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| Republicans soften stance on Chuck Hagel nomination ahead of Senate vote | Republicans soften stance on Chuck Hagel nomination ahead of Senate vote |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Republican opponents to president Barack Obama's pick for defence secretary indicated on Sunday that the time for blocking the nomination was over, despite insisting that Chuck Hagel remained unsuitable for the Pentagon. | Republican opponents to president Barack Obama's pick for defence secretary indicated on Sunday that the time for blocking the nomination was over, despite insisting that Chuck Hagel remained unsuitable for the Pentagon. |
| "No, I don't believe he's qualified," Senator John McCain told NBC's Meet the Press. "But I don't believe that we should hold up his nomination any further." | "No, I don't believe he's qualified," Senator John McCain told NBC's Meet the Press. "But I don't believe that we should hold up his nomination any further." |
| Meanwhile on Fox News Sunday, Senator Lindsay Graham – who alongside McCain had spearheaded the campaign to block Hagel – said he had now accepted a denial from the defence secretary nominee over remarks he allegedly made critiquing the power of the pro-Israel lobby in Washington. | Meanwhile on Fox News Sunday, Senator Lindsay Graham – who alongside McCain had spearheaded the campaign to block Hagel – said he had now accepted a denial from the defence secretary nominee over remarks he allegedly made critiquing the power of the pro-Israel lobby in Washington. |
| "If that is true, that would end the matter," Graham said. | "If that is true, that would end the matter," Graham said. |
| Echoing McCain's comments, the Graham said he believed Hagel to be "one of the most unqualified, radical choices for secretary of defence in a very long time". | Echoing McCain's comments, the Graham said he believed Hagel to be "one of the most unqualified, radical choices for secretary of defence in a very long time". |
| "But at the end of the day," Graham continued, "this is the president's decision. I give him great discretion." | "But at the end of the day," Graham continued, "this is the president's decision. I give him great discretion." |
| The remarks signal that a Senate vote on the nomination will be allowed to go ahead. | The remarks signal that a Senate vote on the nomination will be allowed to go ahead. |
| It also indicates a softening in the position of Republican opponents, who last week vowed to hold up a confirmation vote. An up-and-down ballot is now expected to take place sometime after Congress returns on 25 February. | It also indicates a softening in the position of Republican opponents, who last week vowed to hold up a confirmation vote. An up-and-down ballot is now expected to take place sometime after Congress returns on 25 February. |
| The delaying tactics came amid complaint by some Republicans that Hagel – a former Republican senator himself – was not supportive enough of Israel. They also questioned his stance on Iran and his opposition to the troop surge in Iraq. | The delaying tactics came amid complaint by some Republicans that Hagel – a former Republican senator himself – was not supportive enough of Israel. They also questioned his stance on Iran and his opposition to the troop surge in Iraq. |
| The blocking move had drawn an angry response from the White House. Obama's chief of staff, Denis McDonough, told ABC's This Week that it was of "grave concern" to the administration. | The blocking move had drawn an angry response from the White House. Obama's chief of staff, Denis McDonough, told ABC's This Week that it was of "grave concern" to the administration. |
| McDonough added that Hagel, a Vietnam combat veteran, was the right person to lead the Pentagon, and "has one thing in mind: how do we protect the country?" | McDonough added that Hagel, a Vietnam combat veteran, was the right person to lead the Pentagon, and "has one thing in mind: how do we protect the country?" |
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