McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill
McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill
Last week, the Senate brought the Intelligence Authorization Bill — which contained a provision banning waterboarding — to the floor for a vote. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), an outspoken waterboarding critic, voted against the bill.
At the time, ThinkProgress questioned whether McCain would stand with Bush’s threatened veto of the legislation. Today, the AP reports that McCain has come out saying Bush should veto the measure, which would make the Army Field Manual the standard for CIA interrogations.
Talking to reporters today, McCain attempted to defend his stance:
“I said there should be additional techniques allowed to other agencies of government as long as they were not” torture. “I was on the record as saying that they could use additional techniques as long as they were not cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment,” McCain said.
“So the vote was in keeping with my clear record of saying that they could have additional techniques, but those techniques could not violate” international rules against torture.
But the vote was not “in keeping” with McCain’s unclear record on torture; in the past, McCain called waterboarding a “terrible and odious practice” that “should never be condoned in the U.S.”
McCain is trying to have it both ways. He claims the CIA should not use “cruel” or “unusual” interrogations, but he is defending Bush’s veto, a clear approval of waterboarding.
Furthermore, what are these “additional techniques” outside the Field Manual that McCain thinks the CIA needs? Marty Lederman noted that the CIA can currently use “stress positions, hypothermia, threats to the detainee and his family, severe sleep deprivation, and severe sensory deprivation.”
A veto would mean the “CIA will continue to assert the right to use all of these techniques.” In standing with Bush’s veto, does McCain, a former prisoner of war, support these types of harsh interrogations, too?
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
69 Responses to “McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Attention! Fish on Deck!
February 20th, 2008 at 4:12 pmThis is the front runner of the republican party. RIP GOP
February 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pmCaption contest: "Give me your hand. I'll show you how to do it."
February 20th, 2008 at 4:14 pmThat flipping flopping fish is gasping for air.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:14 pmCaption contest: "Can I just...give you a little kiss on the ear?"
February 20th, 2008 at 4:17 pmTOTAL F#$CKING SELLOUT !
Should the CIA be able to use ZYCLON B ??
Can they stuff people into ovens too??
Whats next for these war criminals?
February 20th, 2008 at 4:18 pmMan, two free arrows put in Obama's quiver in one day by Mac. Good thing for him there is some down time in his future before the General election gets going full bore.
The only reason I can figure for why he is doing all this is to open up the money taps on the Right. He already has the nomination, he doesn't need to out Huck Huck anymore, this has got to be warchest driven.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:20 pmHe's obviously aligning himself with Bush and trying to appear that he is not. That's not going to play well in the general election. Apparently he still takes orders from Bush no matter how low his aprroval rating sinks.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:20 pmThis is the guy who today attacked Senator Obama's character for "not feeping his word" on using public funds for campaign because Senator Obama said he would want a mutual commitment before agreeing to the limits that public funds impose.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:21 pmThis is the guy who changed his positions on taxes, teaching evolution and just about everything else in order to try and sway conservatives to him.
I think that he would torture his own family if it would get him elected. He already cruely dumped a disabled wife in order to get his trophy wife so perhaps that is not all that far from literal truth. This certainly is not a man of character regardless his war record.
#9 rehbock, some folks would consider that bass mouthed blonde of McCain's a trophy wife, but I'd throw her back in a heartbeat.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pmOk now hes just making it TOO easy... its like shooting fish in a barrel... retarded fish!
February 20th, 2008 at 4:23 pmWho are you pandering to when you condone torture? Conservatives? The religious extreme? '24' fans?
February 20th, 2008 at 4:24 pmCaption:
Just let me get this unzipped...
February 20th, 2008 at 4:28 pmCaption: "...to love, honor, and obey until death do us part."
And here I thought they were against gay marriage.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:31 pmThe Manchurian Candidate strikes again! Obviously the administration found a way to prematurely trigger the conditioning he recieved in North Vietnam. Unfortunately the premature trigger lead to premature meltdown. Now Bush and Lincoln will be forever linked by history. Lincoln was the first Republican president. Bush will be the last.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:32 pmImpeach Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
Soooo a veto would be an admission to being a WAR CRIMINAL? I think that this would certainly be so.
