71-27 Vote Kills Filibuster
By Harold Hutchison
Former Senator Chuck Hagel was confirmed by the United States Senate after a Republican filibuster was broken. The 71-27 cloture vote removed the only obstacle to Hagel’s confirmation, which became very rocky after the former Senator badly stumbled during his confirmation hearings.
Of the 41 no votes for confirmation, at least 14 voted for cloture. Had those who voted no on the nomination held firm in the filibuster, Hagel’s nomination would have failed.