State Dept: Bush’s Record On ‘Pushing For Human Rights’ Is As Good As Any Other President Or Country
State Dept: Bush’s Record On ‘Pushing For Human Rights’ Is As Good As Any Other President Or Country
Today, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Libyan leader Moamer Gadhafi’s son, Seif al-Islam. In a press briefing yesterday leading up to the meeting, reporters pressed State Dept. spokesperson Sean McCormack on whether Rice would urge Libya to release Libyan activist Fathi al-Jahmi, a political prisoner who is gravely ill.
McCormack offered a defensive response: “I have to make it very clear we are concerned not only about Mr. al-Jahmi’s case, but other human rights cases around the world.” McCormack also claimed that President Bush’s human rights record could perhaps be the best in American history:
McCORMACK: And — and one thing I do take exception to is the idea that somehow we are not attentive to pushing the issue of human rights, whether it’s in Libya or any place else around the world. I don’t think — I would put the record of this administration up against any American administration or any other government around the world in terms of promoting universal human rights and pushing for human rights.
Watch it (around 8:20):
Under the Bush administration, the world has witnessed torture, rendition, and the revocation of habeas corpus rights. Amnesty International’s 2008 report rips the United States’s human rights record, citing the following Bush policies:
– Indefinite military detention
– Torture of detainees
– Imprisoning soldiers refusing to serve in Iraq on grounds of conscience.
– Government response to Hurricane Katrina
In 2005, the Center on Democratic Performance at Binghamton University gave Bush a “D” on human rights. The “D” grade was down from a “C” in 2004, due to “reports on the use of political detention without trial, torture of political detainees, and the use of secret detention of political prisoners.” Bush’s record is nothing to be proud of.
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I call Bull$hit.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:35 pmI call BULL&*%t.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:37 pmSorry for double post, but the first one didn’t appear so I took another run at it.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:38 pmafterall, every President had a gulag in Cuba right?
November 20th, 2008 at 7:42 pmWhat alternative universe is this f-ckwit from anyway?
November 20th, 2008 at 7:45 pmThere’s nothing either good or bad, but (talking) makes it so.
November 20th, 2008 at 7:55 pmThis must be some sort of joke…
Spineless Obama is a fellow traitor if he doesn’t bring Bush, Cheney and their associated goons to criminal trial…
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog/
November 20th, 2008 at 7:57 pmSean mispoke. He meant to say:
Bush pushed the envelope on human rights
November 20th, 2008 at 8:26 pmThese guys couldnt care less how ridiculous what they say is. How divorced from reality. They will lie, make things up make statements COMPLETELY the opposite of what is true, like this one, they just say what they WISH were true then pretend it is because they said it. This is the most pathetic, dishonest and ethically corrupt administration of all time. There is no level of moral depravity to which they will not sink
November 20th, 2008 at 8:39 pmThey “pushed” anyway. And they will continue to push their insane arguments as long as they believe they have a sufficient number of authoritarian, dogmatic followers listening. I think they are reinforcing the lazy, self-aggrandizing, and fearful bigotry of their base– not actually trying to persuade anyone who thinks differently.
November 20th, 2008 at 8:41 pmThe tin foil hat he usually wears at these state dept events keeps sliding off his bald head .
November 20th, 2008 at 8:51 pmI think they didn’t record his full statement:
“I would put the record of this administration up against any American administration or any other government around the world in terms of promoting universal human rights and pushing for human rights of rich white guys who have no-bid contracts with Bu$hco.“
November 20th, 2008 at 9:08 pmI guess every country indefinitely incarcerates people whose only “crime” was having been born Arabic? Heckuva job.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:10 pmKATRINA
November 20th, 2008 at 9:10 pmBush is neither human nor knows anything about rights. His only right is his politics and they are wrong. Fabrication of the truth has become as big a sport as football.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:12 pmCan I give them a grade lower than an F-?
November 20th, 2008 at 9:13 pmThe Pentagon said 90% of the thousands rounded up in sweeps in Iraq amd sent to prisons were innocent. They were given “enhanced interrogation”. We have seen the photos. The Pentagon says about 110 died in custody.
