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Subscribe to RSSSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid voices his dismay on the House floor Thursday over the filibuster of Chuck Hagel's nomination as U.S. secretary of defense.
As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid set a cloture vote for Thursday afternoon at 4:15 pm ET, the White House is trying to answer Republican concerns and Vice President Biden is making calls to ex-GOP Senate colleagues in an effort to save Chuck Hagel's nomination for defense secretary.
Republicans are threatening to filibuster Hagel's nomination and require 60 votes to overcome cloture, if they do not receive more information on Hagel's speeches and finances. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) sent a Feb. 12 letter to the White House requesting more information on the attacks in Benghazi and are tying Hagel's nomination to it.
Hagel has 57 votes -- 55 Democrats and two Republicans -- but would need three Republicans to vote for cloture, to end debate on his nomination, in order for it to proceed to a final up-or-down confirmation vote. The White House believes with Susan Collins (R-ME), Hagel has 58 votes for cloture.
"The Administration has repeatedly made clear its commitment to understanding the facts and circumstances surrounding the September 11-12, 2012 attack on our diplomatic mission in Benghazi...," White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler wrote in response to McCain, Graham, and Hagel.
Ruemmler also writes that the administration has begun to implement "each and every one" of the Accountability Review Board recommendations.
"This intensive response, which was directed by the President, included 13 meetings of interagency Principals and Deputies within a week of the attack and included continuous outreach by senior administration officials to the Government of Libya, including by the President and members of his Cabinet," Ruemmler wrote.
Republicans have questioned the level of involvement of President Obama in the handling of the aftermath of Benghazi. In response to a specific question from McCain, Graham, and Ayotte, Reummler writes, "Secretary Clinton called Libyan President Magariaf on behalf of the President on the evening of September 11, 2012 to coordinate additional support to protect Americans in Libya...The President spoke to President Magariaf on the evening of September 12."
She ends the letter with: "We continue to urge the full Senate to act swiftly and confirm former Senator Hagel as the next Secretary of Defense."
In the Senate, McCain said Thursday there is an effort underway to negotiate a way to get more information and get Hagel a clean up-or-down vote.
"We are working on and having negotiations now trying to smooth this thing out and get it done," McCain said. "We're working on trying to get a path forward to having the questions answered and the vote and Hagel getting his vote."
NATO defense ministers are meeting next week in Brussels, and the administration would like to have Hagel in place to attend. Reid had said earlier Thursday he would set the cloture vote on Hagel's nomination for Friday morning and an up-or-down vote Saturday before moving it up to Thursday afternoon.
"It's critical that we get our new national security team confirmed as soon as possible," said a White House official, per Kristen Welker. "When we have 66,000 American troops serving in Afghanistan, face the looming threat of sequestration, and are dealing with continued North Korean intransigence, it's irresponsible not to move forward to confirm Chuck Hagel. There are real consequences to this kind of unprecedented political posturing against a Defense Secretary nominee - consequences that are dangerous to our national security.
But Republicans want a further delay until after the Senate's break next week.
No Defense Secretary has ever been filibustered and just two cabinet secretary nominees, aside from Hagel, have been. But McCain harkened back to the failed nomination of John Tower in 1989.
"I have said all along that we had to have the concerns of Senators addressed," McCain said, "and I'm hopeful we can get those concerns addressed and still move forward with a 51-vote vote, because we have never required 60 votes of a Defense Secretary. But I would remind you that in the case of John Tower -- and I was here when you were teenagers -- John Tower, nominated on Dec. 16, 1988. [On] March 10, 1989, the Senate rejected his nomination. I was here, while the Democrats stalled his nomination for three months. So please, don't give me that argument about how we're holding things up."
Tower was rejected 53-47. It was not by a filibuster, but Democrats controlled the chamber. Three Democrats voted for Tower; one Republican voted against.
Graham said he would support cloture after the recess "unless there's some bombshell."
