| Republicans Block Obama's Pick To Head Pentagon |
| Feb-14-2013 |
| Keywords: republican, block, filibuster, hagel, pentagon |
In dramatic showdown in the Senate, Republicans on Thursday showed a veneer of solidarity, successfully filibustering former Sen. Chuck Hagel's nomination for the top spot at the Pentagon.
Republicans mounted an unprecedented opposition over demands that the White House provide more information about the Libya terror attack.
Hagel was just shy of clearing the 60-vote bar, needed to advance to a final confirmation vote.
The final vote was 58-40, with one senator voting present. For procedural reasons, Democratic Leader Harry Reid switched his vote to "no" at the last minute -- a routine move that allows him to bring up the vote later on. No date has yet been set for a second push to get Hagel confirmed.
Some Republicans said Thursday that they would be willing to ultimately allow for an up-or-down vote -- which requires only a simple majority -- once they get more answers on Libya from the Obama administration.
"There are still questions outstanding," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said on the floor, asking for "sufficient time" to get those answers.
The battle on the floor of the Senate Thursday was historic. The Senate has never successfully filibustered a Cabinet secretary before.
Only two previous Cabinet officials required 60 votes before confirmation, and this has never happened for a Defense secretary nominee.
Read more about the unprecedented filibuster on FoxNews.com. |
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Posted by Lou Dobbs Staff at 4:00 PM Email to a friend |
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