Ventura And Hasselbeck Rumble Over Waterboarding On The View

There is a peculiar aspect to the debate over the use of waterboarding on terrorist detainees. Those who have actually experienced the procedure first hand insist it is ineffective at best and torture at worst. Those who couldn't be more removed from its employment argue that it works in thwarting terrorist attacks.

On Monday's taping of The View, former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura -- who was waterboarded as part of his military training -- repeated the mantra he offered last week, calling waterboarding torture and demanding criminal prosecution for those who authorized it.

"I would prosecute the people who did it," he said. "I would prosecute the people who ordered it. And they would all go to jail."

His opponent in the debate was none other than the conservative Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who insisted that the technique worked in breaking down al Qaeda suspects.

The exchange was good-natured and lively, with Ventura asking some leading rhetorical questions before making a few rather provocative political points.

"If waterboarding is OK, why don't we let our police do it to suspects so they can learn what they know?" he asked. "If waterboarding is OK, why didn't we waterboard [Timothy] McVeigh and Nichols, the Oklahoma City bombers, to find out if there were more people involved? ... We only seem to waterboard Muslims... Have we waterboarded anyone else? Name me someone else who has been waterboarded."

Hasselbeck, for her part, tried to pin the debate on Nancy Pelosi, whom she accused of lying about what and when she knew of the use of enhanced interrogation techniques.

"What do you think about Nancy Pelosi in terms of what she's claiming with the CIA lying?" she asked, to begin the segment.

Story continues below

advertisement

"I think what's worse is the fact that it happened," replied Ventura. "If we hadn't waterboarded to begin with, none of this would be a controversy, would it? Torture is torture. If you're going to be a country that follows the rule of law, which we are, torture is illegal."

The whole thing is worth a watch, including the part where Hasselbeck asks Ventura if he would favor prosecuting Barack Obama for signing off on the killing of the Somali Pirates who briefly held Americans hostages.

"Apples and Oranges," Ventura replied.

A special thanks to Media Monitor Jane B. for passing on the clip.

WATCH:

Send us tips! Write us at [e-mail] if you see any newsworthy or notable TV moments. Read more about our media monitoring project here and click here to join the Media Monitors team.

Comments

[jazeyedgirl]

Every time a Republican gets called out Elizabeth turns it around on the Democrats. Joy said Hillary lied, but Liz couldn't acknowledge that the Bush and Cheney lied.

Bush and the GOP are incapable for accepting responsibility for ANYTHING.
As they see it, everything they do is perfect and all the bad were done by Democrats… even though we were the minority and did not have the votes to do anything.

And on Torture, Didn’t Tenet resign b/c if faulty intelligence that lead us to was, now it's so unbelievable that Pelosi said they lied to her.

They are trying to rewrite history, and those who don't know the truth will not recognize the lies.

[moogoogourami]

LOL! Why would any of these talking heads try to mess with a former SEAL?! Focus on the object of the mission; do not stray from the focus of that mission.

[NeilDeal]

He just says it like it is! That is so refreshing. He doesn't dance around a topic. He just obliterated Elizabeth's points and wouldn't take the bait when she tried to change the subject.

I am proud that he was my governor!

[TrueBlue123]

Damn right, Jesse Ventura! You are awesome.

[mommasigma]

THAT WAS AWESOME! JESSE VENTURA READ ELIZABETH'S UNDER-EDUCATED REPUBLICAN CLOSED MINDED SELF!!! BEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR!!!

[take10]

What is really striking is that this din gbat Hasslebeck really thinks she 's intelligent. What a mo ron! She would make a great spokesperson for the republican party. Especially, since they seem to be rushing to the bottom of the barrel. Democrats are very fortunate to have educated people speaking on their behalf. Where do they find the Hasslebecks of the world? Now I remember! Beauty pageants! Too bad they can't implant brains. Beauty would be out of business!

[alwqb]

I Love Jesse Ventura! Someone that can talk over Hasselbecks nonsense. He knows what is is talking about and saying everything I want shouted from the mountaintops. Go Jesse!

By the way, when is Hasselbeck going on maternity leave, I want to start watching again.

[willpower780]

Jesse Ventura makes a really good point of we only torture muslims.
These people that support torture only support it in cases where there is no chance that it will be used on themselves. What if, for example, China arrested US citizens working in China and accused them of spying, then waterboarded them for information?

[Chuck Mak]

You guys do know that Jesse Ventura hates Liberals/Democrats as much as he hates Conservati­ves/Republ­icans, right? It's funny seeing those on the left comment as though he just craps on the right all the time. By the way, I agree w/ Ventura on his disdain for both sides of the political spectrum.

[imfedup]

Doesn't seem to be the case right now. Sorry.

[Immhotep]

Every where I turn I read phrases like these: "your the one I want," "there are stupid," "were meant for each other," Then, yesterday, someone wrote: "You're amazing." There and then, my troubled soul felt a relief that there is still hope for mankind.

Your not amazing! You're amazing. (Or you are amazing). There not stupid! They are stupid. (Or they're stupid). "Were not meant for each other! We are meant for each other. (Or we're meant for each other)

[Applecheeks]

Hold on, I've got to watch that again.

[Thundrsong]

Elizabeth is the girl we love to hate. Let's be real for a moment. The View wouldn't be nearly as engaging without her. She spouts the party line by rote, she somehow manages to avoid anything remotely resembling reason, but without her to present that side the show wouldn't be as successful. So rail against her all you want, she's an important part of the dynamic. I'm with you all, I am shocked at her apparent inability to see herself from the outside. Does she not watch the show back?

Jesse v EB was amazing. He made a solid argument. She tried to deflect to an unrelated topic. He nailed her again. It's beautiful.

[merger]

He made a good argument, but he isn't amazing. I never heard Elizabeth say she believed waterboarding was good, everyone on the panel jumped to that assumption because she questioned the integrity of Democrat.

[jimmyjones22]

No, they jumped on her because she's doing what republicans usually do when you confront them on their failures : point fingers at everyone else.

[Thundrsong]

To clarify, I didn't say Jesse was amazing, I said Jesse v. EB (should have been EH) was amazing. I was referring to the debate itself. Jesse can be a goofball - but the actual debate was great to watch.

[rock2casbah]

I watched The View way before she came around and enjoyed it immensely. I watched when Lisa Ling was in that spot , even when Debbie Matenoupoulos . Lisa Ling and was a worthy inquisitor of the guests on The View. So no I do not think this women is worthy of the spot and definitely lends nothing but Jerry Springer antics to the debate.

[rock2casbah]

Oh yeah, by the way I no longer watch The View. So you are very wrong on every score. It was much more informative, watchable, and entertaining before she came on. Something women were proud to kind of call their own.

[oakley9]

Jesse says it like it is. EH needs to get off the air. She is detrimental.

[kiwi777]

tell it like it is, ventura!

shut that ha.ck. up

[babyboomerorig]

Ventura is crass, but I agree with everything he said.

Hasselbeck needs to do some reading and listen to someone besides Fox and Limbaugh.

Jesse's great!! No Bs, just facts.