The White House on Thursday afternoon flatly rejected a request made earlier in the day by 15 Republican senators to withdraw Chuck Hagel’s nomination as defense secretary.
[snip]
In the Republicans’ letter on Thursday, the lawmakers argued in effect that this was Hagel’s own fault.
“It would be unprecedented for a Secretary of Defense to take office without a broad base of bipartisan support and confidence needed to serve effectively in this critical position,” the senators, led by John Cornyn of Texas, said in the message to Obama. “While we respect Senator Hagel’s honorable military service, in the interest of national security, we respectfully request that you withdraw his nomination.”
In addition to Rubio and Cornyn, Republican Sens. James Inhofe, Lindsey Graham, Roger Wicker, David Vitter, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Pat Toomey, Dan Coats, Ron Johnson, James Risch, John Barrasso, Tom Coburn and Tim Scott signed the letter. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but it has flatly dismissed similar calls in the past, noting that Hagel has more than the 51 votes needed for confirmation.
It can’t be said often enough, how loud the howling would have been if DEMOCRAT TRAITORS had done this to one of Bush’s nominees AT A TIME OF WAR. The dudgeon would have been high. McCain would have challenged someone to a duel on the White House lawn. So now comes this fucking clown parade of all the dumbest knobs in the GOP, and they’re all, “Hagel can’t take office if we don’t love him!”
Which is just the stupidest thing you can say, because: Watch him.
A.