Sen. Claire McCaskill faced off with Dan Senor this morning over the confirmation of former Sen. Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense, where she shot down Senor’s concerns that Hagel was pro-Iran and anti-Israel.
McCaskill said it’s mostly extremists who are protesting Hagel’s nominations.
“None of the big organizations that advocate for Israel on Capitol Hill are opposing Chuck Hagel. It’s only the extreme groups that have come out strongly against his nomination,” she said. “I’ve had a chance to visit him personally and I am certainly reassured that he understand the importance of our alliance with Israel. I hope that most of the Senate gives him a fair chance, because if they do, I think he’ll be confirmed easily.”
Senor countered that many Israel advocacy organizations have come out against Hagel’s nomination.
“The American Jewish committee have come out with deep concerns, the Anti-Defamation League, Simon Wiesenthal Center, even the National Jewish Democratic Council [all have concerns on Hagel’s nomination],” he said.
McCaskill fired back against Senor.









