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Why Did Sen. Rand Paul Vote To Confirm Chuck Hagel? Here’s His Answer

Feb. 27, 2013 11:38am Becket Adams

Sen. Rand Paul Explains Yesterday’s Hagel Vote: The President Has Some Leeway In Who He Appoints

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. (Getty Images).

The U.S. Senate voted 58-41 Tuesday to confirm former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel as America’s new defense secretary, but not without a little controversy.

Four Republican senators backed Hagels’ confirmation: Sens. Thad Cochran (Miss.), Mike Johanns (Neb.), Richard Shelby (Ala.), and Rand Paul (Ky.), as noted yesterday on TheBlaze.

Understandably, Sen. Paul’s vote took some by surprise. After all, didn’t the Kentucky senator vote against cloture before voting for Hagel’s confirmation (answer: Yes).

In an attempt to figure out this apparent contradiction, Fox News Channel’s Bill Hemmer on Wednesday asked the senator about his “aye” vote.

“You helped lead the charge publicly against Chuck Hagel. Yet he you voted to confirm him as Defense Secretary. He was sworn two hours ago at the Pentagon. Why the vote to favor him?” Hemmer asked.

“I filibustered him twice because I wanted more information, and I think when Republicans stick together we could get information. I was disappointed several on my side after they filibustered him immediately announced they wouldn’t continue the filibuster so we never got the information,” said Sen. Paul.

“I’m the same way on Brennan. I want more information on drone strikes in America. On final passage though I take the position that the president does have some leeway and some prerogative in who he appoints to political appointees.

“So I would like to get as much information as we can. I will stick with the party, if the party will stick together to try to get more information. In the end I voted for John Kerry also although I agree with almost nothing that John Kerry represents,” he added.

So there you have it. Sen. Paul voted against cloture because, according to him, he was angling to get more information on President Obama’s nominee and he voted to confirm Hagel because the president has some “leeway” with his appointees.

Watch the Fox interview here [the senator's Hagel explanation appears at the 02:50 mark]:

Oh, by the way, as noted by BuzzFeed’s Rosie Gray, Sen. Paul told reporters Tuesday he never got the information he was looking for on Hagel.

Here’s a breakdown of how the senate voted yesterday:

Hagel was sworn in as secretary of defense in a private ceremony Wednesday morning at about 8:30 a.m ET.

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Comments (521)

Scruff
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:21pm
Because he doesn’t want to be President of the United States.

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wilbstal
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:21pm
paul lost my vote for all times now I will vote for myself as I have at times in the past.. no good choices

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- iamnotu
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:31pm
  I beg to differ, any choice, even voting for a monkey is better than the baboon we have now.
  
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iamnotu
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:21pm
This is a perfect example of our current republican party, shameful!
These guys act and prance around like they have a pair and then they crumble like little girls, every single time. There is no unity no plan no course of action that can be relied on with this party any longer.
Just when you think someone is actually going to start fighting the good fight, like Rand has done the last few weeks, the turn around comes and the excitement he created has just turned to ****!
Good going you typical blow hard. When will you republican representatives get it, get on the same page with yourselves and particularly with the poeple, dumb asses.

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conspiracygirl
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:19pm
Libertarian Lessons for Glenn:

You should be pleased with the Hagel appointment. Chuck Hagel is a solid conservative. He’s just not a NEO-conservative, by which I mean he is not a foaming at the mouth pro-war everywhere all the time conservative. The USA is broke. Remember…?

As for Hagel’s alleged “antti-Isreal” positions. You need to let go of this idea that it is the job of Congress to put Israel’s interests before America’s interests. Israel is fully capable of borrowing its own money from China.

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MrKnowItAll
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:18pm
That’s the Problem with libertarians. They want to CUT to much of our Military. Seems like their Position is close to this Administrations in Thinking if we just leave people who want to Kill Us alone. We will be Safe. I Mean the Who Needs Nukes Position AIN’T Mine!

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demsrtraitors
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:17pm
Once you cave it will only get easier and easier. He is corrupted now. He might as well go hang out with Gov. Christie. Real Americans have no use for you anymore.

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everydaywoman
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:16pm
So, you don’t like the guy’s views but you vote for him anyway? Not getting it.

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frogg
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:16pm
Kerry and Hagel are both the worse possible choice I though rand Paul didn’t smoke dope??? Guess he does???

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Okieracing
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:14pm
This proves to me the Obama is more important then the military. Ran Paul you blew it big time here!

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:13pm
Ok, Rand Paul, based on this: ““I filibustered him twice because I wanted more information, and I think when Republicans stick together we could get information…” I will not be voting for you, should you run for POTUS in 2016!

“…sticking rogether…” is what has been going on up on Capitol Hill for more than 200-years, and that is what has gotten us in the mess YOU, and others have gotten un in! It is called ‘going along, to get along.’

