Feingold Rebukes Obama For Detainee Photo Reversal

Senator Russ Feingold became one of the first elected officials to criticize Barack Obama for his reversal on releasing of detainee abuse in a statement Wednesday afternoon. Saying he saw no "compelling reason" to object to the release of the images, the Wisconsin Democrat said:

"I am generally opposed to keeping the American people in the dark for no other reason than to shield misconduct, avoid embarrassment or other reasons not pertaining to national security. From what I've heard so far, I'm not convinced there is a compelling reason these photos shouldn't be released."

The remarks come just hours after the White House explained that it would be exploring an additional legal avenue to delay or potentially block the release of the detainee photos. Spokesman Robert Gibbs explained, during Wednesday's briefing, that the administration had not sufficiently explored the extent to which the publishing of these images could do damage "to our troops and our national security."

"That is the case that the legal team will now make," he added. "The Department of Justice will now seek to look for different avenues and, as I said earlier, will likely seek a stay."

Advocates for the release of the photos scoffed at the argument, noting that the administration had agreed to their release as recently as late April.

"We are extremely disappointed," said the ACLU's Alexander Abdo. "Understandably we believe this change in position is inconsistent with the promise made by Obama at the end of April. It is also inconsistent with his promises of transparency."

Comments

[hrholmes]

09:01 AM on 05/14/2009

Russ maybe is starting to see how fascism sets in once established by Bush will be continued by Obama. Some change huh? It reminds me of all the doomsday movies where the hero finally succumbs to the malady turning him into a bleached out zombie as well.

[harriscrl3]

06:56 AM on 05/14/2009

Is he sure this time or will he change his mind tomorrow.

Honestly I dont get what the big deal is over this the worse of the photos have been revealed. These are not as bad as the ones in Abu Ghrarib so what's the problem.

Sometimes I dont think people know what they want or why they want what they want. They just have the idea in their heads that openness is good without thinking is this going to change anything will we learn anything new. Have we reached a saturation point?

They just want the right thing because its the right thing when it really may not add ANYTHING to the debate and in fact may have the opposite effect of simply TURNING MOST PEOPLE OFF.

Some of us really need to do some soulsearching and figure out what we want cause frankly some of you have no clue.

Carol

[dwright]

07:03 AM on 05/14/2009

How do you know these photos aren't worse? Have you seen them? Also, they could be evidence in a court of law and those items are usually never given out for the public to see before a trial.

Feingold is wrong this time.

[armadillo]

07:52 AM on 05/14/2009

Sunshine is a disinfectant. It isn't painless but it will cleanse.

Besides, do you in your most lucid moments think these are not going to get out? Get a grip. Show'em. Get it over with.

[harriscrl3]

07:52 AM on 05/14/2009

I heard someone on either Rachel or Keith say that the worse ones have been released and that these in question were not as bad.

Carol

[wanked]

05:58 AM on 05/14/2009

If obama is so concerned for the safety of american troops and citizens, why is he dropping white phosphorous on civilian arab populations?

Many of us realize that democrats are not much different than republicans; we know polosi is a torture enabler, which Im sure is part of the reason obama is keeping proscecution and accountability of bushco thugs off the table...but you can only keep the truth hidden for so long. It always seeps out.

[dwright]

07:04 AM on 05/14/2009

so now Obama can fly planes?

[talkitreal]

03:32 AM on 05/14/2009

HAS FIENGOLD EVER HAD TO MAKE A DECISION THAT COULD AFFECT THE SAFTEY OF HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN SOLDEIRS IN A WARZONE -- THE ANSWER IS NO! FEINGOLD IS ALL MOUTH! IF HE WERE IN PRESIDENT OBAMA POSITION RIGHT NOW, AND HE WAS TOLD THAT RELEASING THE PHOTOS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED ATTACKS, AND DEATHS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN IRAQ, AND AFGHANISTAN --- I GUARANTEE YOU THAT FEINGOLD WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE RELEASE OF THE PHOTOS AS WELL!

[dwright]

07:04 AM on 05/14/2009

Abso-f-ing-lutely

[armadillo]

07:54 AM on 05/14/2009

Quit using the troops as a straw man to protect people in a criminal prosecution. The world does not stop turning because you closed your eyes.

[talkitreal]

03:23 AM on 05/14/2009

President Obama is NEVER going to put Hundreds of thousands of AMERICAN SOLDIERS in harms way for the sake of a few pictures! President Obama's grandfather was an AMERICAN soldier, President Obama who was raised by his grandfather, and spent his childhood listening to his grandfather's military stories, President Obama knows what it is like to have a family member in a warzone, so President Obama is NEVER going to make, anything, including a few pictures, jeopardize the safety of the US MILITARY ! AMERICAN soldiers and their safety in a wars zone is ALWAYS going to come first.
And I totally agree with President Obama!

[livesimply]

03:47 AM on 05/14/2009

Good that you got the same "comment" posted twice. I have been saying the same thing only to have my words lost in the "review" process.

[talkitreal]

03:19 AM on 05/14/2009

President Obama is NEVER going to put Hundreds of thousands of AMERICAN SOLDIERS in ha rms way for the sake of a few pictures! President Obama's grandfather was an AMERICAN soldier, President Obama who was raised by his grandfather, and spent his childhood listening to his grandfather's military stories, President Obama knows what it is like to have a family member in a warzone, so he is NEVER going to make a few pictures jeopardize the safety of the US MILITARY!
And I totally agree with President Obama!

