Conyers, Sanchez, Paul: Obama Torture Decision Wrong (AUDIO)

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), chair of a judiciary subcommittee that has been investigating Bush Administration misdeeds since Democrats took control of Congress, is disappointed in President Obama's decision not to prosecute CIA officials who tortured detainees, as long as the torture was deemed legal at the time by the White House.

"I still believe that we need to hold people accountable when they break the law and I personally would have liked to have seen some accountability for the actions of people in the last administration," Sanchez said Friday on the Bill Press Show.

"I know it's a difficult line to walk, but I don't think that you become a better democracy or stronger democracy by ignoring these kinds of things," she said.

Listen:

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) also told Press he disagreed with Obama's decision, saying that he was sure a number of Obama supporters would be disappointed with the president. (Perhaps he's been reading the HuffPost comments section.)

"That's endorsing disobedience to the law," he said. "I think some of the people who helped Obama get into office might be a little bit disappointed. And they might be disappointed about Afghanistan and marijuana laws and state secret laws and not prosecuting people."

Listen:

Paul said such decisions undermine the point of an election. "If it gets fuzzy in any way, a new administration ought to at least investigate and find out -- let us know what really happened. That's the purpose of switching administrations; to clean house and at least let us know what happened. When policies don't change and the potential crimes that were committed aren't even looked into seriously, I think that gives a lot of disenchantment to the people who have wanted some change."

UPDATE: Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) agrees:

"As Americans digest the awful revelations in the Bush-era OLC opinions, our nation faces a critical choice - what will we do to ensure that abuses like those described in these memos are never again ordered by our leaders or justified by our lawyers? To me, the answer is obvious. We must have a full investigation of the circumstances under which these torture methods were created, approved, and implemented, preferably by an independent commission as I previously proposed. And if our leaders are found to have violated the strict laws against torture, either by ordering these techniques without proper legal authority or by knowingly crafting legal fictions to justify the torture, they should be criminally prosecuted. It is simply obvious that, if there is no accountability when wrongdoing is exposed, future violations will not be deterred.

"I believe a Commission is the best forum to resolve the difficult issues raised by the ever-increasing documentary record of Bush Administration interrogation abuses. To take just one example, today two former Bush Administration officials again took to the papers to justify these practices by claiming that the interrogation of Abu Zubaydeh had been a clear success and had led to the disruption of terrorist plots. Yet just two weeks ago, former Bush Administration officials who monitored this interrogation told reporters that 'not a single significant plot was foiled' as a result. The American people deserve a non-partisan answer to such fundamental questions.

"Finally, I do not understand the statements by the President and the Attorney General yesterday on the issue of potential prosecutions to address the senior officials and government attorneys who crafted and approved these programs. Further, yesterday's statements did not address the legality of any conduct that exceeded even the minimal boundaries established by the OLC memos, or any interrogations that occurred before legal guidance was provided."

Get HuffPost Politics on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Comments

[ajax2]

06:41 PM on 04/18/2009

"I still believe that we need to hold people accountable when they break the law and I personally would have liked to have seen some accountability for the actions of people in the last administration,"

Reps. Conyers etal, But since you are Not and Never going to prosecute Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Yoo, and the other Dons, not prosecuting the foot soldiers is the correct thing to do. When you get the stones to go after the brass, ask again.

[janvoght]

02:12 PM on 04/18/2009

I am willing to show my support of the Obama comments and stances on this important issue, and I have faith that justice will be served.

[lsmart]

05:04 PM on 04/18/2009

Baaaaah. Sheep will always follow blindly.

[UtahLady]

11:41 AM on 04/18/2009

If the Obama administration is not going to prosecute the people who tortured, then they should prosecute the people who ordered the torture and the people who wrote the legal memoranda justifying it. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, Yoo, etc., etc., etc.

[MaryanneAZ]

04:04 PM on 04/18/2009

Patience, UL, patience. It's only been 89 days since the inauguration. We have to remember that the process to investigate and charge Blogojevich took over two years to assemble. This fiasco is going to be much, much bigger than that case.

[lsmart]

05:05 PM on 04/18/2009

"Patience". I dare you to stand in front of the people who were tortured and say that.

[dynwitch]

10:54 AM on 04/18/2009

The torture issue was the single biggest thing that made me openly start fighting against the Republican Party starting about five years ago, writing editorials for my local newspaper, joining the Democrats, campaigning on the streets, working as a campaign manager and writing campaign literature that challenged the dominant thinking of my red state neighbors.

