OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe says he
remains opposed to President Barack Obama's nomination of former U.S.
Sen. Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense.
In an opening statement before the Senate Armed
Services Committee on Thursday, Inhofe described Hagel as a "good man,"
but added that his record is "deeply troubling and out of the
mainstream."
Inhofe is the top ranking Republican on the committee, which is holding a confirmation hearing for Hagel on Thursday.
Inhofe complained that Hagel's record demonstrates
he will be a staunch advocate for the continuation of Obama's "misguided
policies."
On the issue of the defense budget, Inhofe says he
disagrees with Hagel's position that the Defense Department is bloated
and that the Pentagon needs to be pared down.
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