To a question about Chuck Hagel's performance before the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday, the White House insisted that it stands by its nomination of the former Republican senator from Nebraska to be secretary of defense.
"We expect the Senate to confirm Sen. Hagel," press secretary Jay Carney told reporters at the White House Friday. The president's top spokesman went on to say, "there has been a net increase in the number of 'yes' votes [in the Senate]" to confirm Hagel.
Carney also criticized what he considered "stridency" in questions directed against Hagel by his former Republican colleagues.
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