If we don't exorcise this demon, the word "America" will never again mean what it once did. President Obama, are you listening? You claim that we have to fix our health care and energy problems in order to help the economy recover. This is exactly the same thing. Fixing the problem of torture is NOT something you do AFTER more pressing problems have been taken care of. It's something that will HELP you fix those other problems, both domestically (with rightwing extremists who are convinced that violence is the only way to solve problems) and internationally (with Europeans who think Americans are all cowboys engaging in displays of power).

Prosecuting the people who defended torture? Publicly shaming them once and for all? That's the single biggest thing that might finally destroy the ethos of violence that lies at the heart of rightwing extremism.

[Nyla785]

09:43 AM on 04/18/2009

Releasing these memos was a service to Americans everywhere. We now know what exactly was authorized and under what legal basis--and it ain't good. Notice, however, how Fox News and Rush are trying to 'minimize' what was done, saying it was just 'caterpillars' that were inserted into the confined space with detainees. No, the authorization was for 'stinging insects'. The Republicans are on a campaign to try to save the Bush legacy by disseminating false information. The only way we know the truth is if Obama continues to be honest with us.

[evanwagz]

07:10 AM on 04/18/2009

I'm a Ron Paul libertarian myself, but I have respect for the good intentions and many views of progressive democrats and Obama supporters who I know mean well. I think both Obama supporters and Ron Paul supporters want many of the same things and have more in common than we may think. We both condemn Bush's imperial reign that shredded much of our constitution and civil liberties. We both want to see some semblance of our own rule of law restored. I think the only differences we have are moot points when you compare them to the much bigger views we both have in common. Like restoration of the rule of law, the constitution, and some semblance of accountability.

Although many of Ron Paul's positions may seem too radical at first - like all of the programs/agencies he's in favor of abolishing. Remember, these are just his beliefs and not something he could change himself if he was president. He has said before that he wouldn't/couldn't simply come into office and cut tons of programs by himself unilaterally (he's not Cheney) . As commander and chief of the military though, the president could change foreign policy himself. Which Paul has stated he would use to stop spending our country's lives, money, and energy being the world's police. And instead, focusing this on our own country & defense..

In his own words back in 07' during the primaries:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDM8US25xXg&fmt=18

[morphyous]

12:29 AM on 04/18/2009

TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY. This was President Obama's campaign promise. Why can't we know what was done? Why the secrecy? The only thing that I'd like to see is all the BIG SHOTS that authorized these disgusting torture practices, should get lots of prison time. Why release the crime if they aren't going to do any time? They' re no better than the criminals that torture other people. I hope the people of the US will rise up , and demand that they be prosecuted !

[LeftLeanWing]

01:55 AM on 04/18/2009

Because he doesn't want to have to depend on a CIA that is pissed off, overly cautious and fearful of prosecution. I believe the participation or knowledge of these method within the CIA is much larger that we have been made aware.

I think his focus on the higher level sources that justified these methods and technique is wise and pragmatic.

[SkinnyPost]

09:53 AM on 04/18/2009

The CIA is too secretive...secrets and democracy don't work.

[SkinnyPost]

09:55 AM on 04/18/2009

The American people will rise up...right after the twitter the latest news from Susan Boyle. Face it...we're not a democracy anymore. We're ruled by elites. There is complete continutiy from Clinton to Bush to Obama.

[seekanddestroy]

11:47 PM on 04/17/2009

I don't agree with President Obama, but it will probably save hundreds of millions of dollars. Maybe they know something we don't. Did anybody really think this would happen? Keep in mind that Obama is a politician.

[ObjectiveRealist]

11:00 PM on 04/17/2009

Dear Mr. President,
Prosecuting CIA agents who tortured prisoners, either under orders or "assurances" from the Cheney/Bush administration that such actions were legal or would be "considered legal" does not *necessarily* mean they will all be found guilty; much of your explanation for offering them carte blanche for past misdeeds assumes they will. Please reconsider.
Sincerely,
a staunch but increasingly disappointed supporter

[MacQ]

04:01 PM on 04/18/2009

Any good lawyer knows he has to have a case before he brings charges.

[rajoro]

10:36 PM on 04/17/2009

Is this really who we are? I am so disturbed and upset... WE TORTURED CHILDREN?

I thought the bugs mentioned in the torture memo was bizarre, until I read, we tortured suspects children to find their parent's wherebouts with bugs in small dark coffin like rooms or placing dirctly on their bodies! This is how we found Khalid Sheik Mohammed!!!

