FOX NEWS FLASHBACK: Opposing (GOP) Cabinet Pick Is "Petty", "Mean Spirited" And "Obstructionist"

[The Straight Story]

....

The closest comparison, and it isn't even that close, came when President Bush nominated Condoleezza Rice to be Secretary of State during his second term. Some Democrats objected, noting that Rice had helped plan, and publicly market, the controversial Iraq invasion; an invasion built around the false premise that Saddam Hussein was hoarding weapons of mass destruction.

Unlike Hagel (a critic of the Iraq War), Rice was easily confirmed by the Senate committee overseeing her selection, and was then given a full vote in the senate, which approved her 85-13. Democrats made no effort to place a "hold" or to filibuster her confirmation. As Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) told Fox's Chris Wallace at the time of the Rice nomination, "The president is entitled to his Cabinet." Feinstein added that she didn't want Rice "diminished in the eyes of the world," via the confirmation process.

But the mere fact that a handful of Democrats opposed Rice and pressed her closely about the Iraq War during the confirmation process prompted several rounds of angry complaints from Fox News. The same Fox News that now touts the Hagel filibuster as a "major win."

Back during the winter of 2005, Sean Hannity was furious Democrats refused to vote on the Rice confirmation in time for Bush's second Inauguration Day. This was viewed as the ultimate partisan insult. (By contrast, Obama was inaugurated more than three weeks ago, Hagel's confirmation vote still hasn't taken place, and Republicans seek to delay it further.)

On January 19, 2005, when an agitated Hannity asked Newt Gingrich about the Democrats' handling of the secretary of state nomination, the Fox News contributor denounced it as "petty and mean spirited and obstructionist."

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/02/15/fox-news-flashback-opposing-gop-cabinet-pick-is/192684

[TwilightGardener]

1. Reading around the internetz, this filibuster is being seen as a big stupid mistake.

In their quest for more time to find dirt to bring Hagel down, they look like jackasses to the point where the actual dirt they find better be REALLY GOOD to justify the obstruction.

[jambo101]

2. Its just about republican hate

Republicans have become the party of hate,Hate Obama, hate everything he does,hate Hagel etc. its a knee jerk reaction to them at this point,rather unfortunate that America is suffering as a consequence to their continued obstructionist policies all because they hate Obama, it amazes me how most of these ignorant righties get voted in..

[The Straight Story]

3. I think they want to make the US suffer

to 'teach it a lesson' for not electing more of them, and then using the problems they create to blame Obama come next election cycles.

Their cult like followers will slip into that bubble and believe it.

[EastKYLiberal]

4. I don't agree with blocking appoints or legislative agendas, no matter the party in the White House.

A President is democratically elected. His appointments and legislative agenda are an extension of him and what the American people voted for.

[MiniMe]

5. I agreed with blocking John Bolton

But even the republicans were blocking him. I don't think they blocked him by filibuster though, he just couldn't get enough votes.

[The Straight Story]

6. Pretty much sums it up for me as well

Unless the person has some blatant issue that would inhibit them from performing the job take it to a vote and move on.

[Johonny]

7. and of course Rice went on to have a great career at the state department... right?

which is why Clinton was welcomed with open arms on her first day. Rice was generally considered just short of dreadful. She was good at the press photo thing, terrible at picking replacements, filling positions and actually creating a working state department. At least that was the word in 2008 when she left and people under her finally were free to talk.