Limbaugh: Torture Works Because McCain Admitted He Was 'Broken By The North Vietnamese' (VIDEO)

Think Progress catches Rush Limbaugh making a specious argument involving John McCain and the North Vietnamese as proof that torture is effective in gathering intelligence. Limbaugh claims McCain acknowledged that torture works because he admitted that the Viet Cong "broke" him during his time as a captive.

LIMBAUGH: The idea that torture doesn't work- that's been put out from John McCain on down- You know, for the longest time McCain said torture doesn't work then he admitted in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention last summer that he was broken by North Vietnamese. So what are we to think here?

In fact McCain wrote about giving his captors false information to stop the abuse, and this is not the first time Limbaugh has falsely tried to use McCain's words and experience to buttress an argument for torture. Think Progress has much more on Limbaugh's specious claims here.

This debate has been spurred by the Obama administration releasing the secret memos from the Bush administration authorizing torture. You can read the full memos here. Indeed, in the footnotes of one of the memos, they identify waterboarding, which the U.S. has used on detainees, as torture.

Comments

[balrog221]

Listening to Rush is the worst torture of all.

[trpatri]

Yes. What are we to think Rush?

Here is what I think... As a retired US Army Soldier I remember the lessons the Army taught me. WE DO NOT TORTURE! For many reasons. Mainly, it (torture) provides a reason for our enemy soldiers to fight harder NOT to be captured and the information obtained from torture is unreliable.

UNRELIABLE. What does that mean? If we spend precious resources running down unreliable leads we don't have those resources for the battle. Not cool!

Furthermore, McCain has stated many times that he gave false information to his interrogators. Sure he said he was broken, but what that got them was a STATEMENT, not information, BIG DIFFERENCE! So, is that what we are after Rush? To break the prisoner to provide us a propaganda statement?

Perhaps Rush, if you had actually served your country you might understand these things.

We are not interested in "Getting Even" by emulating our enemies behavior. We are way better than that, at least most of us are.

[FormerReaganite]

The million-dollar question is, would Limbaugh himself submit to being waterboarded?

[Ron333wood]

They don't grow "boards" that big!!!

[JerryTheAngel]

What did North Vietnam do with the names of the line of the Green Bay Packers? Shame on Senator McCain for handing over the names of the Packers while being tortured. He put our national security at risk.

[coco51]

I know we are disgusted with McCain's disgraceful run for the Presidency last year, be we should be pragmatic with the facts. The nation nor the team was not at risk when he gave the Packers names. I appreciate McCain's candor in this, he could go the way of the meglamaniacs but he chose to be honorable. I appreciate that. McCain in my book is an enigma, he's at war with his conscience and the idealogue of his party for his place in the history book. You can either pity the man or grant him some respect. I pity him.

[SouthernLiberal101]

It's time to change the Republican symbol from and elephant to a chicken hawk. Most of these clowns that talk tough have never served this country.

Maybe the big, loud mouth chicken hawk can explain the benefit of waterboarding someone over 150 times in one month. The only logical reason is to punish, not to extract iinformation.

It's nice to see the sadists are no longer in control, they just get to shout from the sidelines.

[ichan]

~steaming~ man free speech cuts deep...I don't even like McCain but this pisses me off.

[dadw5boys]

McCain was not tortured according to his guard and nurses interviews in a Russian and Eroupean Newspaper. McCain told them everything just to get medical care for his broken bones.

[Turtleposer]

Is McCain going to respond to this insult? Or is he one of the many Republicans already preparing a preemptive apology to Rush?

[schicklett3]

Limbaugh is a shameful man.
Why does anybody listen to him?

[drummer4]

The Republicans listen to him because they are desperate and think just like him!

[FormerReaganite]

He is the leader of the Republican party, that's why.

[Val49]

schicklett3, you have to understand that the people that listen to him are the same as he is, SHAMEFUL.

[sisterdebmac]

Because the week-minded need a loud voice to tell them what to think.

[enriquecaliente]

What does Rush know about anything really. The only thing he knows, is that if you don't agree with him, then you're un-American. He knows how to spew hate and be divisive. That's it.

[sueinmn]

I can't believe how they eat their own!

[Mahi Joe]

I bet McCain is not too happy with Rush's comments.

[Mrphd2b]

Danm McCain you know your friends,....Keep up the good work,....with friends like limbaugh
geeeeeeeee­eeeeeeeee!­!!!!

[Wordstosay]

MCCAIN MEANT HIS ARM WAS BROKEN! DAH!

[DnDCfromChi-town]

Did Rush EVER serve in the armed forces??????
Enough Said!!

When can we get real about what a true patriot is?? I would love to see Rush's performance if he would have been held captive....
Still can't get over the Bush and Kerry debate

Sincerly,
United States Navy Veteran

[berrycooda]

Well, at least their heads weren't cut off.

Not saying that torture is right... however, why not just let them all go and hope they
don't land in our back yards again.

This country tells too much...they would undermine the security of America
just to have a story in the news and pat themselves on the back because they
are the ones who blabbed about everything...

Remember the slogan in WW2....LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS....

[twb1951]

Loose lips was about those in the states not talking about sensitive issues due to Axis spies in our country. If your going to use historical reference use it correctly. And who are "they"...