While Senator John Kerry did the glide through the Senate confirmation process, it seems that former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel is not in for the same treatment. In fact, Hagel faced grueling and at times, more than redundant, questions. While many were pertinent, others were less so. Many of the Republican senators seemed to want to argue semantics — taking each phrase uttered at one time or another by Chuck Hagel to task.
Let’s face a little reality. Hagel has not always spoken with politically correct finesse. But, it seems that he has always spoken his truth.
Senator John McCain did his usual questioning and made his usual sort of comments. Hagel refused to give a “yes” or “no” answer to a baited question, causing McCain to bristle. Senator Lindsay Graham came on like a bully on the school yard. He squirmed in his seat like a teenage boy as he demanded answers to his questions. And, the questions persisted.
Here is the bottom line. There are a couple of senators who are going to fight like hell to defeat any Obama nomination, especially one who thinks for himself.
The big question is if Chuck Hagel will defend Israel. Oh, please! How many times can the question be asked? How many time must the question be answered? Hagel, if confirmed — when confirmed — is going to stand behind Israel. But, here’s the thing about that. Hagel isn’t one to be backed up on his beliefs. Hagel isn’t one to back down. Hagel isn’t one to be bullied into submission.
BUT, as an enlisted man who served in Viet Nam, Chuck Hagel is not one to threaten war without cause and is not one to look to war as the first option. The United States will be well served by Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense — better served than by most of the those asking the inane questions with no purpose other than to bully.
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