NBC's Kristen Welker, Mike Viqueira, and Bob Constantini contributed to this report.
This story was originally published on Thu Feb 14, 2013 2:17 PM EST
Leave a Comment:
If the GOP/Tea Party Filibuster Hagel, Fire Reid. Hire Jeff Merkley as the new Majority Leader.
Isn't it interesting that none of these 3 great patriots were the least bit concerned about Bush/Cheney's lying us into a war in Iraq...or their torture chambers which have forever dirtied America's name. Hypocrites is all they are without an ounce of decency. Just more of the same Republiban obstructionism.
These past 4 years have convinced me to NEVER vote for a Republican again.
That's Repubs for you and the people who they say are dependent on the government are all on their side in the south and I'm not talking about the very poor and the minimum wage earners.
Hagel has nothing to do with Benghazi....what BS !!!
From now on, all Republican cabinet members get filibustered !!!
With any luck there won't be another Repub administration in our lifetimes.
This group of jackals need to be put down.
And Reid ought to be kicked out of the Senate for making a lously filibuster deal with these jackals.
Agreed. He is way past his time.
Ried is the worst
Let's make Bebe Netanyahu Secretary of Defense!
Ooooh the right wing nut job Fascist wannabe trolls are in fine form today.
Where were these repugnant human beings (and I use that term loosely) when 4000+ Americans were being killed in Cheney's trumped up war in Iraq. They should STFU and vote on the nomination instead of jerking around. This is why Congress is perceived as a useless self-involved bunch that only live for the sound of their own voices spouting BS.
And he is trying to make a comeback. This is a very evil man.
What in the Hell does Chuck Hagel have to do with bengazi?
Absolutely nothing hence just a ploy to aggravate and keep Obama from succeeding to do the right thing for America. I hope the ones who are causing this terrible eruption are voted out.
He will be confirmed and it will only take 51 votes...
Hope not! Hagel looked asleep at the switch in the Hearings. No competent answers. Don't know why the hell Obama chose him other then to gut the Defense Deportment!
Of all politicians Senator John McCain should know better to inquire about funds or assets or operations that are outside the scope of his political office.
He is after all a former Navy Fighter pilot and only needs to be told what is needed for him to complete his mission.
One has to wonder if those fives years in that Communist Prisoner of War Camp if the Commies didn't instruct him to locate all of the hidden assets and documents to what the American Government is doing so such information can be handed off to the Chinese and North Koreans.
After all alot of American assets are being sold to China who is heavily vested in the Middle East with countries like Iran and Syria.
If Syria and Iran knows what we are planning they can send the intel to the Taliban who can then plan their missions against American forces accordingly.
Mr. Hagel is the best choice for the appointment to the position of Secretary of Defense....or do you want to see more jobs and American national security being given to the Chinese by their GOP supporters?
Mc Cain and his two girls are getting a little annoying. It's like they're connected at the hips these days.
Dusty
McCains two girls are connected at the lips! LOL Only by their same sex partners! Oh my what a story that would make!
I wonder about the GOP. Are they intent on destroying the United States? Are they becoming a pseudo terrorist organization in the sense that Bin Laden wanted to destroy the US economy and the GOP is destroying the economy. In that they use fear and scare tactics to achieve their purpose. In that they, like the Taliban, want to totally control and supress the upward mobility of women. In that they consider full gender and sexual preference equality a sin against God. More and more, the GOP is beginning to look like a terror group rather than a political party. Now they are holding Hagel hostage to try to force Obama's surrender. But remember GOP; "what goes around, comes around.
haven't they always done this?
Everything that comes out of there mouths are lies
Remember Obamas first election how everyone complained about him not doing what he said he would due after he was in office within about 6 months. He could have done alot of things if the Republicans weren't fillibustering anything he proposed. You can't fix a war and economy even in 4 years under these conditions. He had to spend enormous amounts bailing out the banks to keep the economy from going into a depression. what did these banks do? They rewarded the chairman with disgusting monetary rewards. How stupid are some of you not to see anything beyond what Fox's script readers tell you? Do yourself a favor and listen to another side of the story. I have tried to listen to Fox and they so many stupid and mistruths spouted from these programs. At least when you watch MSNBC, even the Daily show have clips with these idiots not making any common sense at all. You could just watch a Republican Joe Scarbourgh at least he will tell you the truth.
