Blumenthal, Murphy Split Over Hagel

News, Politics

Monday, January 07, 2013

By Ana Radelat

www.ctmirror.org

Washington—Sen. Richard Blumenthal said today he is not sold on President Obama’s choice for Secretary of Defense, former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel.

“I respect the president’s right to select Cabinet members, but I have a responsibility as a member of the Armed Services Committee to ask Senator Hagel’s views on critical defense policy issues confronting our nation,” Blumenthal said. “I will reserve judgment until the (confirmation) hearing, when I will ask about such issues—the submarine and Joint Strike Fighter programs, the Afghanistan War, and others.”

Blumenthal never served with Hagel because the Nebraska senator retired two years before Blumenthal assumed office in 2011. Nevertheless, Blumenthal said, “I have tremendous respect for his extraordinary, distinguished public service, and his heroism in uniform.”

Freshman Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., also never served with Hagel. But he appears more supportive of the nomination than Blumenthal.

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Posted 01/07 at 06:58 PM

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