For the first time in our nation’s history, the nominee for defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, remains in limbo.
President Obama tapped Hagel for the Cabinet position, sparking outcry from Republicans who questioned Hagel’s responses to foreign policy during a Senate Committee hearing in which conservatives claimed Hagel had shifted positions on confronting Iran and supporting Israel.
The former Nebraska senator is also the first decorated war veteran to be nominated for the position, and even amidst a contentious seven-hour hearing, passed through the Senate Committee along party lines.
However, Republicans–whom are almost universally opposed to Hagel–insist on blocking Hagel’s confirmation until more information is provided about the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11 of last year, in which the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, and three others were killed.
“There seems to not be much interest to hold this President accountable for a national security breakdown that led to the first ambassador being killed in the line of duty in over 30 years,” Sen. Lindsay Graham R-S.C. told Foxnews.com. “No, the debate on Chuck Hagel is not over. It has not been serious. We don’t have the information we need.”
Many Republicans want the Obama administration to hold some level of accountability for the Benghazi attacks, including more information on what the Obama and the White House was doing the night of the attacks.
However, Sen. John McCain R-Ariz., who sharply criticized Hagel during the Senate hearing, is one of the few Republicans who does not want to delay Hagel’s confirmation.
“I just do not believe a filibuster is appropriate, and I would oppose such a move,” McCain told reporters Feb. 4.
Still, a filibuster may very well ensue, a first for a Cabinet secretary. While Democrats hold a 55-45 edge in the Senate, many people believe Democrats do not have the required 60 votes to squash the Republican filibuster.
According to a CNN/ORC International poll conducted Jan. 14-15, 48 percent of the public said the Senate should confirm Hagel, while 22 percent did not approve. Three in 10 remained undecided or unsure.
While staunch Republicans have more questions than answers, the Democrats are hoping to avoid a filibuster and confirm Hagel. It is another decision that may very well be split strictly along party lines.