Some Advocates Not Concerned About Defense Nominee's Antiabortion Record

January 9, 2013 — Abortion-rights supporters so far are not pushing back against President Obama's nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) to be secretary of defense, despite his past hostility to abortion rights and opposition to abortion access for women in the military, the Huffington Post reports.

In 1995, Hagel stated that he had "tightened" his position on abortion to oppose it in cases of rape and incest. Hagel voted four times between 1998 and 2003 to uphold a ban on abortions at military hospitals, according to the Huffington Post.

Lawmakers recently approved an amendment by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) that will allow the military's health plan to cover abortions for rape and incest survivors. Obama's nomination of Hagel also comes as the Pentagon is working to reduce sexual assaults in the military.

Shaheen does not seem particularly concerned about Hagel's record, according to the Huffington Post. Shripal Shah, her spokesperson, said the issue of abortion access for servicewomen is "one of many" topics the senator "looks forward to discussing with Senator Hagel during the confirmation process."

Donna Crane, policy director of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said her group also is unconcerned. "Obama's pro-choice views are strong and well-known, and we believe Mr. Hagel would follow them," she said (Huffington Post, 1/7).