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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)

bhosux
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:49pm
It looks like Mr. Rand Paul is out of the picture now. Move along citizens.. no story or future with this Republican suckling.

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dolly2827
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:48pm
Is there any one on the Republican side that is NOT neutered ?

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:55pm
  no
  
  Report this comment
- Small World
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:16pm
  Ted Cruz.
  
  Report this comment
The Big Mick
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:48pm
To THE JERK.
Ok, TJ, unpack for me what MAKES a “radical, religious, fundamentalist”.
One assumes you are sniping at UniPhil.
Now I gots me and M.Div from Duke which ain’t never been no wise accusatated of being “fundamentalist”. [There ARE some who would balk at "religious", but they are also the same ones who would embrace "radical"]
Looks to me that UniPhil’s hermeneutic here is 1. Strongly revelatory—He/she buys into the idea of Unique Divine Revelation—not a “radical” or fundamentalist” position per se.
2. Pro- Israel—again not “fundamentally” [PUN!] a “radical” position Theology wise.

So, illucidate me, Your Jerkness.

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THX-1138
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:47pm
Any doubt left? It’s a rigged game.

One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest:

Doctor: Do you like it here?
Nicholson: That f’ing nurse, man!
Doctor: What do you mean, sir?
Nicholson: She ain’t honest.
Doctor: Miss Ratched’s one of the finest nurses we’ve got in this institution.
Nicholson: Well, I don’t want to break up the meeting or nothing …but she’s something of a c*&t, ain’t she, Doc?
Doctor: How do you mean that?
Nicholson: She likes a rigged game, you know what I mean?

We’re done.

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:55pm
  Au contraire, mon ami.
  
  When the game is rigged, KICK OVER THE TABLE WHILE DRAWING YOUR COLT!
  
  Report this comment
- THX-1138
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:58pm
  Sadly, I fear you are absolutely correct. You certainly have all of Recorded Human History on your side….
  
  Report this comment
pragmaticpatriot
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:45pm
There are no morals in politics; there is only expedience. A scoundrel may be of use to us just because he is a scoundrel.
– Vladimir Ilyich Lenin -

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:53pm
  So who’s The Useful Scoundrel?
  Hagel? Rand? Pharaoh Bo?
  The Paulists? The Cosmic Jewish Conspiracy?
  
  Report this comment
tweetybird
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:44pm
It doesn’t take long for the new politicians to move to the dark side. Their decesions are always based on their next election. They don’t give a rats @ss about the American people. They only care about themselves and hanging on to any shred of power they can obtain. Always trying to appeal to both sides to win votes. We all get”played” every election season just to get screwed.

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napoleon_solo
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:44pm
Bull, Rand. Just bull!

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- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:49pm
  Naw, it ain’t go the balls to be bull.
  Nor the SUBSTANCE to be SHEITE!
  Lacking both it becomes not bullsheite, but Heifer Methane.
  
  Parse it out.
  
  Report this comment
SciPro
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:43pm
Some excellent comments .. some bad and uninformed .. those of us who have virtually no power at this point to do anything but bug our representatives, will use one other medium left to us, and that is: ..
FERVENT PRAYER IN FAITH, that our Heavenly Father will remove the traitor Obama and his family from power in the US and hopefully, send them back to Kenya! .. That’s just my thoughts
Join with me all you campers .. lets make this happen. …. As For Rand Paul, I think he played a smart card, opposing everything just for the sake of opposing, .. at times is not the smart thing to do. … timing IS everything ….

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- napoleon_solo
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:49pm
  Bull! He did it for the same reason they all do it: It is one big happy club. If you vote against a member of the club, you earn the displeasure of the other club members. If the other club members are teed off at you, well…
  
  Another gutless coward throws his supposed principles under the bus and caves in the end.
  
  Report this comment
jdog777
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:42pm
Rand Paul better start voting on ideology or he will never have a chance to run for President. this Hagel and Kerry vote could possibly be his undoing.

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Mutiny
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:41pm
Just think who the nominees would have been had people not gone with the establishment hack in Romney and actually put a good candidate up against Obama. I dont blame Rand on this one, this one is on the establishment, talk radio, and Fox news for shoving Romney down our throats.

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The_Pointy_End
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:41pm
“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.” Even though those appointees are detrimental to the USA and our allies.

If that is his logic why ask for more information – more information is irrelevant. If he truly believes the president has some “leeway” with his appointees. He is going to vote yes regardless. He just told us that by his answer.

So apparently asking for more information was only a political stunt. IMHO to dupe the stupid people into believing he is representing them rather than furthering his own political career by playing along with the lifetime ruling class.

We the people get the government we deserve!

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- Gamecock97
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:48pm
  How about he was waiting for other Republican Senators to stand together and get that information…when it didn’t happen (e.g. McCain coming out and stating the Hagel would be nominated) then what is the point. He said he would stand together with his fellow Republicans on this but he didn’t say he would stand alone. If they don’t care to get more information then why should he?
  
