WASHINGTON — Conservative Sen. Ted Cruz suggested through a statement that President Obama should consider former Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent who caucused with Democrats, to replace Chuck Hagel as the Secretary of Defense.
Cruz said last week that the Senate shouldn't confirm any of Obama's nominees as a way to fight against the president's executive actions on immigration, but noted in his statement that the Secretary of Defense is "a vital national security position" that should be confirmed quickly.
"Today's resignation reflects the ongoing damage caused by President Obama's misguided foreign policy of leading from behind. We need a Secretary of Defense who is squarely focused on defending the national security interests of the United States, first and foremost, and especially preventing a bad deal over Iran's nuclear weapons program that could do irreparable harm to us and our allies. One strong option would be former Sen. Joe Lieberman, a member of the President's own party with deep experience and unshakable commitment to the security of the United States. I urge the President to give him full and fair consideration for this critical position. "Additionally, in response to the President's illegal executive amnesty announced last week, I have called on Senate Republican leadership to halt confirmation of all of the President's executive and judicial nominations, with the exception of vital national security positions. By any measure, the Secretary of Defense is a vital national security position, and the Senate should promptly confirm a strong and qualified nominee."