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

[Steverino]

Wow. This from the party whose delegates actually held up flip flops and waved them in the air at their last convention? This is their nominee?

Poetic justice.

[Zhonni]

Wow! Oh happy day. I was hoping he would vote against it, and he did.

I mean, how could he possibly reconcile his earlier stance with his vote?

He did a 360 on the tax-cuts, on immigration, and now this?

I think we are starting to see a pattern. There goes a few more independents that would have made McCain competitive come November.

[iPolitics]

McCain Advisor to resign instead of attacking Obama:
A top adviser to John McCain said Wednesday that he will step down from the Arizona senator's presidential campaign if the presumed GOP nominee faces Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the general election.
"I would simply be uncomfortable being in a campaign that would be inevitably attacking Barack Obama," said McCain adviser Mark McKinnon in an interview with NPR's "All Things Considered­." "I think it would be uncomfortable for me, and I think it would be bad for the McCain campaign."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/mccain-adviser.html

[loki]

He may have flip flopped and be a traitor to not only himself, but all the people who believed him when he spoke out against torture, but you have to say one thing about him. At least he voted.

I read Hillary and Obama just couldnt make it.

[jinjinpinti]

Loki: Well, when you have twice as many supporters to address than McCain has, maybe you have less time on your hands to be a-flippin' an' a-floppin' with your hypocritical vote in favor of torture.

[Gatormouth]

Finally, to further confound the "Intelligent Design" argument, an example of negative evolution . The Neovertebrata. These unfortunate creatures are born with spines, but somehow manage to misplace them while sucking slime during bottom feeding. It seems that the lower Potomac River valley is infested both the red and blue venomous varieties.

[LITU]

Let's go back to the original anti-torture bill McCain co-sponsored. McCain and various committees capitulated under pressure from the White House and the final draft that was signed failed to contain language that restricted the CIA from pursuing extraordinary rendition.

Since the CIA is the agency that oversees torture to begin with, failing to implicate them in the legality of the issue made the bill virtually toothless. So McCain's vote today is irrelevant. He'd already performed the slight of hand. Any notion that McCain is against torture is refuted by the bill that was signed with his acquiescence.

[strandwolf]

Dunno what portion of anatomy acquiescence is, but the reason he might slight of hand is on account of some dirty commie rats back in the day....

Intellect obviously diminished concomitantly.

[LITU]

eh?! There was never any fear you might address the point was there!

[forpeace]

*

=== GOP's Platform ===

Torture is good.

Corruption is good.

Lying is good.

Killing is good.

Spying is good.

Occupation is good......­..........

Abortion is BAD.

*

[BWonka]

So is gay marriage..­. the horror!!

[forpeace]

*

BWonka

So is gay marriage..­. the horror!!

=========

Oh I missed that one!

Sex in the Public Restroom is good (Airports), but gay marriage is very BAD.

*

[Rumplestiltskin]

Did you ever wonder why plural marriage is off the gay agenda?

[Rumplestiltskin]

As much as I am not a supporter of Senator McCain, it is a hoot to see you Hanoi Jane excusing, non-serving whiny, big government loving, Che/totalitarian loving, goofballs talking about a bill you probably haven't read. I tried on the Senate site, and I can't tell shit from it. Maybe some of the geniuses here can parse what it says.

[strandwolf]

NO shit, coward.

[williamg]

I would rather be waterboarded than listen to 4-8 years of Hillary's voice.

[BWonka]

Just let us know when and where, and we'll oblige.

[forpeace]

*

BWonka

Just let us know when and where, and we'll oblige.

===========

LOL ....... good one!

*

[Ranta]

Torture must be like having a baby. After a while you forget just how bad It was.
We all wonder how an abused child can grow up and then repeat the same type of behavior themselves.
Take it easy on John. He just needs understanding and lots of therapy.

[HumeSkeptic]

It's not that he forgot. He is now for torture just to get elected. Here, this wasn't very long ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIHHZ59aWoA

[SaviourMachine]

Yep,it's official McCain just entered the ninth circle of hell.

[teahilton]

The foundation of the Palace (Department-my substitution) of Peace is the consciousness of the oneness of mankind.
Bahaullah

A new era of divine consciousness is upon us. The world of humanity is going through a process of transformation. A new race is being developed. The thoughts of human brotherhood are permeating all regions. New ideals are stirring the depths of hearts and a new spirit of universal consciousness is hearts and a new spirit of universal consciousness is being profoundly felt by all men.
AbdulBaha

[williamg]

While trying to earn the Republican nomination, John McCain has repeatedly said he is against torture. Now that he has wrapped up the nomination, he is now for torture. What the fuck did I miss? I thought you move towards the center when you are running in the general election.

[LoRiseAntlers]

John McCain,you have now officially became a piece of shit.
Screw you,you pathetic old bastard.

[Rumplestiltskin]

I'm sure that a man that served his country in ways you cannot possibly fathom is really concerned about your opinion. Your service to ths country was what? Thought not.

[strandwolf]

Keeping your mouth clean. Trying. It's a gig. My reward, if any, will be in Heaven. I WILL persevere.

[strandwolf]

fathom? Isn't that a nautical term? Does it equal 6 feet? 20 feet? Whatever. I hear one can drown in an inch of water. Something to ponder.

[LoRiseAntlers]

I served twenty years in the United States Army.I served n Grenada,Panama and the First Gulf war.What have you done besides peck at your mom's keyboard,winger scum?

[springsm]

Officially­...10 times over. He has been an egotistical little man since entering the Naval Academy. Actually I think his record is about the same as bush's only McCain did show up. He wants to be the one to bomb Iran..so he will say anything and endorse the bush mess over and over. I didn't think I could hate like I do. So I hope that Obama is tough if he gets the nod..becau­se this is not going to be a pretty summer. I think HRC is tough and tested with the gawd awful slime..but she too is extremely disliked by the dems. Too bad cause I think some would actually vote for this pig "myfriends" before HRC. I wonder...a­bout them too.

[forpeace]

*

McCane is the GOP's profoundly immoral Candidate.

Good job Neocons!!

*

[Turnip]

Maybe McCain just suddenly realized how mentally unbalanced his 'base' is.


After all, the Repug nipping at his heels is....Mike Huckabee.