George Will: Obama Has a 'Right' To Nominate a Bad Secretary of Defense

Washington Post columnist George Will made a suggestion that is sure to strike numerous conservatives as thoroughly heretical on today's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos." While discussing the recent decision by Republicans to block the confirmations of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, and John Brennan for CIA director, Will argued that a little deference is due to the president in selecting his cabinet appointments, and that Republicans ought to stand aside.

"Most sensible Republicans believe that a president is owed vast deference in picking his Cabinet, because the Cabinet leaves when he leaves and the Cabinet exists to implement his policies," Will said. "If the president wants a terrible secretary of defense, he’s got a right to him, and I think he’ll get him."

This prompted Will's fellow copanelist, Newt Gingrich, to interject that Republicans were right to interfere, arguing that the legislature does have a role to play in terms of oversight over these types of confirmation hearings.

"I don’t find it unseemly to say to a potential secretary of defense or secretary of treasury, 'Tell me where your money has come from while you’ve been out of public office,'" Gingrich said.

Watch the exchange below, courtesy of ABC News: