President's Cabinet Update

Many developments today including a Republican for Defense, and Susan Rice dropping out of the running for Secretary of State. That leaves John Kerry as the frontrunner for State, but unfortunately leaves his Senate open to a Republican - possibly even Scott Brown R-Mass, who just lost to Elizabeth Warren. It's a mess.

Chuck Hagel May Be Choice for Secretary of Defense

Hagel, who served as an enlisted Army infantryman in Vietnam, has passed the vetting process at the White House Counsel’s office, said one of the people. The former Nebraska senator has told associates that he is awaiting final word from the president, said the other person. Both requested anonymity to discuss personnel matters.


Other contenders are Michele Flournoy, former defense undersecretary for policy, and Ashton Carter, deputy defense secretary, administration officials have said.

Obama invited Hagel, 66, to the White House on Dec. 4 to discuss the position with him, according to an administration official. The president hasn’t made a final decision, said another official. Both asked for anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Susan Rice Withdraws Her Name for Sec. of State

"If nominated, I am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly -- to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities," Rice wrote in a letter to President Barack Obama, obtained by NBC News. "That trade-off is simply not worth it to our country ... Therefore, I respectfully request that you no longer consider my candidacy at this time."

With Rice out of the running, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) is widely believed to be the frontrunner to replace current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Obama Statement on Rice's withdrawal:

Today, I spoke to Ambassador Susan Rice, and accepted her decision to remove her name from consideration for Secretary of State.
For two decades, Susan has proven to be an extraordinarily capable, patriotic, and passionate public servant. As my Ambassador to the United Nations, she plays an indispensable role in advancing America’s interests. Already, she has secured international support for sanctions against Iran and North Korea, worked to protect the people of Libya, helped achieve an independent South Sudan, stood up for Israel’s security and legitimacy, and served as an advocate for UN reform and the human rights of all people.
I am grateful that Susan will continue to serve as our Ambassador at the United Nations and a key member of my cabinet and national security team, carrying her work forward on all of these and other issues. I have every confidence that Susan has limitless capability to serve our country now and in the years to come, and know that I will continue to rely on her as an advisor and friend. While I deeply regret the unfair and misleading attacks on Susan Rice in recent weeks, her decision demonstrates the strength of her character, and an admirable commitment to rise above the politics of the moment to put our national interests first.
The American people can be proud to have a public servant of her caliber and character representing our country.

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Scott Brown's Cherokee Mistake

The Massachusetts Senate race is getting lowdown and dirty, and yes, even racist.

WCVB Boston - Scott Brown Staffers Make Indian War Whoops

In a video posted on YouTube, Brown's staffers are seen holding campaign signs near the Erie Pub, chanting and making tomahawk chops, presumably in reference to Elizabeth Warren's claims of Cherokee heritage.

Brown's Deputy Chief of Staff Greg Casey and Constituent Service Counsel Jack Richard, State Director Jerry McDermott, special assistant Jennifer Franks and GOP operative Brad Garrett are pictured in the video, NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu confirmed.

"It is certainly something that I don't condone," said Brown when asked about the video. "The real offense is that (Warren) said she was white and then checked the box saying she is Native American, and then she changed her profile in the law directory once she made her tenure."

The Tomahawk Chop, really? Didn't Jane Fonda get in trouble for that with the Atlanta Braves? Tacky, and again, racist.

Don't you just love it that during every speech of the Republican Convention they could spin about their immigrant families and no one asked anyone for proof of citizenship or family documents or . . . dare I say it . . . a birth certificate?

Then along comes Scott Brown on Purity Patrol.

Taunting Elizabeth Warren for her supposed Cherokee background is a big mistake. For one thing, half the people in the Eastern U.S. probably have a family story of someone who was part Cherokee or some other tribe in their genealogy. No one in their right mind is going to think she did this because sometime in the future she wanted to run for office.

I didn't realize the Cherokee vote was so big in Massachusetts! *geesh*

There are several Warrens listed on the Cherokee Rolls.

My own grandmother had relatives in Oklahoma and one of her family names is on the Cherokee Rolls. Does that make me a Cherokee too? Maybe a fraction, but I have no idea, but I'm also not lying about it, and probably neither is Elizabeth Warren. Even if she is mistaken, genealogy is not an exact science anyway. Some names were never included on the official rolls. Some people kept their native heritage a secret to everyone except their families fear of their neighbors as well as the government. Sometimes all you have is marriage record or a name scribbled in a family bible. Sometimes the courthouse burned down with all the records and all you have is a family story. Any genealogist will tell you the same thing.

Scott Brown should take a trip to Cherokee, NC, sometime, and try to figure out who lives on the Reservation there and who doesn't. Good luck with that! While many people have obvious and outward Native American traits, others could be Elizabeth Warren's cousin, LOL. That's because of all the intermarriage in the colonial days and afterward. Many "Cherokees" look Scotch-Irish or German. That doesn't mean they are not Native Americans. Duh.

Get a clue Scott Brown.