Oklahoma senators urge Obama to withdraw nomination of Hagel

Republican Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe signed a letter with 13 other GOP senators asking President Barack Obama to withdraw the nomination of Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense because of a lack of bipartisan support.

 
By Chris Casteel | Published: February 22, 2013    Comment on this article Leave a comment


Both of Oklahoma's senators signed a letter to President Barack Obama on Thursday, urging him to withdraw the nomination of Chuck Hagel as defense secretary, but the White House press secretary called the Republican effort a waste of time.

Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, and Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, joined 13 other Republican senators in saying that a secretary of defense needs broad bipartisan support to serve effectively.

“Over the last half-century, no secretary of defense has been confirmed and taken office with more than three senators voting against him,” states the letter authored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

“Further, in the history of this position, none has ever been confirmed with more than 11 opposing votes. The occupant of this critical office should be someone whose candidacy is neither controversial nor divisive.”

Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska, has been nominated to replace Leon Panetta. Senate Republicans, including Coburn and Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, blocked a vote on Hagel last week.

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