Verona, PA - Former Republican presidential candidate and Patriot Voices Chairman Rick Santorum issued the following statement on the Senate vote to confirm President Obama's nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense:

"I'm disappointed Senators would vote to support Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary because it sends the wrong message to our allies and enemies in the Middle East. Hagel has made a career of being outside the mainstream on foreign policy issues.  He's been too lenient on Iran's development of nuclear weapons, he's alienated our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel, and second guessed the troop surge in Iraq.   In addition, during confirmation hearings, he failed to provide full details of profits from foreign investors and statements he made during past speaking engagements.  I fear the signal that Hagel's nomination sends to our enemies abroad."