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Dem Group Airs Ad Blasting Hagel as 'Anti-Gay, Anti-Woman, Anti-Israel'

January 20, 2013

A new Democratic group went up with a ad campaign Sunday against the confirmation of former Sen. Chuck Hagel as defense secretary.

The ad labels Hagel the "wrong choice" for his views on LGBT issues, Israel, guns, and women's issues. The group, Use Your Mandate, is comprised largely of Democrats and independents, the Huffington Post reported Saturday:

Dubbed "Use Your Mandate," the group already has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to a source close to the group who declined to be named in order to speak openly. Use Your Mandate has already sent out a mailer to 350,000 people that says Hagel's "extremist" views on Israel, guns, women's reproductive rights and LGBT issues make him the "wrong choice" for secretary of defense. There is also an anti-Hagel banner ad from the group running on Politico's website, asking whether he's really "the best person for the job." [...]

The source close to the group said that for now, those involved are choosing to stay anonymous because they are allies with the Obama administration and hesitant to criticize the president publicly or fear retribution or pressure from the White House. The source characterized members as a "concerned group of people who ... have some questions about Chuck Hagel," including individuals who have "fought for LGBT rights for a long time."

The ad ran during "Meet the Press," "Face the Nation," and "This Week," and will run on MSNBC this week, according to the Huffington Post.

Hagel is scheduled to have a confirmation hearing the morning of Jan. 31.