Chuck Hagel: Don’t Define Me By ‘Jewish Lobby’ Quote

By Alan with comments January 31, 2013 11:39

Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel asked his former Senate colleagues not to judge him by past controversial remarks at a contentious hearing.

“No one individual vote, no one individual quote, no one individual statement defines me, my beliefs, or my record,” Hagel, a Republican, told the Senate Armed Services Committee in his opening remarks…

Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, the top Republican on the committee, charged that Hagel would promote “a worldview that is predicated on appeasing our adversaries while shunning our friends” and bluntly called him “the wrong person to lead the Pentagon at this perilous and consequential time.”

In his remarks, Hagel took aim directly at some of his critics—and sought to reassure lawmakers who might be on the fence.

“I will ensure our friend and ally Israel maintains its Qualitative Military Edge in the region and will continue to support systems like Iron Dome, which is today saving Israeli lives from terrorists’ rocket attacks,” he said.