I will continue to write the NEW PRESIDENT that will take over in Jan., PRESIDENT OBAMA, to do the right thing and bring these WAR CRIMINALS to trial. Assuming that GW666 and Darth Cheney don't flee to Paraguay first.
Buck Fush
February 20th, 2008 at 4:34 pmIt's now evident that McCain is senile. He has forgotten what it means to be tortured. It's a wonder he remembers his name and recognizes his wife.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:36 pm..."trophy wife"... you must be referring to the woman with the creepy eyes that spends her days sucking lemons.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:39 pmComment by good_golly — February 20, 2008 @ 4:35 pm
The bill bans waterboarding, goon_golly. Please try to keep up.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:40 pmI don't give a rat's patootie about McCain's torture in Vietnam and his "hero" status.
His current position on torture negates what he went through since he obviously feels the ends justify the means in time of war.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:41 pmThis maverkick is ready for the glue factory.
-GSD
February 20th, 2008 at 4:41 pmWonder how much g_g gets paid to post here.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:42 pmMcCain is just another Republican Hypocrite. Boy, there sure are a lot of them.
McCain is the guy who sung like a canary confessing to things he did not do or believe -- while being tortured.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:43 pmWonder how much g_g gets paid to post here.
Comment by Cats r Flyfishn — February 20, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
Anything more than a buck a week is too much. Someone is getting ripped off.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:44 pm7 - Keltoi, "warchest driven"...? Please.
You're being far, far too kind to that raddled old whore.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pmIt really makes one wonder about people sometimes. he used to a few years ago even had respect from those who were very much to the left of him. they looked and saw someone who even though he was somewhat more conservative than Attilla, he also had some sort of action going on that you thought he has his reasons for what he does.
Now he has lost any credibility, he panders, he is all over the boat with multiple hooks not only in the mouth but I got tell you it looks like he's been snagged all over, another one for the fertilizer plant.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pmOpening ceremony
On February 17 2008, the Iranian Oil Bourse was inaugurated in a video conference ceremony from the capital Tehran attended by ministers of oil, finance and economic affairs as well as chairman of Iran's Stock Exchange and a number of other officials and financial experts.The transactions will be made in Iranian rial and other major currencies. The Iranian Oil Bourse will likely accept Russian ruble as well. The first transaction of the IOB took place at 9:30 the following morning, when 2200 tonnes of light duty polyethylene, held in 100 tonne cases, were traded.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Oil_Bourse
February 20th, 2008 at 4:48 pmG G,
Then why doesn't he SAY that? How hard is it to take a stand against torture?
*Caption contest*
George: Your wrinkly old hand feels kinda funny.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:48 pmJohn: There's nothing funny about what I feel...
Let's have Bush torture Cheney & McCain can decide if it's too cruel.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:49 pmIs he McFlip or McFlop now, hard to keep up........
February 20th, 2008 at 4:49 pmthreats to the detainee and his family
That should keep the raping murdering US troops happy then
February 20th, 2008 at 4:50 pmGG, just go back to slamming your head on your keyboard, your posts are not conning anyone here.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:55 pm"On July 25, 2005 Senator John McCain -- a former prisoner of war for some 5-1/2 years during the Vietnam War who was reportedly tortured repeatedly during his captivity -- submitted an amendment to a military spending bill, intended to restrict all US government interrogators from using interrogation techniques not authorized in the Army Field Manual.
On October 20, 2005 Vice President Dick Cheney met with McCain to try to convince him to agree that his amendment should only apply to military interrogators. Cheney wanted to continue to allow civilian interrogators, working for US intelligence agencies, to use more extended interrogation techniques. McCain did not agree.
McCain's amendment passed, and is now called the Detainee Treatment Act."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM_34-52_Intelligence_Interrogation
February 20th, 2008 at 4:55 pmGoonie - McCain SAYS lots of things that have absolutely NOTHING whatsoever to do with the truth.
You're obviously a complete naif.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:55 pmWow, and they said that Clinton will say anything to get elected... Is there anything that Grumps McCrazy won't say to pander to the base?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:01 pmBloomberg: New York count 'fraud'
Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:07:12
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the results for the New York Democratic presidential primary suggest that 'fraud' has been committed.
The New York mayor was pointing to unofficial results in which Senator Barack Obama reportedly recieved no votes in nearly 80 New York State districts.
"If you want to call it significant undercounting, I guess that's a euphemism for fraud," said Bloomberg.
Election officials have claimed that the result was but a mere 'error'.
Unofficial tallies have given the rising Democratic presidential hopeful no votes in 78 out of more than 6,000 election districts.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:03 pm7 - Keltoi, “warchest drivenâ€â€¦? Please.
You’re being far, far too kind to that raddled old whore.
Comment by Leftside Annie — February 20, 2008 @ 4:46 pm
I am a kind guy, Annie.
I also assume there are reasons behind what politicians do. He has, as a moderate hated by the hard Right, nonetheless won the nomination. He has no NEED to pander to the Right at this point, yet he is doing it. I therefore infer he is doing it to raise money; it is too early for it to be for activating the right wing base. It is never too early to raise money.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:05 pmTo say that he “voted in favor of waterboarding†or “condones torture†is a blatant LIE, and quite a distasteful one at that considering McCain is a War Hero that personally endured torture.
Comment by good_golly
He got shot down, got tortured, gave up military secrets, did not escape, got home and ran for public office - 25 years ago. What part of his effort would constitute being a War Hero? Sucking at the government trough for 25 years? Being married to the war horse? leaving his ill wife on her death bed? What makes him a hero to you?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:07 pmMcLIAR
February 20th, 2008 at 5:08 pmKeltoi - McCrazy panders BECAUSE he is a whore of the worst kind.
He would willingly kill and eat his child - if he thought it would get him the presidency.
Don't you get that...?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:09 pmThat settles it . . .
They ARE the terrah-ists !
February 20th, 2008 at 5:10 pmHey McCan't - how does it feel to forsake your true principles for the votes from the religious right. I bet you're feeling a little skanky right about now. Let's hope that election loss is worth your character.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pmMcCain was against torture before he was for it.
Gee, perphaps he's nostalgic for "the good old days."
If so, we can waterboard him to his heart's content.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pmYeah, Darryll - tell us how well torture worked on Jesus, why don't you?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:19 pmKeltoi - McCrazy panders BECAUSE he is a whore of the worst kind.
He would willingly kill and eat his child - if he thought it would get him the presidency.
Don’t you get that…?
Comment by Leftside Annie — February 20, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
I think you are exaggerating a weeeee bit, Annie. None of your opinions of him are provable. Obviously he wants to be Prez, that goes without saying. I am trying to analyze his tactics - as I said in my first post, this position is handing Obama a weapon; these people aren't crazy, there has to be a perceived gain in doing it.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:21 pmThey have always supported waterboarding and will continue to support it until the day they die. It is a resourceful tool.
Comment by Daryll — February 20, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
Who Would Jesus Torture?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:24 pmWho Would Jesus Torture?
Comment by Wayne — February 20, 2008 @ 5:24 pm
You mean after Daryll?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:28 pmJust Kidding Daryll. My quess is Jesus wouldn't really want to have anything to do with you one way or another
I thought you guys stated that McCain and the Whitehouse dissapprove waterboarding? They never made this statement. They have always supported waterboarding and will continue to support it until the day they die. It is a resourceful tool.
Comment by Daryll — February 20, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
Take it up with goon_golly, Daryll. That troll disagrees with you.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:28 pmleaving his ill wife on her death bed? What makes him a hero to you?
Comment by StratRat — February 20, 2008 @ 5:07 pm
He left his ill wife, who waited for him the whole time he was a POW, to have an affair with his current wife. Thats values for ya.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:28 pmWayne - You mean his current wife, the one who set up a non-profit so she could score drugs? Cindy, the drug-addict who stole Doctors' DEA registration #'s so she could have her dope prescribed to vounteers in her office? That one?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:32 pmI also assume there are reasons behind what politicians do. He has, as a moderate hated by the hard Right, nonetheless won the nomination. He has no NEED to pander to the Right at this point, yet he is doing it. I therefore infer he is doing it to raise money; it is too early for it to be for activating the right wing base. It is never too early to raise money.
Comment by Keltoi — February 20, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
Oh, phooey. He absolutely does have to pander to the Right because he can't get elected without them. Do you think he can hold off until October to start pandering? You don't think McCain recognizes the possibility of a third party candidate from the Right? He started pandering to the Right a year ago when he started kissing Jerry Falwell's butt: http://tinyurl.com/2j5vmc
And he hasn't quit since.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:32 pmMcCain, war hero? Never. just another loser. crashed his plane after dropping napalm on civilians, then sang like a bird to the enemy. some hero.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:34 pmI dont think the money taps trust the little maverick. Ever ride one of those rent horses that try to bite you and head for the stall no matter how much you yank its reins?
February 20th, 2008 at 5:47 pmI don’t give a rat’s patootie about McCain’s torture in Vietnam and his “hero†status.
Comment by Badmoodman
I still don't understand what he did to become a "hero". All he did was get captured and survive the captivity. I don't think that makes him a "hero".
February 20th, 2008 at 5:59 pmThey have always supported waterboarding and will continue to support it until the day they die. It is a resourceful tool.
Comment by Daryll — February 20, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
Who would Jesus waterboard Daryll?
February 20th, 2008 at 6:04 pmThey have always supported waterboarding and will continue to support it until the day they die. It is a resourceful tool.
Comment by Daryll
What good did torturing Jesus do Daryll?
February 20th, 2008 at 6:06 pmIn fairness, McCain can be described in one word which begins with "W". Unfortunately it's not "wise", or "warrior", or "wonderful". It's WHORE.
February 20th, 2008 at 6:14 pmHe left his ill wife, who waited for him the whole time he was a POW, to have an affair with his current wife. Thats values for ya.
Comment by Wayne — February 20, 2008 @ 5:28 pm
Thanks for the update that the wife he dumped was disabled, I'm compiling some info here http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/the-real-john-mccain/#respond if you have anything else.
February 20th, 2008 at 6:18 pmfrom the link to daryll's website.....in the scrolling box on the right.
The First Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc.
doesn't look like a non profit does it?
February 20th, 2008 at 6:56 pmI live in AZ. McCain has been my Senator foir many years. He is not the brightest guy and known as a hot head. He has often taken opposite positions on things when wanting to court votes. Basically, he married the daughter of the guy who had the AZ Budweiser distributorship and used that money and his war-hero status to get into politics. Reportedly, at the time he was debating which Party he would run under. The scary thing is that he only sees military solutions to problems.
But every now and then he actually tries to do something decent. That makes him better than most GOPers. It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't run under the slogan "Straight Talk Express". Still, he is better than John Kyle, the junior Senator.
February 20th, 2008 at 6:58 pmDaryll thinks we should nail the swarthy middle east terrorists to a cross with nails through the wrists and ankles, raise them in the air and let them die slowly.
Cut their sides a little for good measure. That'll make them talk.
Or, maybe it will make martyrs out of them and many more of the swarthy bastards will join their cause because of your torture.
February 20th, 2008 at 7:09 pmMcCain is truly, absolutely, a political whore. He will do or say anything to get votes. The epitome of flip-flopping. Against torture/for torture. What a creep.
February 20th, 2008 at 8:13 pmgood_golly: Maybe he is against torture but he lacks the principle and character to act against the administration. The CIA used waterboarding, the now AG refused to say it was illegal, the President condoned it, the syncophants are busily trying to justify it. If McCain cared more about what he is for or against than whether it will get him support in his election effort, he would be taking action that precluded any more clearly and finally. He would be insisting that Bush and the CIA be held accountable for what they did. He would have voted against the AG. He would condemn this administration in a way that this thread never arose.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:36 am.
John 'America's 'TORTURED VET'" McCampaign approves of TORTURE.
Where's the hypocrisy in that?
.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:25 am.
#36 Comment by impeachcheneythenbush — February 20, 2008 @ 4:55 pm
And that was the exact bill that Bush issued his signing statement where he said he could interpret that law any way he saw damn fit to. That was the day the "DECIDER" was born.
Do you really think that McCampaign doesn't want to be the next "DECIDER"? For if he was in support of the intent of his bill that Bush "LINE ITEMED", McCampaign would be speaking out against that "DECIDER" moment, wouldn't he?
Personally, McCampaign is showing his true character on this one.
"IT'S NOT TORTURE WHEN AMERICA DOES IT."
(or when the DECIDER says so...)
.
February 21st, 2008 at 2:35 amWell soon they will be not only torturing the Islamic world, but American citizens also. If they can do it in Iraq, they can eventually be able to do it in America too. This is outragous and anyone who supports the torturing of suspects who could possibly be innocent.
They try to portray torturing as "the solution to resolve terrorism". But torturing is ineffective and is only used to find someone to blame for a crime. For example, If I or any other normal person was being tortured, we would confess even if we didn't actually commit the crime.
February 24th, 2008 at 7:31 pmHillary will win in November against McCain or more of the same McBushIII. Obama cannot win, particularly now. Sure looks like to me that Obama is showing himself for the far left latte drinker that he has been since the start. Remember, divide and conquer in Europe by taking advantage of the youth and minority races? Starting to rack them up and the republicans will have a field day in November i.e. monster, NAFTAgate, his real plans for his Irag withdrawal revealed, small town slam and oh yeah, [W]right!!!! Obama’s latest truly revealing small small town slam calling “US” bitter, etc., finally shows him for the elitist rat that he has been from the start and has managed to hide thus far. Wake up America! He doesn't care a thing about promoting anybody but himself. We need Hillary Clinton. We can still save the nominating process and the Democratic Party, if we do the right thing in the primaries left to come. Let's not let the rest of America down. Decisive wins for Hillary in all remaining primaries will put Obama back in his rightful place- a rookie senator. We can still do this and I know the rest of "US" is counting on us. One last thing, where are the ranting raves by the MSM on this issue and why aren't they running this over and over and over again? He will lose the nomination because he is finally identified as the inferior candidate. We have to beat McCain in the fall Americans. Vote Hillary for a victory for the Democrats in November, otherwise we're doomed.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:04 amWe should never forget that McCain actually confessed to being a war criminal while under interrogation by the Viet Cong. He claims that he was tortured while imprisoned as a POW, but is now actually on record supporting Bush's policy of torturing prisoners of war!
So the question begging to be asked is, was McCain tortured until he lied? If he was tortured into lying, then that means he's a political hypocrite who will sacrifice the safety of our own troops in harm's way to just to score political points.
On the other hand, was he tortured until he was forced into telling the truth about being a war criminal?
OR maybe he wasn't tortured at all. Maybe it was "enhanced Interrogation that just felt like torture at the time.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:22 pma former prisoner of war for some 5-1/2 years during the Vietnam War who was reportedly tortured repeatedly during his captivity — submitted an amendment to a military spending bill, intended to restrict all US government interrogators from using interrogation techniques not authorized in the Army Field Manual.
On October 20, 2005 Vice President Dick Cheney met with McCain to try to convince him to agree that his amendment should only apply to military interrogators. Cheney acer aspire 5920 battery,acer as07b31 battery wanted to continue to allow civilian interrogators, working for US intelligence agencies, to use more extended interrogation techniques. McCain did not agree.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:06 am