Reid warns against delaying Hagel's confirmation
Updated at 3:10 p.m. ET
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., slammed Republicans today for attempting to filibuster the confirmation of former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., as defense secretary, suggesting the Pentagon could be left without a leader if Hagel's confirmation is blocked.
Reid announced this afternoon that the Senate will hold a cloture vote at 4:15 p.m. ET, requiring 60 votes to move on to a final confirmation vote tomorrow for Hagel. If the vote today receives 60 votes, then the final vote on his confirmation tomorrow only requires a simple 51-vote majority.
If today's cloture vote fails to receive 60 votes - in essence, a filibuster - then, Democratic leaders say they will attempt to end the filibuster when lawmakers return on February 24 after a week off.
Senate Republican resistance stems from their feeling that the Hagel appointment is being rushed through and Republicans have been demanding more answers from Hagel, specifically on his personal finances, before proceeding.
Hagel has "answered exhaustive questions about his record," Reid said. "He has the support of the president of the United States... He has the support of this body, a majority vote of this body... At a time when America faces so many threats... It's tragic they've decided to filibuster this qualified nominee."
Other Republicans such as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., threatened to block Hagel's confirmation as a way to try to force the Obama administration to answer his questions about their handling of September's attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
However, Graham did say today that "unless there is some bombshell, I'd be ready to move on to vote" after the break. Other Republicans including Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., echoed Graham's sentiment.
Two Republicans have already said they would vote for Hagel to be confirmed - Sens. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., and Mike Johanns, R-Neb., and presumably they would also vote in favor of breaking a filibuster. A third Republican, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced this week that she will vote against Hagel's confirmation, but in favor of breaking a filibuster.
Earlier today, Reid slammed Republicans today for their vow to filibuster, incorrectly suggesting the Pentagon could be left without a leader if Hagel's confirmation is held up (there won't be a vacancy at the Pentagon; current Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will not step down until Hagel is confirmed as his successor, the Pentagon told CBS News).
That didn't stop Reid from dramatizing the matter.
Reid slams GOP for delaying Hagel vote
"In less than two hours, our country will be without a secretary of defense," Reid incorrectly suggested on the Senate floor today. "Republicans have been telling our troops, you can have a leader later."
Reid noted again today that it is "unprecedented" for the Senate to filibuster a defense secretary nominee. Senate tradition dictates that the president has the prerogative to nominate whomever he chooses for Cabinet positions and that nominees should not be filibustered.
Pentagon spokesman George Little told CBS News that Panetta believes Hagel should be confirmed as quickly as possible but plans to stay in office until that happens.
Reid has scheduled a vote on Hagel's nomination for Friday, when Republicans are expected to filibuster it. It takes at least 60 votes to break a filibuster and officially end debate on an issue.
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Starting in the Clinton years they have done nothing except obstruct the sitting POTUS.
Can you even image the Democrats doing to Bush Jr. what the GOP has done to a duly elected POTUS as they have both Clinton and Obama? Can you imagine the Dem's playing games with the DefSec when we were attacked on 9/11? No you can't because only the "modern" GOP plays games with the defense of our country. They could care less if we are safe.
This is pure GOP anti-American Bull S__t. Simple as that.
maybe when all is said and done Obama will decide we need breakfast over here in Afghanistan two meals a day just don't cut it. this is what I received from a good friend of mine and i voted for Obama this has got to stop
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gotta love all these right wingers who used to be democrats and voted for Obama and blah blah blah will lie about other things as well.
Where was the President when Bengahzi was flamming? Why blame a video for two weeks? Why announce to the UN and the world that a video was to blame? Get some answers!
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yup
Obama was on gaurd duty that night in the compound and he ran off at the first sign of trouble
Benghazi must mean dead horse in Arabic
ok no more sarcasm
the truth is if all those mouth foaming baggers you elected that look under every little rock in the river for the slightest chance of impeachment can't come up with anything incriminating then you might as well save your breath or keep looking like the kneejerk dogma enslaved zombie that you are.
With so many people, on both sides of the aisle, in real life so upset over congress and our corporatist government, it's surprising they still play their cute word games.
Not convinced, Reid.
And, yes, I am a "Liberal".
Who cares what Harry Reid thinks or says? He is a major reason our Congress is in perpetual gridlock
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really?
350 filibusters from B itch mcconnel the republicans without any intelligent proposals of their own is what is causing gridlock.
And if you think that isn't dividing the country to....then i guess you will keep on wondering