GOP Senator Confronts Hagel With Reports That Iran Endorsed His Nomination, Hagel Clearly Not Pleased

During this morning’s Senate hearings to confirm Chuck Hagel as the next Secretary of Defense, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) confronted the nominee with the reports that the Iranian Foreign Ministry is pleased with his nomination. Hagel responded with a chuckle and a suggestion that he’d be willing to address such concerns.

At the conclusion of his allotted time, Sen. Inhofe quoted from an Iranian defense official: “People of the Middle East, the Muslim region, and North Africa. People of these regions hate America from the bottom of their heart. Further said, Israel is a cancerous tumor in the heart of Islamic world. Further said, Iran’s warriors are ready and willing to wipe Israel off the map.”

With that quote in mind, Inhofe asked, “Why do you think that the Iranian foreign ministry so strongly supports your nomination to be Secretary of Defense?”

Hagel laughed into his microphone and responded: “I have a difficult enough time with American politics, Senator. I have no idea. But thank you. And I’d be happy to respond further for the record.”

Watch the exchange below, via C-SPAN:

— —
>> Follow Andrew Kirell (@AndrewKirell) on Twitter

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!