U.S. Senate Republicans said that their move to block President Barack Obama's choice to be defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, was not a true filibuster on Thursday because they expect him to be confirmed.
They insist they were seeking more information, including certain foreign policy speeches and private investment work throughout his post-Senate career. But the White House expressed concerns that Thursday delay would give those who have been against his nomination, including pro-Israel supporters concerned about Hagel's previous statements and actions, enough time to derail his chances of being confirmed.
"When the Senate returns on Feb. 26, there should have been sufficient time to consider Senator Hagel's record, so I will vote to end debate because I believe a president's Cabinet members deserve an up-or-down vote," Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said on the Senate floor Thursday.
White House spokesman Jay Carney accused Republicans of putting "political posturing ahead of our nation's security."
The failed 58-40 vote to block the filibuster represented the first time in history the Senate required a defense secretary nominee to clear a 60-vote hurdle before facing a final, simple majority vote.
Republicans insisted Democrats were trying to rush the nomination through.
"We didn't need to have this vote today," said Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas. "But the White House and the majority leader were determined to have this vote in order to try to get a story in the newspaper, one that misrepresents the nature of the objection on this side."
Hagel, a decorated Vietnam veteran has encountered criticism from Jewish groups, and from both parties stemming from his prior statements. Back in 2006, Hagel said, "the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here," clearly referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, comprised of Jewish and Christian advocates.
Hagel has also been long opposed to unilateral American sanctions toward Iran, a policy he has viewed as ineffective, drawing the ire of many of his Republican colleagues. He also broke ranks in his party, and became an early criticism of former President George W. Bush's administration handling of the Iraq War. Hagel has also questioned America's role in the long war in Afghanistan.
Hagel remains a lightning rod to some of his critics, but has the complete backing of President Obama.
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