Politicslindsey-graham-chuck-hagelPoliticschuck hagel israel

Lindsey Graham Skeptical About Chuck Hagel's Israel Views

Lindsey Graham Still Skeptical About Chuck Hagel's Israel Views
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Senior Politics Reporter, HuffPost

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Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel is facing more scrutiny from Republicans this week in light of a 2007 speech he made to Rutgers University in which he allegedly said the State Department "has become adjunct to the Israeli Foreign Minister’s office."

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News' Chris Wallace on Sunday that he wrote Hagel a letter about the alleged Israel comment, and Hagel replied that he did not recall making the comment and completely disavows the view. Graham said he is not entirely convinced by Hagel's reply.

"If in fact that were true, that would end that matter," Graham said. But he noted that Hagel also said in a 2006 interview that the "pro-Israel lobby" intimidates members of Congress and pushes them to make bad decisions. "Those two together show an edge and a view of the Israeli-U.S. relationship that is way out of the mainstream," Graham said.

In an unprecedented move, Republican senators blocked Hagel's nomination on Feb. 14 by preventing a vote on the matter. President Obama criticized Republicans for playing politics with the nomination of a very important defense leader during a time of war.

Graham said he and his colleagues were worried that Congress was being "jammed" to support "one of the most unqualified, radical choices for Secretary of Defense in a very long time."

"[The White House] wanted to force this issue, so I'm glad we have more time to look, and I'm glad he answered my question about a very disturbing comment he allegedly made," he said.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this post incorrectly stated that Republicans unanimously blocked Hagel's nomination.

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Before You Go

Obama Cabinet: Who's Staying, Who's Leaving
STAYING: Joe Biden, Vice President(01 of16)
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U.S. Vice President Joseph R. Biden speaks during an inauguration reception at the National Building Museum January 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
STAYING: Tom Vilsack, Secretary Of Agriculture(02 of16)
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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack speaks during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
LEAVING: Rebecca Blank, Acting Secretary Of Commerce(03 of16)
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Acting United States Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank smiles at a news conference for the opening of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's first satellite location in Detroit, Friday, July 13, 2012. No full replacement has been made since John Bryson's June 2012 resignation. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (credit:AP)
LEAVING: Leon Panetta, Secretary Of Defense(04 of16)
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US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta talks next to British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond (unseen) during a joint press conference in Lancaster House, central London, on January 19, 2013. (LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
STAYING: Arne Duncan, Secretary Of Education(05 of16)
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U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announces that Miami-Dade County Public Schools won the 2012 Broad Prize for Urban Education on October 23, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
LEAVING: Steven Chu, Secretary Of Energy(06 of16)
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U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu speaks during a press conference at the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit at the Coex Center in Seoul on March 26, 2012. (NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
STAYING: Eric Holder, Attorney General (07 of16)
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U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department, on December 19, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File )
STAYING: Kathleen Sebelius, Health And Human Services Secretary (08 of16)
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Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius speaks during day one of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 4, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
STAYING: Janet Napolitano, Secretary Of Homeland Security(09 of16)
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Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano speaks during a ceremony honoring Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Joseph Leiberman (I-CT) at the at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services December 19, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
STAYING: Shaun Donovan, Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development(10 of16)
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HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, speaks about distressed home owners during a news conference at the Justice Department, on October 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
LEAVING: Ken Salazar, Secretary Of The Interior(11 of16)
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Interior Secretary Ken Salazar speaks during a tourism and conservation discussion with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce on January 11, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
LEAVING: Hilda Solis, Secretary Of Labor(12 of16)
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U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Hilda Solis speaks during a Urban Economic Forum co-hosted by White House Business Council and U.S. Small Business Administration at Loyola Marymount University on March 22, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
LEAVING: Hillary Clinton, Secretary Of State(13 of16)
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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to the press following talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the State Department in Washington,DC on January 18, 2013. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
LEAVING: Ray LaHood, Secretary Of Transportation(14 of16)
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WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood addresses the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of Interior December 5, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
LEAVING: Timothy Geithner, Secretary Of The Treasury(15 of16)
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U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner discusses the economy at Los Angeles World Affairs Council luncheon on July 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
STAYING: Eric Shinseki, Secretary Of Veterans Affairs(16 of16)
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U.S. Army General Eric Shinseki speaks during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) (credit:Getty File)
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