Republican Senator warns: Vote for Hagel and be held accountable

If all the Republicans had this much spine and were not so Norquistian and compromised, the U.S. wouldn't be in this fix. "Republican Warns: Vote for Hagel and be Held Accountable," by Elad Benari for Israel National News, February 22 (thanks to Voice of the Copts):

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) has warned fellow Republicans they will be held accountable if they vote to end an ongoing Senate filibuster over the nomination of embattled secretary of defense nominee Chuck Hagel, the Washington Free Beacon reports.
“Make no mistake; a vote for cloture is a vote to confirm Sen. Hagel as Secretary of Defense,” Inhofe wrote in a strongly worded letter to his Republican colleagues on Thursday, according to the Free Beacon.

Several of the Republicans have indicated in recent days that they would vote to end debate on Hagel’s nomination, paving the way for his confirmation.

Hagel’s nomination stalled last week when Senate Democrats could not muster the 60-votes needed to end a Republican filibuster of the nomination.

If just a few Republicans defect on Tuesday when the Senate resumes consideration of the nomination, Hagel is assured approval.

In the letter Inhofe warns his Republican colleagues that a vote for Hagel would imperil the nation’s security.

“As the Senate once again considers the Hagel nomination, it is essential to remember a vote for cloture is a vote to confirm Sen. Hagel as Secretary of Defense,” Inhofe wrote.

“We should not let claims about presidential prerogatives and precedents dissuade us from carefully assessing the judgment and positions of this nominee. The president can do better,” he added.

“Remember,” Inhofe wrote, “our nation’s security is at stake as you cast your vote on Tuesday.”

Inhofe’s missive appears aimed at several key Republicans who have expressed support for Hagel.

Three Republicans have said they would vote for Hagel’s confirmation (Sens. Richard Shelby, Mike Johanns, and Thad Cochran); a handful of other Republicans have said they will vote to advance the nomination to a full vote even if they do not vote for Hagel, which in effect would assure his confirmation.

Republican Sens. Deb Fischer (Neb.), Lisa Murkowski (Ala.), and Susan Collins (Maine) have said they will vote for cloture.

Inhofe rebuts Democratic claims that the delay of Hagel’s nomination has been an unprecedented and warranted move.

“I know the Senate had traditionally deferred to the president on cabinet nominations. However, our nation is at war,” Inhofe wrote. “The Senate must insist on confirming only the most effective leaders, not only to keep our nation safe, but to ensure our service members receive the leadership they deserve.”

“Unfortunately, I firmly believe Sen. Hagel’s well-established record does not meet this essential requirement for confirmation,” the letter states.

Inhofe goes on to outline his top concerns regarding Hagel, which include his controversial comments about Israel, his desire to cut the nation’s nuclear arsenal, and his desire to increase outreach to Iran.

The Republican Jewish Coalition, along with countless others, has cited a long list of Hagel’s anti-Israel policies, asserting that his nomination would “be a slap in the face for every American who is concerned about the safety of Israel.”

Hagel, however, recently claimed that there is "not one shred of evidence that I'm anti-Israeli, not one (Senate) vote that matters that hurt Israel."

Earlier this week, a publication of Hagel’s statements from a 2010 meeting with university students showed yet another anti-Israel statement.

Hagel reportedly said that Israel is becoming an “apartheid state,” and dismissed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as “a radical.”

Hagel’s statements were revealed by a student who was present at the event. Former student Kenneth Wagner shared an email he wrote during Hagel’s talk with the Washington Free Beacon.

Despite all the criticism, however, Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) predicted this week that Hagel will likely be confirmed.

“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 to time to have questions answered,” McCain said, denying that Republicans' attacks on Hagel were personal in nature.

"99 percent of it has to do with the positions Senator Hagel has taken," he told NBC’s “Meet the Press”.

McCain is so very much part of the problem. 99 percent? I couldn't care less what he is like as a person. I just don't want to see a jihad enabler and foe of Israel as Secretary of Defense.

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11 Comments

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fitna | February 23, 2013 3:03 PM | Reply

McCain is a brainless idiot and like Romney he's proven that he doesn't have the spine to stand up for principles and caves in to please the leftist traitors of this country.

This is why people like Obama are so dangerous because they have strong convictions and stand up for them no matter who wrong or evil they are. This is what is needed on the right-warriors for freedom who wouldn't back down.

Not only should the defecting republicans be held accountable, but also the Democrats who supported Hagel's nomination, especially Obama.

jewdog | February 23, 2013 5:41 PM | Reply

Letter on Hagel in jpost.com:
Sir, – Gil Troy (“Stop calling American critics – including Hagel – ‘anti- Israel,’” Center Field, February 20) poses an interesting question as to what determines the difference between a critic and an opponent.

