Editorial: Inhofe ought not block nomination of Hagel
BY World's Editorials Writers
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
2/13/13 at 7:38 AM
We wish Oklahoma's senior Republican senator, Jim Inhofe, would reconsider his plan to block the appointment of his former Republican colleague Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense. We, however, do not expect that to happen.
Inhofe said this week that he plans to block Hagel's nomination on the Senate floor for "a long, long time." Inhofe has gained an ally in Sen. Lindsey Graham R-S.C., who also would block Hagel's nomination as well as that of John Brennan as head of the CIA.
Inhofe says he believes Hagel is anti-Israel and that he hopes Democrats in the Senate will come around to his way of thinking. That's doubtful.
Yes, Hagel has been somewhat critical of Israel. But since when does telling the truth make someone anti-Israel? Further, Hagel has a record in the Senate of supporting Israel.
Graham is still poking around trying to discover some cover-up by the White House in the Benghazi debacle that left four Americans, including an ambassador, dead. Graham needs to realize that is old news and the charges were never taken seriously by most of the rational, voting public.
The role of the Senate is to advise and consent. We have long defended all presidents' right to choose their own Cabinet and criticized Congress when it went to unreasonable lengths to deny any president those choices.
There is important work to be done at defense and the CIA. This is no time to be playing politics with the president's Cabinet.
We urge Inhofe, as well as Graham, to not block these appointments and get on with the important business of the country.
Original Print Headline: No blocking
