Maher on Hagel: Based on GOP statements 'the Israelis are controlling our government'

On Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday, the host took issue with Senate Republican's blocking of Chuck Hagel's confirmation as Secretary of Defense -- actions which have been called unprecedented by Democrats, although USA Today reports that leading senators claim that they will allow a vote the week of Feb. 25.

"A Republican, let me emphasize that, a Republican, right wing senator. He's Obama's choice for Secretary of Defense -- their filibustering it. This has never happened before. Fifty-eight senators voted for Hagel. One senator, Lindsay Graham (R-SC), says he wants answers about Benghazi, which has nothing to do with Chuck Hagel."

Jamie Weinstein, senior editor of the Daily Caller, argued that there were still legitimate questions that senators had about Hagel.

"Just yesterday, there was a new speech that they believe in which during the question and answer at Rutgers University, he claimed that the State Department was controlled by the Israeli government," he argued.

"Based on every statement I’ve heard out of any Republican in the last two years, the Israelis are controlling our government," Maher quipped.

"They're going after all his speeches, talking points, things he wrote on a napkin in the middle of the night," said Donna Brazile, author and Vice Chair of Voter Registration and Participation for the DNC.

Watch the video, via Mediaite, below.