John Avlon : Critics targeted Hagel since he was nominated for secretary of defense . Avlon : McCain moves from backer to skeptic on Hagel . ` Hagel wrongly called anti-gay , anti-Israel , but it 's really about opposing Iraq war . Hagel is a mainstream conservative and Vietnam vet , wary of calls to war , he says . Avlon : He has been criticized by the left because his views on gays are too liberal.
John Avlon : Critics targeted Hagel since he was nominated for secretary of defense . Avlon : Hagel wrongly called anti-gay , anti-Israel , but it 's really about opposing Iraq war . Hagel is a mainstream conservative and Vietnam vet , wary of calls to war , he says . Avlon : He has been criticized by the left because his views on gays are too liberal.