Graham grills Hagel on “Jewish lobby” comments
Sen. Lindsey Graham pressed Hagel shortly after he expressed "regret" for the remarks VIDEO
Topics: Video, Chuck Hagel, Lindsey Graham, Senate Armed Services Committee, Israel, Defense Secretary, Politics News
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., pressed Chuck Hagel about an interview in which Hagel referred to the “Jewish lobby.” Graham asked: “Name one dumb thing we’ve been goaded into doing by the Israeli, Jewish lobby.”
The comments in question were from 2006, in an interview with Middle East analyst Aaron David Miller. “The political reality is that you intimidate, not you — that the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here,” Hagel said. “Again, I have always argued against some of the dumb things they do because I don’t think it’s in the interest of Israel. I just don’t think it’s smart for Israel.”
In his confirmation hearings Thursday, Hagel again expressed regret for those comments, first in response to questions from Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. “I’ve already said I regret referencing the Jewish lobby,” Hagel said. “I should have said pro-Israel lobby. I think it’s the only time on the record I’ve ever said that.” He added that he should have said “influence,” not “intimidate,” and “I should not have said ‘dumb’ or ‘stupid’ because I understand, appreciate there are different views in these things.”
Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com. More Jillian Rayfield.
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