayor and his other questionable controversial "choices."

He's not dumb. Now he can always say to the GOP, "Hey, I picked one of your guys."

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:45 AM)

Us liberals don’t hate our country in fact we love it very much! That’s why we put the best man for the job in office.

==========

Winston Churchill was voted out of office after WWII because England wanted the government to take care of them, give them everything they wanted, make them a socialist country. We see where that got them. They lost all their power and are in debt over their heads.

Obama wants the same thing for America. I would say that Obama hates this country for what it is today very much.

Tera Franklin (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:54 AM)

Let the feast begin----limpbag/cheney will once again begin rabid comments about another one wanting to work with the President!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:58 AM)

Tera Franklin (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:54 AM)
==============================================
A little research would go a long way in helping you understand everything that is wrong with your statements.
I think you are the one who hates this country. I myself do not agree with either party all of the time but I would never say one or the other hates this country. It would be ignorant of me to do so.
It's a good thing our President tries to include everyone in our government. Progress will be made by the rational portion of our population.

dan Austin, tx (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:15 PM)

Obama hates Americans.

Capitalist Pig (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:18 AM)
======================================
No, I believe it was Bush who sent over 4,000 American soldiers to their deaths in an unnecessary war. He's the one who wouldn't take care of them when they came back maimed and traumatized. Don't give me that sh_t about Obama not caring when Bush is the one who cared so little about the soldiers that he joked about his "sacrifice" for the men and women in uniform: cutting back on his golf game.

That, "Pig" is "hate".

Bethie in Texas (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:15 PM)

Winston Churchill was voted out of office after WWII because England wanted the government to take care of them, give them everything they wanted, make them a socialist country. We see where that got them. They lost all their power and are in debt over their heads.

Obama wants the same thing for America. I would say that Obama hates this country for what it is today very much.
Tera Franklin (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:54 AM)

What facts do you base your claim on? When has the President state "He hates this country"? The state of the economy is a product of years of ill-based management and greed. How would you propose to move forward?

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:18 PM)

Interesting. For all of the complaints from the right wing posters here about liberals calling right wingers nasty names, they sure are showing their hypocrisy. Look at how many of them are calling liberals anti-American or saying liberals hate America and anyone in their party not towing the Limbaugh line or willing to work with our President Judas or traitor.

Name calling is not productive and offers no solutions. Yes, you have the right to say what you want but we also have the right to ignore you. If you want your opinion to be respected, you must earn that respect and name calling won't get you that.

Matthew, Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:27 PM)

Tera Franklin (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:54 AM)

Seriously, I have to hand it to you that you right wingers are incredibly creative at drawing insane conclusions.

Winston Churchill lost an election in 1945, and that proves that President Obama is a socialist and hates this country?

As a socialist, it is surprising that President Obama is against a single payer health care system. As a socialist, it is surprising that President Obama elected to provide loans to the ailing banks rather than taking them over and nationalizing them. As a socialist, it is surprising that President Obama worked to merge Chrysler with Fiat so that the government would not have to own Chrysler.

The GOP approach of pasting a simple (and what you hope is taken as a negative) label on someone is a sign of trying to talk down to the people and scare them into voting for your party. Yet the more successful approach is typically to "sell" the positives of your ideas and why they are good for this country.

But I guess that is hard to do when your only ideas are NO.

Chris - IL (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:31 PM)

Janet: "Tell the truth. Before today, had you ever even heard of McHugh?"

The guy is a sitting congressman. By definition, that makes him one of many party leaders, and according to the blog article we all read, he was using his leadership time to persuade party colleagues to take a more adult, reasonable tone.

Now, you can look at this one of three ways. Either Obama is displaying bipartisanship, or the Administration thinks local Democrats have a shot at the seat if McHugh is out, or McHugh's kind of leadership is something the Administration doesn't want inside the GOP right now.

Whether I had heard his name or not before today is irrelevant to the discussion.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:46 PM)

"Don't know if the world hates the US, and don't much care. I do know that liberals like you hate the US, and that's why they/you adore Obama.
Tera Franklin (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 10:57 AM)"

NO! You do not speak for me, nor are you the sole voice for the country I love! Stop stealing my flag and the language of patriotism. I will no longer stand for it, and neither will other proud Liberals. You're entitled to your opinion, but you cannot take my country. I will not be cowed nor silenced by the shrill voices of the likes of you.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:50 PM)

Winston Churchill was voted out of office after WWII because England wanted the government to take care of them, give them everything they wanted, make them a socialist country. We see where that got them. They lost all their power and are in debt over their heads.

Obama wants the same thing for America. I would say that Obama hates this country for what it is today very much. Tera Franklin (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:54 AM)
-----------------------------------------------------

Actually the United Kingdoms GDP to debt ration is about 1/3rd less than the United States...

They are in much better financial condition than we are, even as a socialist state.

GP NW Indiana (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 1:06 PM)

Now, you can look at this one of three ways. Either Obama is displaying bipartisanship, or the Administration thinks local Democrats have a shot at the seat if McHugh is out, or McHugh's kind of leadership is something the Administration doesn't want inside the GOP right now.
Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:46 PM)

A fourth----Maybe he is the right person for the job?

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 1:11 PM)

Obama wants the same thing for America. I would say that Obama hates this country for what it is today very much.
Tera Franklin (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:54 AM)
-----------------------------------------------------Tera Franklin get over your bitter hatred for the democratic party!!! And quit being so mad that gop'ers have more defectors now a days than ever, this is happening because people like you have nothing positive to say or offer anyone!!!

Greg Remington (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 1:24 PM)

What I like about Pres Obama is that he picks the person he thinks is right for the job regardless of party. An opposing view is good for this country whether in the military or government; that's why we have a multi-political party system. Instead of applauding the president for picking a republican, I see the right is slamming said republican as not being true to their party. McHugh is a good choice for secretary of the Army, period.

Not sure why I bother but BTW Colin Powell did not choose Obama over McCain because McCain wasn't moderate enough, he clearly stated he felt Pres Obama was the most qualified, was intelligent with a clear vision of what he wanted to do, and he also clearly stated that he did not like the direction the GOP was headed, the hate speech, the attempts to link Obama to terrorists, etc.

Jody, Iowa (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 1:44 PM)

So let me get this straight. The righties claim that Obama has made no attempts at bi-partisanship. Yet whenever he picks a Republican for a position in his administration it's either a.) an insidious ploy to gain an extra seat in Congress for Democrats, or b.) the Republicans who accept are traitors.

I've said this before and I'll say it again. This is why America has stopped listening to you.

http://jawillie.blog.com

jawillie, Philadelphia, PA. (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 2:16 PM)

I'm so confused. I don't care for that McHugh guy. I'm a conservative and can't believe for a second that Obie could ever pick anyone that's actually qualified for anything. Then I read this McHugh Fellow is a Republican....well he's obviously not a real Republican. I'll be back to post later today after I hear what Rush has to say on this matter. JETSON!!!

Cosmo G. Spacely (Sent Tuesday, June 02, 2009 2:22 PM)

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