The Hagel case is an example of the latter. It should be obvious from the acid tone and, indeed, vulgar nature of Hagel’s past hostile pronouncements that he is emotionally antagonistic to Israel.

The fact that US President Barack Obama selected him belies the president’s statements of concern for Israel and the Iranian threat, and should be very worrisome to anyone not taken in by clever rationalizations designed to paper over the obvious.

SpeakUpForThem | February 23, 2013 7:33 PM | Reply

if o'bungle picked him, you know, he's BAD.

Infidel | February 23, 2013 7:38 PM | Reply

But the GOP had no problems supporting Hagel when he was their senator, which was the position in which he made these remarks. The only reason they are objecting is that Obama has nominated him, but seriously, does anyone actually think that the GOP is opposed to his type of Jew baiting? When they have guys like Justin Amish, John Sununu and Darryl Issa in their ranks?

gravenimage | February 23, 2013 7:44 PM | Reply

I'm not sure how much Senator James Inhofe knows about the ideology of Islam, but a lot of his stances have shown that, over all, he *does* understand that there is a Jihad threat.

He was very critical of Obama's fawning "reach out to the Muslim world" Cairo speech, characterizing it as "un-American". “I just don’t know whose side he’s on,” Inhofe said of the president.

He's also asked a lot of pointed questions about Benghazi.

He is an absolutely staunch supporter of Israel's right to exist. He regards them an an important ally—and a crucial partner against terrorism—by which I'm sure he means violent Jihad.

I may not be in full agreement with him on every matter, but in the whole scheme of things, James Inhofe is a good man to have in the Senate—I wish there were more like him.

Dallas99 | February 23, 2013 9:52 PM | Reply

Hagel is determined to put US and NATO troops into Samaria, and that is why Obama is determined to make him Sec. of Defense.

Such a move would turn the region into something between Syria and Vietnam. Again, the US is poised to make another 180-degree wrong action in the Middle East, the results of which will make Afghanistan and Iraq pale in comparison, and could take Israel down with it.

Everything by the way is going according to Obama's plan.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/12923#.USl3V_L1YWY

dumbledoresarmy replied to comment from gravenimage | February 23, 2013 11:16 PM | Reply

Your remarks about Senator Inhofe emphasise an important point: in every part of the non-Muslim world, Islamo-aware citizens need to be watching out for and encouraging anybody even halfway decent who is prepared to stand up against the Jihad to any degree.

American jihadwatchers here present, both posters and lurkers, and in particular, anyone from Oklahoma, should be writing to, phoning or emailing Senator Inhofe to express support for his stance against Hagel.

lookmann replied to comment from jewdog | February 24, 2013 8:17 AM | Reply

@jewdog,

Here is some excerpts from a Jewish blog:

Hagel’s problem with Israel is so consistent over time and over issues, that it’s hard to believe it is wholly rational. The most recent example is his 2007 statement (which he says he “can’t recall making”) that “the State Department was becoming an adjunct of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.”

The assertion that the State Department — that bureau which fought tooth and nail to prevent Harry Truman from recognizing the Jewish state, which does not believe that any part of Jerusalem belongs to Israel, and which maintains a US Embassy to ‘Palestine’ in the capital of Israel (which it doesn’t recognize) — is dominated by Israel, is beyond ludicrous. So why did he make it?

http://fresnozionism.org/2013/02/smelling-chuck-hagel/

Jerry | February 24, 2013 11:29 AM | Reply

Who is the Commander in Chief of those who allow the trial of Nidal Malik Hassan, to remain stalled and unfinalised, in order to prevent a US Military Court from reaching the naturally logical conclusion that the motivation for the Fort Hood Massacre was rooted in the Islamic belief system?

When will this act of treason against the USA and it's Constitution be prosecuted and punished?

Charlie Griffith | February 24, 2013 11:38 AM | Reply

This pasted quote should be behind all of our Congress's thinking right now; sadly it's not....such a novel thought!....indeed.

"However, our nation is at war,” Inhofe wrote.
Try to think just what Inhofe's statement actually means.

How many of you Dear Readers out here can remember Franklin Roosevelt? Google Franklin Roosevelt's "Day of Infamy" speech....for starters. He was a mobilizing Leader, whatever one thought of the NLRB or his jamming the Supreme Court.

[....that's another cogent but off-topic subject here with this chameleon Obama standing by for the next vacancies on the current Supreme Court.]

Personally, I'm disgusted with our nation attention span being so truncated and tweetered and texted that we cannot remember that era of 1942 when we were mobilized by that shrinking violet of a Liberal, FDR.......That was so "yesterday"?

Wake up!

gravenimage replied to comment from dumbledoresarmy | February 24, 2013 4:35 PM | Reply

Dumbledore's Army wrote:

I very much agree, DDA—anyone who ever partially gets it and is willing to stand up to the threat of Jihad should be both praised and gently steered to even more information about Islam.

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