Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) “grew irate” when former Sen. Chuck Hagel at his confirmation hearing to be defense secretary “wouldn’t say whether he believed the 2007 troop surge in Iraq helped stabilize that country,” Politico reports.
McCain: “Are you going to answer the question? Let the record show that you refused to answer the question.”
Hagel: “I’m not going to give you a yes or no. I’ll defer that judgment to history.”
McCain: “History has already made a judgment on the surge, and you’re on the wrong side of it.”
McCain said later he might oppose Hagel’s nomination because of his refusal to give him a direct response.
