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White House expects Hagel to be confirmed despite rocky hearing

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Senators grill Chuck Hagel

Thu, Jan 31 2013
Former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to be Defense Secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 31, 2013. Hagel, 66, is a decorated Vietnam War veteran and a former two-term Republican senator. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to be Defense Secretary, on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 31, 2013. Hagel, 66, is a decorated Vietnam War veteran and a former two-term Republican senator.

Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON | Fri Feb 1, 2013 1:15pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Friday he believes former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, who had a rocky confirmation hearing on Thursday, will be confirmed by the Senate as U.S. defense secretary.

Carney told reporters he believed the number of votes in favor of Hagel's confirmation had increased a day after Hagel came under withering fire from Republican senators for his prior comments on Iraq and Iran.

"We expect the Senate to confirm Senator Hagel to the position of secretary of defense," said Carney. He denounced the "stridency" of the Republican attack on Hagel led by Senator John McCain.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Vicki Allen)
U.S.
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Comments (4)
Harry079 wrote:
Well I watched the hearing and there was definately a bunch of Carnies there.

Hagel would have done well at the Whitewater hearings.

Feb 01, 2013 12:20pm EST  --  Report as abuse
Forsythkid wrote:
Hagel is a certified loon! Obama had lots of people on the Left that would have been a better fit.

Feb 01, 2013 1:29pm EST  --  Report as abuse
SpotlessCrab wrote:
I believe that Hagel is something quite rare – an honest politician. I do hope he is confirmed.
Those ninnies from the GOP do not ever think and they really did try to break him. They were nasty!

Feb 01, 2013 2:31pm EST  --  Report as abuse
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