Political Quotes

“I thank the Senator from Oklahoma and the Senator from Indiana. I rise today to express my support for our former colleague Chuck Hagel to be America's 24th Secretary of Defense. We hoped Chuck Hagel would have been named Secretary of Defense 2 weeks ago and could have led the delegation to Brussels last week to meet with our NATO partners on the challenges we face in Afghanistan and around the world. Instead, he was subjected to a rare and historic filibuster by the other side of the aisle. What a way to give an opportunity to a man of Chuck Hagel's background to serve our Nation. What we have seen over the past 2 weeks is the cost of apostasy, the cost of breaking with a party, or a leadership, and what it means when their name comes up again for consideration. There is no question that there are some who bear some negative feelings toward Chuck Hagel because of his independence and some of his votes in the past--even his support of President Obama in the last Presidential election. But this has been taken to a level I never expected. Chuck Hagel is no stranger to most of us in the Senate. We served with him. I served with him on the Intelligence Committee for 4 years. Not once did I have any question about this man's commitment to America and its national defense--not once. I watched votes being taken behind closed doors on some very sensitive issues, and I saw Chuck Hagel respond in a nonpartisan way to those votes.…”