[WierdWookie]

02:46 AM on 05/14/2009

The man we elected is making some strange decisions. Maybe he kept too many Bushies around.

My Mother always said to remove all dirty dishes from the table before setting it anew.

[dwright]

07:05 AM on 05/14/2009

No disrespect to your mother, but while it is a good quote and a nice lesson - I am not sure it fits this particular situation.

[armadillo]

07:59 AM on 05/14/2009

It doesn't if it does not fit your narrow political views and want to cover up a crime. I think mama is right.

[WierdWookie]

02:36 AM on 05/14/2009

Whatever... I'm beginning to think about Wolves in Sheep's Clothing after listening to Obama's statement on torture today.
Please don't break the bubble I live in. The walls are covered with "Vote for O signs, Change We Can Believe In."
Looking forward to healthcare, "All Americans should have the same healthcare as Crongress."

Just can't look foward to hearing the speaches now. Hope I am wrong about this.

[dwright]

07:07 AM on 05/14/2009

you must be kidding? Do you have any idea how hard working in politics is? Did you think he could just stroll up there and snap his fingers. He repeatedly asked for our help once he gets there since he is fighting an up hill battle every day.

[imsosure]

02:28 AM on 05/14/2009

If rebuking the President were truly news there wouldn't be space for anything else, I doubt Obama cares at all about the little mans opinion.

[PJay1]

01:07 AM on 05/14/2009

Senator Feingold is a treasure.

Most of the other senators of BOTH parties need to be voted out.
Obama needs to be primaried in 2012 by a REAL democrat.

Can we draft Senator Feingold?

[talkitreal]

03:29 AM on 05/14/2009

HAS FIENGOLD EVER HAD TO MAKE A DECISION THAT COULD AFFECT THE SAFETY OF HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS IN A WARZONE -- THE ANSWER IS NO! FEINGOLD IS ALL MOUTH! ALL BLUSTER!
IF FEINGOLD WERE IN PRESIDENT OBAMA POSITION, IN THE WHITEHOUSE RIGHT NOW, AND WS TOLD THAT RELEASING THE PHOTOS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED ATTACKS, AND DEATHS OF AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN -- I GUARANTEE YOU THAT FEINGOLD WOULD HAVE STOPPED THE RELEASE OF THE PHOTOS AS WELL! HE WOULD HAVE DONE EXACTLY WAHT PRESIDENT OBAMA DID TODAY!

[armadillo]

07:56 AM on 05/14/2009

Your starting to approach Rain Man status.

[Cunningham]

01:04 AM on 05/14/2009

Obama's own Jan. 21 memorandum on honoring the Freedom of Information Act also takes a different line. "The government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears," it said.


Now he's using speculative or abstract fears to keep the truth from us. WTF?

[lgwenmurphy]

06:40 AM on 05/14/2009

We, as Americans, owe something to our military based in the Middle East. If it is believed the release of the subject photos would further incite our enemies, why would we run the risk of heating up the war when we hardly have additional troops to go in for support and fewer left at home to defend us here. I am counting on the President knowing a lot more about whats going on than we. And who are all these people who did not run for the presidency yet know exactly what the president should do. Had half as much attention been paid to Bush and CHeney we wouldn't even be in this mess.

[Patri]

11:20 PM on 05/13/2009

I am completely disgusted with the democrats and with Obama. He lied to us just as W lied to us. Obama lifted us to great heights with this Hope, Change, Transparency, and Yes, We Can. Now he is tell us every day, in every way, No, You Can't. I intend to change my registration from democrat to independent. I've had it with the Blue Dogs who should, in fact, be Republicans. Obama has happily taken on W''s wars--supposedly withdrawing from Iraq (which won't actually be happening) only to send the troops to Pakistan and Afghanistan; he has refused habeas corpus to the prisoners in Bagram; he is reneging on his agreement to release the torture photos; he is taking the people's money and giving it to the banks, Wall Street and its execs while having Geithner tell us that Social Security and Medicare will be cut. There's more he is doing as he betrays all those who supported and voted for him, but this is enough to explain why I intend to change my party loyalty. No president before Obama has disappointed me or made me feel as disgusted as I do tonight. Enough!

[amacd]

11:06 PM on 05/13/2009

The only path that could justify not releasing the photos would be instead to begin prosecution immediately.

IMHO, no matter how plaintively Obama may cry “Out, damn’d spot!” —- he will not be able to walk off of this tragic ‘war crimes’ stage until this most odious crime is expunged.

So for Obama, the superficially adored hero, the role of a modern Hamlet tentatively deciding whether “to be or not to be” for the war-crimes-Empire could be the last drama on this mortal coil.

Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine

[miguelobrien]

10:36 PM on 05/13/2009

BO actually repeated the few bad apples excuse. Is he actually that in fear of his life?

But I believed in him, as I did in JFK.

Now I do not believe in him anymore,

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

11:13 PM on 05/13/2009

"Is he actually that in fear of his life?"

I wonder...

[wonketteRAWKS]

10:01 PM on 05/13/2009

Thank you Russ. Apparently, 0's definition of transparency only applies if it's politically convenient!