Hagel Nomination Opponents Say Vote Should Go Ahead

Opponents of former Senator Chuck Hagel’s nomination as the secretary of defense should go on, despite their concerns.

Hagel’s major opponent, Senator John McCain, has said that Republicans will no longer attempt to stall the former senator’s nomination.

Yahoo! News reports that, speaking on Sunday, McCain explained:

No, I don’t believe he’s 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.”

Republicans filibustered Hagel’s nomination last week on the same day they voted to take a recess for nine days. Also delayed was John Brennan’s nomination as the new director of the CIA.

Senator Lindsey Graham has led the opposition with McCain. The New York Times notes that he stated that critics are “doing our job to criticize … one of the most unqualified, radical choices for secretary of defense in a very long time.”

But it appears that Graham will also stand aside and let Chuck Hagel’s nomination continue. He explained that he would stand aside after receiving a satisfactory response to his questions about the Republican. While he does not plan to block Hagel’s nomination, Graham added that he would not endorse the man.

McCain echoed the comments, saying that he would not vote for his former friend. The Arizona senator added that he believes Hagel’s nomination will go through, despite the delay.

Another vote will take place to confirm Hagel on February 26. Democrats have control of the Senate, but they need at least 60 votes to win confirmation for the secretary of defense hopeful.

[Image by English: Glenn Fawcett [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons]