Key Senate chairmen praise Obama national security team

President-elect Obama's national security nominees won praise Monday from key Senate Democrats and appear to be headed toward smooth confirmations. As expected, Obama nominated Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., to be secretary of State; Eric Holder as attorney general; Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as Homeland Security secretary and Susan Rice as ambassador to the United Nations. Obama also said he plans to keep Robert Gates as Defense secretary and name Jim Jones as national security adviser.

"Democrats and Republicans alike agree that with these extraordinary nominees, we will begin to make Americans more secure and restore America's leadership around the globe," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. Republicans were largely silent on the picks Monday.

Democratic chairmen who will hold confirmation hearings praised the selections, although they pointed to areas where they will seek to influence policy. Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said Obama "has selected a rock-solid national security team."

Levin praised Gates' "actions in restoring a measure of accountability in the Pentagon" and highlighted the secretary's call for Afghans to increase their security role by doubling their army's size. Since he is already in office, Gates will not need to be confirmed again.

Calling Napolitano a "strong nominee," Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., said he looks forward to getting her "perspective on the anti-terrorism responsibilities of the department." Lieberman, who campaigned strongly for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and questioned Obama's qualifications to run the country, also praised Obama's other selections: "At a moment in history when our nation faces both great dangers and great opportunities in our foreign relations, the president-elect has begun to build an administration that can lead America forward on the world stage with purpose and principle," he said.

At a briefing, Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said he will schedule a confirmation hearing for Holder "as promptly as possible" after consulting with Judiciary ranking member Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

Citing frequent conversations with Holder, a former U.S. attorney and deputy attorney general, Leahy suggested Holder will ally with Democrats who want to further overhaul the department in the wake of the firing of U.S. attorneys and a perception the department is too politicized. Holder "is well aware of the scandals ... He is going to put it back together," Leahy said. He said Holder's popularity with career staff would help restore morale damaged under former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Republicans have raised concerns about Holder's failure to prevent former President Bill Clinton's pardon of financier Marc Rich, but Leahy said he expected several Judiciary Committee Republicans to support Holder. "It wasn't Holder who gave the pardon," Leahy said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., also praised the picks Monday. When asked about Obama's national security team, Pelosi said the choices should give "great confidence" and show the foreign policy of the next administration will be "respected" and "built around strength."

Megan Scully and Christian Bourge contributed to this report.