It has seemed like the novel “1984″ for the last eight years.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pmState Dept. spokesperson Sean McCormack
This is one stupid phuck!
OR he’s a c0ck sucking liar!
November 20th, 2008 at 9:20 pmBush deserved an “F.” “D” is still a passing grade. That’s how he made it through Harvard.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pmOoo-kay, Mr. McCormack, we have a nice white jacket for you here. The sleeves? Oh, don’t worry, that’s all the style these days. See? They buckle around here…that’s it. Good boy…time to go nighty-night in your nice soft room now..
November 20th, 2008 at 9:38 pmrmwarnick Says:
“D” is still a passing grade. That’s how he made it through Harvard.
I thought he got through with his fraternity’s files of old exams and papers.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:42 pmThis guy need a T-Shirt with the iconic picture of an American priosioner of Abu-Grhaib hooded and holding eletrical wires!
November 20th, 2008 at 10:26 pmHow about the minutes of those secret meeting Rice had in the White House, with top administration oficial to discuss the USA’s TORTURE PROGRAM, officially known as ‘Hash interrogation methods’!
How about show this man the CIA videos of those ‘Hash’ interrogations?!
No no, show the babes! The dead iraqui babes after a US bombing! The bombed wedding civilian celebration…
USA… human rights… Bush’s human rights records… hummmmm, how about white phosforo been used in Fahlujah?!!! How human rightishhhh of Bush!
Other than the fact that this a particularly self-serving comment, we now have proof positive that Condi’s on some extremely powerful drugs.
-AF
November 20th, 2008 at 10:36 pmAndrew Sullivan Is A Fraud
…yep,once ya git ta know GW,he’s really a ‘good ol boy’.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:57 pmU.S. diplomats may, indeed, make efforts directed towards improved human rights. However, since Chimpy’s follies, such efforts are met with dismissive, disgusted, snorts. I’m pretty sure that the rest of the world is as anxious as I am to see a return to honest, rational, diplomacy. But, any ambassadors or envoys we have pursuing projects might as well take vacation until Feb. 09. Cause the rest of the world won’t believe a word they say until Bushco whimpers off the stage.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:58 pmConnie didn’t get the memo as 5 gitmo prisoners were released and found not guilty after being held and tortured for 7 years. Now don’t think that piece of news hasn’t gone World wide. So much for the USA being against Human Rights. We are now the Poster Child for the worse Human Rights and even when Obama gets rid of it the stain will still be a part of US history. Future enemies will use the Bush Policy of Torture, Rape, Kidnapping and even Murder as a way to do what the Bush Administration has done for 7 years.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:12 pmAG Michael Mukasey collapsed tonight while giving a speech.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:20 pmokay, well aside from the obvious that has been posted already, does anyone else remember when bush couldn’t remember whether he raised with king abdullah the issue of the saudi gang-rape victim who was sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in jail?
and, correct me if i’m wrong, but has bush even made a statement about esha momeni?
November 20th, 2008 at 11:23 pmstjack,
November 20th, 2008 at 11:37 pmYou bring up one of many facts regarding Bush.
Why would anyone even say anything in defense of Bush and human rights in the same sentence? Bush has never demonstrated one iota of compassion; in fact, he has displayed an inordinate lack of sensibility toward human suffering.
The examples are numerous.
So anyone even making a statement about Bush’s record on human rights is ludicrous – saying nohting would have been better.
Marie Says:
AG Michael Mukasey collapsed tonight while giving a speech.
Yes, I see that.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:42 pmI was beginning to totally lose faith in the whole Karma thing …
Sarah Palin pardons a Thanksgiving turkey as others die around her. CAUTION: THIS IS GROSS
November 21st, 2008 at 12:16 amI’m baffled by this. I had heard that President Bush once told a reporter the he had done more for human rights than any other president. I thought that was a fluke. But this is apparently a talking point that gets bounced around the White House a lot.
My only guess as to why they think that might be that they count the Iraq War as the biggest liberation accomplishment since the Emancipation Proclamation. They’re totally wrong of course. But that’s the only way their twisted logic makes any sense. And, if the President actually believes that, it does kind of explains that smug self-satisfied look on his face.
