Paul says that he has 'mixed feelings' about the defense nominee. Paul: I'd let Obama make his picks

Sen. Rand Paul told a group of New York conservatives he hasn’t decided whether to vote to confirm Chuck Hagel as Defense secretary but that he takes seriously the president’s prerogative to choose his political appointees.

The Kentucky Republican said his bigger issue is with CIA nominee John Brennan, whose confirmation Paul has threatened to block until Brennan explains his views on the executive branch’s authority to conduct drone strikes.


( PHOTOS: Protesters at John Brennan hearing)

Paul made the comments at the New York Meeting, a new splinter group of a longtime conservative confab of donors and operatives held around once a month.

After remarking that he has “mixed feelings” about Hagel, Paul was pressed by a woman in the crowd and asked whether he would vote for him.

“I voted for John Kerry and I agree with nothing he represents,” he said, “but I voted for him because I thought there was a level of at least basic human decency and honesty that exists there … and that the president has the prerogative to determine political appointees.”

His comment about Kerry was met with whispers of “really?” from a few people in the crowd.

He went on, “I would never vote for him in an election so I saw it a little bit differently. I see Hagel and Brennan and [Treasury nominee Jack] Lew kind of the same way. I don’t agree with much of their policies with any of them … They’re going to be Obama appointees … On Hagel, there’s criticims of both on the conservative right there’s also criticism on the libertarian right.”

( PHOTOS: Chuck Hagel’s confirmation hearing)

Paul said Hagel is “not a small government libertarian” and added, “There are reasons to vote against him … and I did vote against cloture … [but] I haven’t yet decided on final passage. To me right now, and I know people are hot and heavy on the Hagel thing — I’m more hot and heavy on the Brennan thing.”

At the same time, Paul was critical of Republicans for sending signals that Hagel will clear the confirmation vote, saying, “To announce this week that we’re already giving up (on Hagel) … what a waste of time.”