Chuck Hagel: Unworthy of Confirmation
By Joseph Klein On February 1, 2013
Chuck Hagel’s battle to become the next Secretary of Defense, succeeding Leon Panetta, took center stage on Thursday at his Senate confirmation hearing. At times appearing like a deer caught in the headlights, he was unable to handle the tough questions addressed at his record. He appeared at times dazed, bewildered and unable to defend his record of disturbing policy positions, many of which he disavowed during the hearing and could not explain why. In light of his performance, those senators who had been undecided about confirming Hagel certainly have ample reason now to join with their conservative colleagues in refusing to send a candidate so unworthy to the Pentagon.
Things got off to a rocky start when a protester demanding benefits for gay and lesbian families who serve in the military stood up holding a sign that said, “We serve equally. We deserve equality.” But this friendly fire from the Left was only the beginning.
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tried to provide some air cover for Hagel by kicking off the hearing with warm praise for Hagel’s military record and service in the Senate. After trying to frame the questions that Hagel would need to answer to satisfy his critics and admitting that he had his own concerns with Hagel’s positions on unconditional talks with Iran, opposition to unilateral sanctions and willingness to engage with Hamas, Senator Levin did not wait for Hagel’s answers. “Sen. Hagel certainly has those critically important qualifications to lead the Department of Defense,” he said in providing his endorsement.
Then came the turn of Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the new ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee. Inhofe has serious problems with the Hagel nomination. First, he complained that he had not received the information on Hagel’s finances that he had requested. Then he took a shot at Hagel’s lack of judgment on the critical national security issues facing the nation.
“We are just too philosophically opposed on the pressing issues facing our country for me to support his nomination,” Senator Inhofe said. “His record demonstrates what I view as a lack of sound judgment and steadfast support for policies that diminish U.S. power and influence.”
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Things got off to a rocky start when a protester demanding benefits for gay and lesbian families who serve in the military stood up holding a sign that said, “We serve equally. We deserve equality.” But this friendly fire from the Left was only the beginning.
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tried to provide some air cover for Hagel by kicking off the hearing with warm praise for Hagel’s military record and service in the Senate. After trying to frame the questions that Hagel would need to answer to satisfy his critics and admitting that he had his own concerns with Hagel’s positions on unconditional talks with Iran, opposition to unilateral sanctions and willingness to engage with Hamas, Senator Levin did not wait for Hagel’s answers. “Sen. Hagel certainly has those critically important qualifications to lead the Department of Defense,” he said in providing his endorsement.
Then came the turn of Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the new ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee. Inhofe has serious problems with the Hagel nomination. First, he complained that he had not received the information on Hagel’s finances that he had requested. Then he took a shot at Hagel’s lack of judgment on the critical national security issues facing the nation.
“We are just too philosophically opposed on the pressing issues facing our country for me to support his nomination,” Senator Inhofe said. “His record demonstrates what I view as a lack of sound judgment and steadfast support for policies that diminish U.S. power and influence.”
-go to link-
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