McCain Votes Against Torture Ban

Thinkprogress.org:

Today, the Senate brought the Intelligence Authorization Bill to the floor, containing a provision from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) that establishes one interrogation standard, requiring the intelligence community to abide by the same standards as articulated in the Army Field Manual and banning waterboarding.

Just hours ago, the Senate voted in favor of the bill, 51-45.

Earlier today, ThinkProgress noted that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), a former prisoner of war, has spoken strongly in favor of implementing the Army Field Manual standard. When confronted today with the decision of whether to stick with his conscience or cave to the right wing, McCain chose to ditch his principles and instead vote to preserve waterboarding:

Mr. McCain, a former prisoner of war, has consistently voiced opposition to waterboarding and other methods that critics say is a form torture. But the Republicans, confident of a White House veto, did not mount the challenge. Mr. McCain voted "no" on Wednesday afternoon.

Read the whole story: Thinkprogress.org

Comments

[wiretapped]

Don't just sit around and moan. Everybody should visit wexlerwantshearings.com and sign the petition Rep. Wexler is submitting to the House tomorrow calling for Cheney's impeachment. He is very close to getting a quarter million signatures.

[kappa08]

It will NEVER happen...has Waxmen delivered on anything? Did he ever "find" those millions lost in Iraq? Waxmen is ANOTHER pussy democrat that just blah blah blahs.
As I stated before. The day I see a "march" or "petition” actually work. I'll sign one. Otherwise you're just invested time in false hope.
You(editorial “you”) want to do something? Piss off your Republican neighbor. Eliminate supporters of murderers and liars from your life. Turn your back on people. Render their voices moot. You know who “they” are. Do you have the guts to call them out to their face? Are you willing to “go”? Will you be willing to alienate a family member, a minister, a soldier?
Anti-abortionists are willing to pitch their own children in front of clinics to block the door. Evangelicals are sending their kids to Taliban style mind camps creating an Army of right wing thought police. Soldiers are signing up for a war sold on lies. And with the knowledge that “their “ government doesn’t even give a shit enough to arm them properly or treat them when they come home. These are facts! And they still sign up.
So until “you” “we” “me” have the guts to “knuckleup”…why bother. The passion doesn’t match.

[wiretapped]

I am talking about Rep. Wexler, not Waxman.

[wesinohio]

by Kerry Sheridan
57 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP)
"The likely Republican nominee, Arizona Senator John McCain, voted against the bill" (outlawing waterboarding). "The former prisoner of war however said that his vote was consistent with his anti-torture stance." (Yea, anti-torture is not the same as anti-waterboarding. They're spelled differently.

Now get this:
"We always supported allowing the CIA to use extra measures," he said. "I believe waterboarding is illegal and should be banned," McCain said (after voting against the ban). He doesn't have a clue.

Dana Perino (Bush's spokeswoman) called the ban "simplistic". Yes, it's a simple ban on what is simply torture. It doesn't have to parse and equivocate and pontificate, it's just a simple ban. Yes.

[sugarmoes]

john mccain - "first i was against war crimes. now i'm for them. oh what? no. no particular reason other than I WANT POWER GODDAMMIT!!!"

[JessWonderin]

John wanted the protection of the Geneva Convention during his "guest stay", yet now when he has the ability to stand up for ALL detainees and America's stature - what does he do?

Integrity is not a "Family Value" . . .

[SPENCER]

Ah, the 18,000 person to say this on this blog:

John McCain:
He was against waterboarding before he was for it.

[Dari]

This is just another SAD, SAD example of how power can corrupt. It is disheartening to see Senator McCain, someone who had always had his own values SELL himself, and the country short. And, TOTALLY kiss goodbye the Independent vote.

So, in order to 'secure' the vote of the right wing of his party, Senator McCain now caves into voting that waterboarding is OK.

And, changes his stance from the Bush Tax Cuts being "immoral" to making the Bush tax cuts permenant & the 'right' thing to do when the country's deficit has NEVER been higher.

And, of course, via occupation, allow the Bush Cheney Rumsfield Iraq war continue until we Americans 'secure' a victory. (Of course, by then, we won't have a country left. The money which will be need to be borrowed to FINANCE this war/occupation from the Arabs & the Chinese will bankrupt our country; and the USA will become a 3rd world nation).

