(From left) Current Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel and President Barack Obama at a new conference Monday at the White House to announce Hagel's nomination.
[ALSO: Retired Rep. Barney Frank Asks for Senate Appointment]
But now, Frank supports the nominee.
"With the attack coming out of the right, I hope he gets confirmed," Frank said Monday in an interview with the Boston Globe.
Frank admits he hoped Obama would give the position to someone else, however, he can look past Hagel's past comments and focus on his policy expertise.
"As much as I regret what Hagel said, and resent what he said, the question now is going to be Afghanistan and scaling back the military. In terms of the policy stuff, if he would be rejected, it would be a setback for those things," Frank said.
Democratic Sen. Jack Reed
Rhode Island's senior senator might be the Democrat to help shore up more party support for the controversial pick. Reed, a former Army Ranger, graduated from West Point and serves on the Armed Services Committee. He also voted against the war in Iraq. "Chuck Hagel will make an outstanding Secretary of Defense. He is highly qualified and his record of service to this country as a decorated combat veteran, successful CEO, senator, and statesman is extraordinary," Reed said in a statement. "Chuck is a man of uncommon independence and integrity."
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