White House Falters on Legitimacy of Iranian Government

White House press secretary Jay Carney stumbled Thursday during a line of questioning regarding the legitimacy of the Iranian government, just hours after the beginning of the contentious confirmation hearing of Secretary of Defense nominee Chuck Hagel.

"Excuse me, can you ask that again?" Carney responded when a reporter asked if Obama agrees with his nominee, who stated before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that the Iranian government is "elected and legitimate."

"Our views on the last presidential election were clearly expressed," he added, before criticizing Iran for its violations of United Nations resolutions mandatng it immediately cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Asked again, Carney criticizing "the government that we are dealing with" as "continuing unacceptable behavior."

In his confirmation hearing earlier Thursday, Hagel, who has long come under fire for his soft stance on Iran, inadvertently said the Obama administration supports “containment,” calling the country an “elected legitimate government.”

"I support the president's strong position on containment, as I have said," said the former Republican senator from Nebraska.

The statement differed, however, from his prepared opening statement, in which he said: "I am fully committed to the president’s goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and — as I’ve said in the past — all options must be on the table to achieve that goal.”

Hagel added that the country is "a member of the United Nations. Almost all of our allies have embassies in Iran ... [It is] an elected, legitimate government, whether we agree or not."

Thanks Eleutheria5.

"Excuse me, can you ask that again?" Carney responded when a reporter asked if Obama agrees with his nominee, who stated before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that the Iranian government is "elected and legitimate." "Our views on the last presidential election were clearly expressed," he added... Asked again, Carney criticizing "the government that we are dealing with" as "continuing unacceptable behavior." In his confirmation hearing earlier Thursday, Hagel... said the Obama administration supports "containment,” calling the country an "elected legitimate government.” "I support the president's strong position on containment, as I have said," ... The statement differed, however, from his prepared opening statement...

from the FRchives:

Is Chuck Hagel Simply Ignorant? Or Worse?

Mr. President: Chuck Hagel!

Slate: How Chuck Hagel could advance gun control (barf alert)

Containing Hagel -- Tehran is pleased that we aren't. (Mark Steyn)

Iran adviser describes Hagel testimony as "somewhere between baffling and incomprehensible"

White House Readying Hagel Replacement

Matthews on McCain's grilling of Hagel: I think he might have been having a Vietnam flashback

Chris Matthews Smears John McCain as an 'Angry' Vietnam Vet Having a 'Flashback'Sen. Kirk opposes Chuck Hagel as defense nominee On Iran, Hagel Muddles the Message [Missouri] Senator Blunt: "No" On Hagel Harriet Hagel -- We thought Chuck Hagel was wrong. Now we know he's unqualified, too. There's Reason Ted Cruz's Questions To Chuck Hagel Angered And Confused Democrats Hagel Testimony = Fail Hagel Hearing: Scarborough So Contemptuous Of Ted Cruz, Won't Mention Him By Name Caption Hagel Chuck Hagel: Unworthy of Confirmation Posted By On Obammunist Hacks at NBC BLACK-OUT Hagel Confirmation Hearing Meltdown Pentagon Lobbies for Hagel to Be Boss Sen. Ted Cruz Questioning Chuck Hagel in Confirmation Hearing Hagel faulted for calling US "world bully" in Al Jazeera interview Freep a Poll! (Fox. Confirm Hagel as Sec. of Defense?) Hagel: If confirmed, I'll be sure to learn much more about the Defense department Hagel sinking Ted Cruz Stuns Hagel With Al Jazeera 'Bully' Bite (Video at link) 'This Hagel hearing is a disaster' Chuck Hagel: Iran's Government 'Elected' and 'Legitimate' Hagel: Iran Has Legitimate, Elected Government (Barfus Maximus) 'This Hagel hearing is a disaster': Liberals take to Twitter to slam Hagel Hagel Nomination: Iranians Giddy Sen. John Cornyn: The Case against Chuck Hagel Iraqi Ally of Israel on Hagel, "This is Not a Minister of Defense, But a Minister of Chaos" Hagel in 2003: Israel Keeps 'Palestinians Caged Up Like Animals' Chuck Hagel's colleague: So many Jews, so much disloyalty Rep. McKinley: No on Chuck Hagel Why Republicans Should Welcome Chuck Hagel To The Pentagon's Top Job Secret Donors Finance Fight Against Hagel Hagel Backtracks on Nukes- Hagel walks back from anti-nuclear positions What Do John Kerry, Chuck Hagel, and John Brennan Have in Common? Is Chuck Hagel a George Soros Plant? We Look At the Evidence Hagel pushes wealth redistribution to Third World & other dangerous stuff Did Obama Steal The Election With Hagel's Help? Would you hire Chuck Hagel? The Hagel Case Chuck Hagel? Hell No! Defense Pick Linked to Institute for Policy Studies, Anti-Military Marxists Did Obama Steal The Election With Hagel's Help? Chuck Hagel: A Man to Watch -- Carefully Chuck Hagel says he regrets 'Jewish lobby' remark Arianna Huffington & Scarborough Claim: W.F. Buckley, Jr. Would Have Supported Hagel Hagel Allies Coordinate Smear Campaign Against Critics, Emails Reveal McCain, vocal with reservations toward Hagel, won't block nomination Hawks on Iraq Prepare for War Again, Against Hagel Chuck Hagel -- It's The Anti-Americanism, Stupid Corker: Say, that Hagel's got quite a temper, eh? Colin Powell: Hagel 'Knows What War Is' This comes from a man without credibility Sen. Bill Nelson: Chuck Hagel is a 'dedicated public servant and patriot' [D-FL] Hagel vs. too-big-to-fail Defense Department ... Mark Steyn Obama Gun Control Executive Order: Is Defense Pick Chuck Hagel a Factor? Freep a Poll! (Fox. Confirm Hagel as Defense Secretary?) Israel Is OK with Hagel as Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, anti-Semite?

2 posted on 02/02/2013 3:15:29 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)

3 posted on 02/02/2013 3:23:33 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)

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