November 21st, 2008 at 1:06 am“I would put the record of this administration up against any American administration or any other government around the world in terms of promoting universal human rights and pushing for human rights.”
assclown went on to say, “and the governments I choose to compare Bush to are the Khmer Rouge, Allende in Chile and Mao in China and would feel safe to say dummya ranks right up there”
November 21st, 2008 at 5:45 amNo really–it’s an absolutely stunning record. Too bad it got shredded.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:00 amLushInterior Says:
I don’t think this is really what we voted for.
em>You voted for a geriatric and his chippie.
It’s going to be a long four years, Kimosabe.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:30 am#31 had enough Says:
Sarah Palin pardons a Thanksgiving turkey as others die around her. CAUTION: THIS IS GROSS
***************************************************
Uh, EEWWW!!!
And the snowbimbo was so intent on hogging the limelight again that she didn’t even notice!! How can you not notice that stuff going on behind you?? Good God, they (GoPigs) really are deaf, blind and dumb to reality aren’t they?
November 21st, 2008 at 7:57 am“For all of the decent citizens you’ve enraged,
You can go to hell.”
A. Cooper
(Sorry — dusted off the old vinyl. Giving the Coop some air and he’s stuck in my head. approppriate, though.)
November 21st, 2008 at 8:10 amI like Alice, Cagey…apropos for the thread :)
November 21st, 2008 at 8:15 amRecently I saw A.Cooper, schmoozing with Natalie Gulbiss (teh HAWT golfer) at some promotional event for a resort. Did I say she’s hawt (and he’s OLLLD!)
November 21st, 2008 at 8:17 amYes, I see that.
I was beginning to totally lose faith in the whole Karma thing …
November 20th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
It didn’t leave him a drooling, slobbering cretin, so i still have my doubts about karma….
November 21st, 2008 at 8:20 amRamesh Ponnuru’s on C-Span right now, trying to build a new conservative coalition. He’s getting ripped from all sides – but so far, only republicans and independents are calling in.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:22 amAnd it’s just been announced, that Sleepy Fred Thompson will not be taking a chairmanship at the RNC, but instead will return to television acting.
November 21st, 2008 at 8:37 amKeith Says:
It has seemed like the novel “1984? for the last eight years.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thats the thing. Most people read 1984 and saw a cautionary tale. Bush thought it was a guideline for governing
November 21st, 2008 at 9:43 amLushInterior Says:
What you SHOULD be concerned about troll is finding a new brain. YOURS DOESNT WORK. Anyone stupid enough to think the idiocy you post is funny or clever really needs to increase their mediction.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:46 amLOL like a mother phucker!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 21st, 2008 at 9:58 amWell, c’mon, guys – everybody knows that them Ay-rabs ain’t human!!!
Sheeeit! O’course we’re all in favor of human rights – fer HUMANS!! Them towelheads just ain’t human, that’s all!!
(The above was brought to you by Snarktastic Productions, Inc.)
November 21st, 2008 at 10:45 amI am not sure if that administration is that dumb, or thinks we are. How can you not use either the word “liar” or “denial”? The word “oblivious” fits pretty well also.
As Bugs Bunny once said, “what a bunch or morooooons”!
November 21st, 2008 at 10:47 amYou guys don’t understand. What he meant was that Bush has a very good record of telling other countries to support human rights. Which he does. When he’s not authorizing torture, extraordinary rendition or indefinite detention, Bush is out there every day telling the other nations of the world that they should do human rights stuff.
In other news, he doesn’t seem to have any clue why all the other world leaders just ignore everything he says nowadays.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:10 amWar criminal Bush respect human rights? Grotesque. Bush has murdered over one million Iraqis during his criminal occupation of Iraq. Bush has murdered over fifty thousand Afghans during his illegal occupation of Afghanistan. Bush has murdered hundreds of Pakistanis during his attacks on Pakistan. Bush has pushed over one million human beings into their graves. Respect?
November 21st, 2008 at 1:53 pm