Hagel's GOP foes signal vote should go on

February 18, 2013 @ 12:57 am


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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) - Republican opponents are sending signals that Chuck Hagel's bid to become defense secretary will probably come to an up-or-down vote soon in the Senate.

That's unless more information damaging to the nominee _ and the Obama administration _ surfaces in the coming week.

Critics maintain the decorated Vietnam combat veteran and former senator is unqualified to lead the U.S. military. A top White House official expressed "grave concern" over the delayed confirmation vote, adding that there was nothing to worry about in any disclosures that may yet come.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, a key Republican on defense matters, said Sunday that he doesn't believe Hagel, a one-time colleague and friend, is qualified. "But I don't believe that we should hold up his nomination any further, because I think it's (been) a reasonable amount of time to have questions answered."

McCain and other Republicans angered President Barack Obama by delaying a vote on Hagel last week and preventing him from rounding out his second-term national security team, which includes Hagel and John Brennan, the White House counterterrorism adviser who is awaiting confirmation to become CIA director. Former Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry assumed his post as secretary of state at the beginning of February.

Critics say Hagel, who snubbed McCain by staying neutral in the 2008 presidential race between McCain and Obama, isn't supportive enough of U.S. ally Israel and is unreasonably sympathetic to Iran, which has defied international pressure to halt its pursuit of material that could be used to make nuclear weapons.

Hagel's nomination also became ensnared in Republican lawmakers' questioning of how the White House handled the September attack against a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, in which the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed. Hagel had no role in the administration's response to the Benghazi attack.

GOP senators also have challenged Hagel's past statements and votes on nuclear weapons, and his criticism of President George W. Bush's administration.

Republicans last week delayed a confirmation vote, but have indicated that one will be allowed when lawmakers return from a break on Feb. 25.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., another leader of the opposition to Hagel, referred to a letter he received from Hagel in response to questions about past statements on Israel. Graham said that, as a result, he'll take Hagel at his word, "unless something new comes along."

Still, the weeklong delay buys Hagel's opponents more time to rally additional opposition.

White House chief of staff Denis McDonough, making his first appearances on the Sunday talk shows in his new role, was asked if the delays in filling out Obama's Cabinet presented a threat to national security.

"It's a grave concern," he said.

Hagel "has one thing in mind: How do we protect the country," McDonough said, adding that there was nothing to worry about in any disclosures about Hagel that may still come.

Graham said senators were taking seriously their responsibility to scrutinize "one of the most unqualified, radical choices for secretary of defense in a very long time."

Obama has criticized Republican senators for delaying the nomination, accusing them of playing politics with national security.

McDonough appeared on ABC's "This Week," while McCain spoke on NBC's "Meet the Press" and Graham was interviewed by "Fox News Sunday."


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (11)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    Possible Hagel pick raises concerns in Senate GOP ? . . . .
    December 19, 2012 3:53 pm
    the party of NO. How about my pet rock, will that work?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    How about my pet rock, will that work?
    December 20, 2012 5:25 pm
    We are not talking about your brain, OK.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Sounds like some gays got their panties in a bunch.
    December 20, 2012 5:25 pm
    Those guys...just can't take a joke.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CupofJoe wrote...
    It's not enough to be the coolest domographic?!
    December 23, 2012 12:34 am
    C'mon already! We have straight celebrities "coming out" or acting ambiguous just to be cool. That should be a friggin' compliment. I realize that the sticks and stones saying doesn't pertain to certain uber sensitive segments of the population. But if you are openly gay, and someone calls you...gay. Personally, I don't think homosexuals are even upset. This is just phony outrage being drummed up by the left yet again. And if you are really gay and really upset. Please come back down to earth with the rest of us black, brown, short, fat, ugly, red neck, deformed, handicap, basically average folks and grow another layer of skin. Christ! Richard Pryor could never make a living in this country today!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Drool wrote...
    No Gays got Wound Up About This
    February 17, 2013 10:48 am
    That was a phony thing set up by the right that was exposed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    True Story
    December 23, 2012 8:40 pm
    Was booed out of a Pizza Parlor back home after his vote for Obama-care, that is known as the "Corn-husker kick-back", but you low information voters would not know this, but you cag Google,Bing or whatever your search engine is and find it true, before you call me a racist,hater or whatever else your DNC play book lists.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    C'Mon
    January 13, 2013 10:15 am
    I am not calling you a "racist" or a "hater". I am simply calling you "inaccurate." That never happened to Hagel. It happened to Ben Nelson.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    How about my pet rock, will that work? -
    January 13, 2013 7:58 am
    are you talking about the GOP? my pet rock, the rock sitting on your shoulders!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Basso wrote...
    Another great pick...
    February 17, 2013 8:16 am
    While our elected officials let the WH run right over their "subjects". This guy is a joke, please give our military someone they can get behind. This guy sounded like a babbling idiot during his confirmation hearing, but hey if the Pres says he is the man, let's just roll with it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tyrone DeVille wrote...
    John McCain, the dementia addled American failure!
    February 17, 2013 10:40 am
    Phony war hero, and prisoner of war! Admitted to the Air Force Academy thanks to "Daddy", failed student, failed pilot, failed POW, failed husband, and failed representative of this Country!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Republican opponents of former Sen. Chuck Hagel's stalled bid to become defense secretary said Sunday that they'll probably allow his Senate confirmation vote to proceed
    February 17, 2013 6:26 pm
    this little problem will be fixed 2014.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }