Filibuster, Cloture for Cabinet Nominees Unusual, Holds Not So Much

Plenty of Cabinet nominees faced holds from various senators

Now that Republicans have successfully filibustered Chuck Hagel's nomination (whatever they want to call it), Democrats are calling the move "unprecedented." Are they right?

There has never been a cloture vote on a nominee for secretary of defense, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday. And a Cabinet nominee has never been defeated by filibuster.