What a legacy that Senator McCain wants to leave BOTH his & our children and grandchildren.

[hmmmmmer]

Pan, Pan, Pan, Pan Pan der er!

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

McCain, elected to our Presidency for 4 to 8 years, would be a general continuation of the current administration's policies, direction, and not always moral, ethical, or legal, acts. Are we going to shoot ourselves in the foot again?

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

This presidential candidate is a weasel. We should NOT waterboard.

Today, it's reported the current President Weasel will veto the Senate's passed bill to specifically allow the CIA to continue waterboarding.

D**n the issues of Bush's lameduck status, inconvenience, or political considerations. This President (and I don't forget Dick C.) should be impeached and tried.

[DavidMG]

This poor guy has really lost it.

[darylfrancis]

I’m still trying to figure out how being a prisoner of war makes one an expert on national security. As I am pondering how rosy rhetoric and no past qualify Obama to be president.

[strandwolf]

Rosy rhetoric sure wasn't part of the Dubya package, I'll grant you that. I found the manned mission to Mars concept intriguing though, and it IS the Red Planet. Maybe we should ratchet up defenses against a terrorist attack from Klaatu since bin Laden is history?

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

Torture works; McCain knows from expierence.......what secrets did you give to the Commies you piece of Sharkshit

[strandwolf]

Oh, that's easy. Pick me! Pick me! To wit: he sang like a canary, giving up a secret code phrase, "bah, bah, bah, bahb bahbra ANN." He considered it a Beach Boys song, though, so they tortured him some more. The original, superior version was created by the Premiers or some such glorious doowop group.

[strandwolf]

Tip of the furry noggin to google and wikipedia: Fred Fassert is most famously known as the writer of the popular song "Barbara Ann," which was originally written for the band that he was in at the time, The Regents, and was covered by the Beach Boys and other artists as well. Fassert wrote "Barbara Ann" for his sister, Barbara Ann Fassert.

Vince Vance and the Valiants covered it with their 1980 hit song "Bomb Iran" which was set to the same tune. They credited him as the composer, although he was of Iranian heritage and had originally refused permission when the band "Lic" wanted to record it. A member of "Lic" arranged the song and later joined Vince Vance and the Valiants.

[MikeDu]

Can't you oldschool Republicans, supporters of the 'values party' of days-gone-by, at last see how your party has devolved into the 'degenerate party'? The party of hate, fear, war, torture, zealotry? To REFUSE to vote for an intelligence authorization bill for no other reason that it doesn't allow beurocrats to brutalize their prisoners. My God, that's disgusting. The vote was 51-45, which mean MOST Republicans fell on the degenerate monster side of the debate. The Republican party has become a disgusting characature of itself.

[BlackWidowPilot]

The "Gang of Pedophiles" is a despicable clack of degenerates! "Family values?!" You mean like these:

http://www.armchairsubversive.org/

Family values like the locals in THE HILLS HAVE EYES would be more like it. The sooner the country rids itself of the Repedophiles down to the level of county dog catcher, and as many enabling Democrat wolves in sheeps' clothing like Pelosi and Reid, the better off the planet will be.

Out of town on a rail the whole stinkin' lot of 'em! Let the Busheviks be the first official colonists on Mars, since Chimpy McFlightsuit is so keen to launch a new space race!

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[Subhunter]

I once had a dog that would sit at the edge of the dinner table with pleading eyes, salivating in anticipation of a possible scrap from his masters. If he got one he was so damned grateful. McCain's just like that dog sitting at the edge of the far rights table. He fairly 'wags' in anticipation of the next scrap they toss him. Straight talk Express, what a joke that kiss-ass has become.

[faretheewell]

I have always said that I disagreed with him on a great many issues, but I thought him an honorable man. Today that has changed.

So many in our country seem dedicated to the U.S. leading the charge to the bottom.

[OpusIsUnderTheBed]

No, no, no, no. No honor.

[samuraijack]

Hey, it's only torture if it's done on Amerikuns, not by Amerikuns.

[SatinPanties]

How sadly right you are...