Rand Beers has been nominated to serve as undersecretary for National Protection and Programs in the Department of Homeland Security. Beers has a long history in government, but resigned in 2003 to protest the invasion of Iraq. He subsequently served as an adviser to the Kerry campaign and in 2008 he advised both the Clinton and Obama campaigns. After Clinton dropped out of the race, Beers served as an “informal adviser” to the Obama campaign and caused a minor flap when he said, during an event at the Center for American Progress, that John McCain’s ability to serve as commander in chief was “limited” by his time as a prisoner of war:
Beers will now appear before Joe Lieberman’s Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee for his confirmation hearings. John McCain also sits on that committee. As does Lindsey Graham. The three musketeers of the Country First gang aren’t likely to offer Beers a terribly warm reception. I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that those proceedings will be downright contentious — and slow. Hearings could be delayed, votes postponed, documents requested — the whole thing could be pretty unpleasant for Rand Beers, and I say that with all due respect to him.