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Gamecock97
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:12pm
Wow..you all that reporting the political demise of Rand Paul in the Conservative movement must have the absolutely most perfect spouses. You know, I don’t agree with my husand on every issue all of the time and sometimes he really let’s me down. It’s odd, even though we share common core beliefs and values we some how we aren’t lock step in every choice and decision we make…. hmm, Fortunately for him I don’t keep a divorce lawyer on speed dial because he would be in a lot of trouble if I tried to throw him overboard every time he didn’t make exactly the decisions I would make every moment of every day. Good luck finding another perfect person with whom you always agree come 2016, that is, in addition to your perfect spouse!

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- olderjarhead
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:27pm
  Well said. In politics, as in marriages you have to “pick your battles”. This would be the equivelant of leaving the toilet seat up. While it may evoke anger, it doesn’t rise to the level of infidelity, or buying a M107A1 without your knowledge, when you can’t afford car insurance.
  
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RestoreCapitalism
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:12pm
I’m having a problem with this. Communists should have as little leeway as is possible. We owe the destroyer nothing, but we owe our country and the people our best fight to keep the republic free.

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kalli
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:11pm
I just unsubscribed to Rand’s emails. I have no confidence in anyone but a handful in our congress…I pray Ted Cruz keeps digging the sword in their sides. Kerry, hagel and brennan are big mistakes for this country! Kerry goes to Germany and says “Americans have a right to be stupid.” The lack of intelligence in DC has reached a critical stage.

The NRA supported dinghy harry and joe manchin in the 2010 election. Look where that’s got them. My money is on Oathkeepers who are doing just that….keeping their oath…the oath only a handful in DC uphold.

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GoliathsDavid
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:10pm
Rand is just another sell-out. What a disappointment.

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kadster01
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:08pm
He voted for him because the only politicians with balls are the ones with a Marxist agenda.

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Chuck T
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:08pm
A lot of Rand Paul’s creds just evaporated with his decision to side with the wuss party despite not getting the information he says he was looking for. Will he also wuss out on the Brennan nomination?

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Chromo200
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:04pm
Follow the money .. I bet a lobbyist got to him with a lot of cash .. If he did not get the information he wanted he should have stood his ground and voted no.

That is why conservatives have no chance in 2016. Paul a sell out, Christie a sell out, who is next

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:15pm
  CHRO, I am going to suggest that REAL Conservatives—what I call “Constitutional Conservationists”
  haven’t “had a chance” since Reagan left office.
  
  We’ve been offered NOTHING but “The Lesser of Two Evils.”
  
  And just when we (and Glenn) think there might be a kind of salvation in those kookie Libertarians….
  
  “it is the RIGHT of the people to alter or abolish it”.
  
  Government is OUR pair of jeans. For a LONG time now THEY been wearin US.
  Time to exercise our God given RIGHT to wash, bleech, stone grind, razor, cut the knees off, unravel, slit, buckshot, slice, rip, tear, dye, or anything else the he ll WE want with this pair of Blue jeans.
  Before we hand it DOWN.
  
  Report this comment
huey6367
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:04pm
If you don’t have all the information then you vote ‘nay’. That is how Obamacare got passed.

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BSdetector
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:04pm
Already corrupted in his FIRST term… He could have voted no and not changed the outcome anyway, but he thought it would be better to be on the record supporting the Tyrant?

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dsm
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:04pm
Very disappointed. There is no acceptable explanation for why he voted yea.

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demsrtraitors
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:03pm
No need to explain. YOU ARE A TRAITOR!. You chose politics over the good of the country.

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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:03pm
.
Whacky as his Daddy………….

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NC Watchdog
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:03pm
This is why we need a third party. I don’t trust one single one that is in government now. Sarah Palin is the only one I think would stick to her values to the end. I have alway voted and have been so mad at the ones that stayed home in 2012. Maybe not as made today, since it seems to make no difference who you put in, they are just protecting their job!!!!

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The Big Mick
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:02pm
DING! INCORRECT!
Thank you for playing, we have NO lovely parting gifts for you.

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Barbieboop
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:00pm
Well, that does it. Rand was my guy. Changed my mind. Instead of having the ****** to stand firm, he gave one for the team. Since he didn’t get the info he wanted, he should have voted Nay instead of caving in. This is also true about his vote for Kerry. Glad we found out now about his character.

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:04pm
  d’ accord
  Randy is now officially on the LINO list.
  I’m back to voting “None of the Above”
  
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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:06pm
  On second thought, the most accurate descriptor would be “CONSERVATIVE in Name Only”.
  I EXPECT Libertarians to often argue out of both sides of their mouth—Nature of the Hermeneutic.
  
  CINO!
  
  Report this comment

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