WH: Hagel Less Than Perfect But Confirmation On Track -- Major Garrett,CBS
While the White House concedes that Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel's performance at his confirmation hearing today was less than perfect, they're confident about his chances of clearing the Senate.
The official line is the White House hopes and expects the confirmation process to proceed smoothly and expeditiously and that Hagel's performance before the Senate Armed Services Committee today did not materially undermine his prospects.
"I think Senator Hagel answered the questions appropriately and did a fine job," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Friday in a press briefing. "I would be stunned if, in the end, Republican senators chose to try to block the nomination of a decorated war veteran who was once among their colleagues in the Senate as a Republican."
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My Comment: Less than perfect .... Major Garrett from CBS is too kind in his assessment. Bottom line .... this hearing was a train wreck. But Garrett is right that Hagel will be confirmed as the next US Secretary of Defense .... and he will be probably confirmed by about 60-70 Senators. And as to who will be really run the Pentagon .... after yesterday's performance I have a suspicion that the White House will be keeping Defense Secretary Hagel on a very tight leash.
Update: This is the best commentary that I have read so far on the Chuck Hagel confirmation hearing.
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