Panetta says politics at play in Hagel questioning

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense, testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January 31, 2013. / SAUL LOEB / AFP / Getty Images

WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says "the political knives" came out when former Sen. Chuck Hagel appeared before a Senate committee for a confirmation hearing.

Republicans on the Armed Services Committee grilled Hagel about his views on Iran and Israel and other issues.

• WH: Hagel less than perfect but confirmation on track
• Schieffer: Hagel's nomination "may be in trouble"

In discussing the nomination of Hagel, Panetta tells NBC's "Meet the Press" that he is disappointed that the questions Hagel received at the hearing Thursday focused so much on what Hagel has said in the past instead of what he thinks about today's issues.

Panetta says the committee didn't spend enough time discussing such matters as the war in Afghanistan, the war on terrorism, and looming automatic budget cuts and their impact on military readiness.

The Panetta interview airs Sunday on "Meet the Press."

[usunus]

Panetta is absolutely right.But he should also admit the very npmination of Hagel involves politics,not his suitability for the job.

[SlimeBagObama]

PANETTA, JUST SHUT UP!!!!! You're nothing but a puppet for the Comrade Obama regime. You're also just another Kremlin paid employee.

[two-cats]

McCain is a war monger. He is always wanting the U.S. to go into other countries to throw our weight around. His view of our place on the world stage does not match mine at all. It's time we quit military stupidity and focus on growing our economy. I liked Hagel's response to the Iraq surge and his summation of the meaning of the the Iraq incursion...that being that it was the biggest debacle since Viet Nam. He was spot on!!!

[Non-Political]

"...he is disappointed that the questions Hagel received at the hearing Thursday focused so much on what Hagel has said in the past instead of what he thinks about today's issues."

Well I would be so upset with that line of thinking by the "grillers". For example, I would not want a candidate who advocated peace at all costs to be confirned and then find out he was actually an advocate for using nuclear power in war.

You just can not stick your head in the sand and hope for the best when dealing with this high of a level position. You need to ask any and all questions.

[lastranger-2009]

Panetta is soooo smart. The political knives are out during a political appointment.
Ok, altogether now . . . DUH.
What a tremendous grasp of the obvious.
Hagel has finally reached the panicle of the Peter Principle.

[hdc77494]

Yeah, politics is why he was nominated by Obama, but Hagel's inability to articulate policy, his complete failure to prepare, and his obvious incompetence is why his performance was a complete disaster. The quote I keep seeing is Hagel is the most unqualified nominee for SecSt ever. Heck even the White House is leaking to the press how much of an embarrassment he was.

[hypnotoad72]

Par for the course.

Both sides are so embittered with each other that, if they all stopped taking lobbyist dollars, the only thing left would be their petty hollow squabbling.

[tsigili]

The portions of the hearings I saw, clearly demonstrated that Hagel did NOT answer the questions well, and clearly demonstrated there were serious questions that needed to be asked.

I would dispute Panetta's comment, entirely. I saw genuine reason for questions, and I saw poor responses to the questions.

[Phukingdida]

You saw exactly what I saw. The left can blame whomever they want, like they always do but, Hagel hung himself. Hagel was taken apart like a dollar watch! I will feel real safe with him as the head of the Defense Dept. With the tin hat government we have now, he will probably get the job.

[omnibus66]

McCain's "questions" had nothing to do with policy. It was purely and simply a lifetime of hatred and vitriol boiling to the surface. A bitter and defeated old man trying to make a political statement. Better questions than his would be why anyone would want as a Senator someone who cracked under pressure and spilled his guts, or who had singlehandedly destroyed three U S Air Force aircraft at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. McCain is a disgrace to his party, his country, and humanity.

[hdc77494]

No, McCain had said he would nominate his long time friend Hagel for SecDef if McCain was elected, and Hagel endorsed Obama. Hagel got what was coming to him for his self serving lack of loyalty to his friends.

[robert1129]

95% of Congressional (House and Senate) hearings never are of any constructive use. They are relics of a by gone age. They only reason the pols have them is for political theater. If the cameras were not around, they just might be of some use.

Ever notice how much of a member's time is spent just giving his/her political viewpoint and how closely they jibe with their party's political line?