I am so saddened and ashamed....

http://rawstory.com/08/blog/2009/04/17/bush-torture-memos-align-with-account-that-911-suspects-children-were-tortured/#

[textynn]

09:27 PM on 04/17/2009

While Bush was president I was afraid of my government. This was an administration that lied its way into war. Killed a million Iraqi citizens. Beefed up the homeland police force into something that looked like StarWArs and openly showed pictures of people getting tazared just for asking questions that politicians didn't like. For example when Kerry was asked if he was in a Secret Society. Which he should have just said no or yes to. When I saw what happened to a person that asked a question that was considered taboo and then held down by 6 police men who then tazared him after they had him rendered, I was afraid. When I saw that Palosi said impeachment was off the table even though we knew the country had been lied to about the circumstances of the war in Iraq, I knew that my country was really controlled by invisible rulers that did not answer to law. When i saw that the same people in the Bush administration were enriching themselves in the war and were war profiteers and controlled the country at the same time I was afraid. I voted for Obama because I thought he wanted to end this kind of evil monarchy whose grasp has been secured by our own taxpayer homeland security. Now Obama seems to be acting in the same manner..Hopefully, the world will stand up and pass judgment and then Obama will be forced to acknowledge these people as war criminals.

[RedEric]

10:42 PM on 04/17/2009

Ever consider you might be totally wrong?

http://allanerickson.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/obama-provokes-more-anger-and-fear/

http://allanerickson.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/bush-administration-response-to-911-and-the-constitution/

[readabook]

05:15 AM on 04/18/2009

Ever consider that by providing these links you made a case against yourself and several people of questionable character?

[bazokbros]

11:28 PM on 04/17/2009

What's the name of this secret society and who belongs to it? If it exists, that should be relatively easy to prove. These New World Order conspiracy theories that surmises that they want to enslave the American public so they can stay in power are ridiculous.

[SkinnyPost]

09:59 AM on 04/18/2009

The fact that our government is run by elites and not by the people is hardly a theory. Don't be rube.

[psnyder]

09:16 PM on 04/17/2009

Oh, boo hoo, Sanchez. Get over it. This isn't a democracy. It hasn't been for years. Bush put it on the critical list. Obama merely pulled the plug.

[LeftLeanWing]

01:56 AM on 04/18/2009

what ?

[bazokbros]

08:31 PM on 04/17/2009

I'm not surprised that Sanchez is speaking against President Obama. Her entire career has been based on self serving promotion and she's not been ashamed that she's still an avid Hillary Clinton surporter. Conyers, I don't know what to say about your lack of intellect to make such remarks, but I can say I'm equally disappointed you took to the media to grandstand as the despicable Sanchez.

Sanchez should consider resigning from the Democratic party. Please quote something full throated or supportive she's ever said about the Obama administration besides the pettiness she perpetuates and racial divisiveness she practices supposedly as a champion Latino causes when she's really playing to a racial element with no inclusive agenda that speaks beyond the Latino community. She is no different than Michelle Bachmann if you read some of the things she's said.

[psnyder]

09:17 PM on 04/17/2009

So torture is okay with you?

[bazokbros]

11:22 PM on 04/17/2009

That's a silly question and you know the answer to that. There are numerous articles about Linda Sanchez being a racial politician who plays to the Latino community. A simple Google search proves what I'm saying. Let's not kid ourselves that quite a few ethnic and of course white policians use racial politics to advance their careers. Since she is an unashamed Hillary supporter, I am convinced she will not support the Obama administration on any issue that presents itself for her demagoguery to undermine his administration. Her statement on the torture issue is a good example of her M.O.

[little old lady]

07:29 PM on 04/17/2009

Beninn, I gave in and watched the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG9Nj0OizCA.
It's excellent. There has been really very good, thoughtful stuff coming out of this blog. Much to consider here, but I think I'll pay my ACLU dues. They've done us a great service by getting these memos released and I'll bet they're going to press for a special prosecutor.

[Ohsherri]

07:00 PM on 04/17/2009

Face it!

Those Washington Dem. Leaders (most of them), would rather see Sara Palin
get the Presidency in 4 years than Obama go ahead now with getting a special prosecutor.
They would team up with the Repubs and destroy these first 4 years!
BOTH sides would rather see Obama fail and thus ALL of America fail for 4 years,
than get a special prosecutor now!
Gumby is right!
Wait til the second term.
(Yes folks, those are the tards we have as our Leaders...both Dem and Repub)

[little old lady]

07:53 PM on 04/17/2009

We [the collective "we"] elected those tards in the House and Senate. We need to speak to them in no uncertain terms about this--nice weekend coming up, start writing!