Republicans are scum...
Chuck Hagel has demonstrated unpreparedness in his hearing, brushing way question that should have been easy had he prepared. And he didn't make a strong case about the problems the nation faces nor did he say what he will do.
Even Susan Rice could be a better witlessness than Hagel has been.
But they didn't want her either hence trashing her over Bengazi. It's what we have voted in and keep voting for the same old men. They are in a dementia state with only one thing on their minds destroy Obama. But it ain't going to happen they are just destroying themselves.
Gramm is nothing but a typical redneck, bigoted a$$hole southerner. KKK trash.
Don't like Graham but OMG Hagel is terrible. Just asleep at the switch. Exhibited no Leadership in the Hearings!
The bizarre thing is that Hegel is a Republican. They so hate Obama that they'd rather go back on their word (no filibustering cabinet appointments) and prevent a ex-Republican Senator from being appointed than let Obama just get the guy he'd like on his cabinet.
Vote Democratic. America needs supermajorities in both houses because the GOP's sole interest is to harm America to make Obama look bad.
Our politics have gotten run in large by very small people. The argument from republicans is that the democrats did the same thing or worse. The argument from democrats is that republicans have done the same thing or worse. We don't tolerate that as an argument from our children. Unless there is some legitimate reason not to accept Hagel then it should be done. He is a war veteran being voted on by men and women that have never put on a uniform. They should be embarrassed- but they are not. It is always easy to be tough when someone else fights your battles for you. I am not even that crazy about Hagel and did not vote for Obama but they need to get off his back. The way to have your choice as secretary of defense is to win the white house.
McCain, Graham and Ayotte wont quit until they get their pound of flesh! Well the not so dynamic trio will have their bones picked clean in 2014!
Don't like any of them but Hagel was awful in the Hearings and I don't want this guy in. Just a Yawn of a person. Looked asleep at the switch!
Ever look at you House Leader?
Boehner is terrible! Hagel is just a non Entente. Think the Republicans always stall! This time I am on their side. This guy is a non being!
Hagel is just awful! Don't vote him in!
Have you met the man personally and who gave you the info to come to this conclusion?
feinstein say's hagel has elvolved, comrade obama say's he has evloved???
Time to end the evolving marxism!!!
See what I was talking about Gary K-2697770 just proved it. Where do you get your news Gary?
OBAMA
THE
BLOOD
SUCKING
ECONOMIC
VAMPIRE
NOMINATES
COMRADE
HAGEL...A PINNOCHIO
WHOSE STRINGS
OBAMA
WILL CONTROL...
COME
HAGEL..
LOOK
INTO
MY
LIES.....I Mean...EYES...
Weve already looked into your LIes
Obama is 100 times better than the last republican president that drove the country into a @!$%#t h@le sucking up to the extremely rich while shooting the middle finger at the rest of americans.
if foolish republcans don't want their man, pick only liberals till the job is filled
Obama is the worst president this country has ever seen; he has spent more, put more people on welfare, caused more people to lose jobs, than anyone before him. His lies following the Ben Gazi attacks should have been enough to lose the election, but the parasites who now depend on the federal government voted the fool back in. Obama won not because of his policies or appointments, but because he is paying off the parasites with taxpayers money. He is a disgusting excuse for a "leader."
if the republicans are foolish enough don't to want one of their own, screw them and only pick liberals, gen clark is liberal and would take the job.
republicans are fools and only kicking themselves in the @
more..Subjective..Socialist Shytte
TELL
MSNBC
TO
CHANGE
THE LITTER
BOX
HERE....