As was to be expected, the progressive political left was harshly critical of Hagel's testimony. Philip Weiss, major domo of Mondoweiss, reacted to the Thursday hearings:
"The first few hours of Chuck Hagel's confirmation hearing have been sickening. I thought he was named to be United States Secretary of Defense, not Israel's defense. The most urgent questions were about Israel, and many came from liberal Democrats insisting that Hagel is pledged to going to war against Iran if it acquires a nuclear weapon.
"Hagel was suitably craven. 'I've said that I'm a strong supporter of Israel... I've said that we have a special relationship with Israel... Ive never voted against Israel in my career... I've been to Israel many times,' he told Jack Reed of Rhode Island."
David Weigel writing for Slate, saw something bogus in the questions thrown at Hagel by Senator Ted Cruz, who came to the hearings with...
"three -- count 'em -- visual aids to his interrogation of Defense Secretary nominee Chuck Hagel. He played two clips from Hagel's interviews on Arab-language media, attempting to prove that Hagel agreed with callers who accused Israel of 'war crimes' and the United States of 'bullying,' because he quickly agreed with the questions and moved on. The third aid was a chart blowing up a July 31, 2006 quote from Hagel, during Israel's conflict with Hezbollah.
"'In a speech on the floor of the Senate you referred to Israel's military campaign against the terrorist group Hezbollah as a, quote, 'sickening slaughter,' said Cruz. 'Do you think it's right that Israel was committing, quote, a 'sickening slaughter,' as you said on the floor of the Senate?'
"As with so much else today, Hagel was caught short, and tried to explain why 'slaughter' might occur if 'war crimes' didn't. It was another hit he should have seen coming; the Weekly Standard, in a morning cheat sheet of Hagel quotes, reported that Hagel 'accused Israel of carrying out a 'sickening slaughter' in Lebanon."
"But it's misleading. Hagel's full speech is available on C-SPAN."
The larger context of the quote, Weigel reports, is here:
"How do we realistically believe that a continuation of the systematic destruction of an American friend, the country and people of Lebanon, is going to enhance America's image and give us the trust and credibility to lead a lasting and sustained peace effort in the Middle East?
"The sickening slaughter on both sides must end, and it must end now."
The final vote may come Monday. In spite of the hostile hearings, it still appears Hagel will win confirmation. That vote will end yet another political episode when the ambiguity of democracy is put on full display.
It is not always pretty; at times it is downright ugly. But it is what we get when flawed political leaders struggle to govern.
The picture above is by Chip Somodeville/Getty Images, from Slate.
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