  Report this comment
- The_Pointy_End
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 6:30pm
  @gamecock97
  So your argument is two wrongs make a right?
  
  I repeat: We the people get the government we deserve!
  
  Report this comment
SocialistSlayer
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:41pm
Rand Paul just sold America out – There’s not a single Politician in office that I trust. They are all traitors and when the Revolution happens they should all be Publicly Beheaded ! These people disgust me !

Sorry Glenn, you might buy this answer but I know its BS !

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- mdlwoods
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:52pm
  Keep your eye on Ted Cruz. If he betrays us, then I will join you in your disenchantment.
  
  Report this comment
garbagecanlogic
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:39pm
Most feeble excuse I’ve heard in a long time. Hope he remembers this will come back to haunt him if he decides to run for pres.

Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.

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- The_Pointy_End
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:49pm
  I wish you were right. Sadly, the American people are continually being forced to vote for the lesser of two evils at most every election. This will not harm him in the slightest, even though it should.
  
  Look how all the evil things Hagel said and did affected his career. If we were a country of moral standing, he would be on trial for treason. Instead, I think he just got a promotion today!
  
  Report this comment
Gamecock97
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:37pm
Keep throwing the baby out with the bathwater and Karl Rove and his ilk will get another northern moderate like Chris Christie or someone similar as the GOP nominee for 2016. He voted his principles – he believes that a president should get some latitude to make a bad choice for cabinet members. That’s how the system works guys…elections have consequences. Geez – you talk about wanting princpled politicians but when when votes his beliefs you lambast him because his principles are 100% aligned with yours. That type of thinking is why the conservative movement is in disarray and the grassroots movement is stalled. Try thinking big picture, core principles, core beliefs… If you can’t do that then look forward to another lost decade!

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- Gamecock97
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:39pm
  s/b – Geez – you talk about wanting principled politicians but then you lambast him when his principles aren’t 100% aligned with yours.
  
  Report this comment
rivertree
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:36pm
Rand Paul’s approach and thinking is too naive for the task at hand and the times we find ourselves in with our government. He will never withstand in what is needed for such a time as this.

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- THX-1138
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:52pm
  Naive? Seriously? It’s not him that’s naive; he knows *exactly* what he’s doing.
  
  Report this comment
Voter713
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:35pm
Coward

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moreteaplease
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:34pm
It seems to me that Obama has been getting quite a bit of leeway so far…why should this be any different?

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Carrie3570
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:34pm
*sigh* What’s next?

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JeffersonsPen
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:32pm
Wake up people……………Let these commie progs OWN thier stupidity…………all of it. Yea they blame Republicans put in the end when we have to start completely over in this country………………..the’ll be swearing they were conserative the whole time…………………………from fear of the people who survive will tear them limb from limb. Of couse this is based on surviving a crash of the economy, civil war and a possible foreign invasion. On the surface that sounds nutty but ………………………………

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skyguy51
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:32pm
Does it really matter who Obama gets for a Secretary of Defense? If not Hagel, then some other yes man lackey who will do his bidding to dismantle the military.

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redfish52
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:31pm
I mean even my Senator Lindsey Gramnesty voted nea…if you had any aspirations in 2016 you just cast a no vote for yourself…nitwit.

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Helpful
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:29pm
If we are Fortunate to have a country in 2016, and you Run for President. Blow back is something that will come back to haunt you Senator. I really thought your Daddy would have taught you better?????

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showmerancher
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:28pm
Is that what he considers “Advise and Consent”? OK. Each to their own, I guess.

I’d Advise Sen. Paul that he’ll never get my Consent (vote) for ANY political position.

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Penn
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:26pm
The only thing you can say about the hagel appointment? He fits right in as another dick in the wall. obama, biden, kerry, napolitano, pannetta, reid,schumer,pelosi,waters,bernanke,geithner, holder, sebelius, chu, salazar, vilsack, duncan. And this stellar list doesn’t include the so-called czars the moron-in chief has selected.

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conspiracygirl
Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:25pm
Rand Paul did the right thing. Republicans should be pleased by Hagel’s appointment. He’s a solid conservative. He’s just not a neoconservative, which is even better. Neoconservatives are why people are fleeing the GOP in revulsion and horror.

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- Gamecock97
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:45pm
  No, neoconservatives are not why people are fleeing the party in droves. That is your opinion, not fact… just as it is the opionion of a lot of Ron Paul supporters. Conservatives are actually a very diverse group who all have different platforms that they feel passionately about. Please don’t pigeon-hole and make assertions that are based on your own feelings rather than reality.
  
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- THX-1138
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 12:56pm
  “He’s a solid conservative. ”
  
  Oh man, that was awesome, I laughed *so* hard. Thanks!
  
  Report this comment
- Libertarian4Life
  Posted on February 27, 2013 at 1:00pm
  Neoconservatives come directly out of the left-wing of the 60′s, and have taken over the GOP. It’s a sad fact that the fascist progressives control both parties now.
  
  Report this comment

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