The Senate has confirmed former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as the new secretary of defense. Granted, he was confirmed by a vote of 58-to-41 — the narrowest recorded margin for any defense secretary. There was some skepticism about Hagel’s viability as a candidate at first. During his confirmation hearings he was forced to endure a figurative beating from his former Republican colleagues on matters such as the Iraq war and Israel.
So deep was the apparent animosity that Hagel’s nomination was blocked for two weeks by Republican filibuster. However, the Senate voted earlier on Tuesday to end the debate and move forward with the selection process. It was the first time such a strategy had been used to delay consideration for a secretary of defense nominee.
“Politically motivated delays send a terrible signal to our allies and to the world,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said.
“The confirmation process probably leaves a few light scars on Hagel because Republican critics have raised doubts about his judgment,” said Sarah Binder, a congressional expert at the Brookings Institution. “But I think Hagel would have faced tough scrutiny and criticism from Republicans once in office, even had he originally sailed to confirmation.”
Hagel is scheduled to be sworn in on Wednesday morning.
