Has there ever been a more repugnant example of political pandering than John McCain's decision to vote against a bill banning waterboarding, putting hoods on prisoners, forcing them to perform sex acts, subjecting them to mock executions, or depriving them of food, water, and medical treatment?
That's right, John McCain, the former POW who has long been an outspoken critic of the Bush administration's disturbing embrace of extreme interrogation techniques.
But that was before his desperate attempt to win over the lunatic fringe that is running the Grand Old Party.
Earlier this week, I showed how outdated the image of McCain as an independent-thinking maverick had become -- and called on the media and independent voters to snap out of their 2000 reverie and see the 2008 McCain for what he has turned into: a Rove-embracing Bush clone, willing to jettison his principles in his hunger for the presidency.
And now comes this latest unconscionable capitulation, which should drive a stake through the heart of the McCain-as-straight-talker meme once and for all.
McCain the maverick had been unequivocal in his condemnation of torture, and eloquent in expressing why. "We've sent a message to the world that the United States is not like the terrorists," he said at an Oval Office appearance in December 2005, after he had forced the president to endorse an earlier torture ban McCain had authored and pushed through (a ban the president quickly subverted with a signing statement). "What we are is a nation that upholds values and standards of behavior and treatment of all people, no matter how evil or bad they are. And I think this will help us enormously in winning the war for the hearts and minds of people throughout the world in the war on terror."
He made a similar case on the campaign trail in Iowa in October 2007: "When I was imprisoned, I took heart from the fact that I knew my North Vietnamese captors would never be treated like I was treated by them. There are much better and more effective ways to get information. You torture someone long enough, he'll tell you whatever he thinks you want to know."
And there was this pithy and powerful summation of why torture should never be an option: "It's not about who they are, it's about who we are."
Of course, all that was before he put his conscience in leg irons -- and before caving to the would-be Torquemadas on the Right became his campaign strategy.
Now we get tortured logic instead. Taking to the Senate floor to justify his vote against the torture ban yesterday, McCain twisted himself in knots trying to explain how he could sponsor a bill -- the 2006 Detainee Treatment Act -- that prohibits the use of any cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment by the military while voting against a bill that would extend that ban to the CIA and other intelligence agencies: "It is important to the war on terror that the CIA have the ability to [detain and interrogate terrorists]. At the same time the CIA's interrogation program has to abide by the rules, including the standards of the Detainee Treatment Act."
Got that? The CIA has to abide by rules prohibiting torture but we can't tie the CIA's hands by making it abide by rules prohibiting torture. Straight talk, RIP.
What's more, McCain said he voted against the bill because it would be a mistake to "tie the CIA to the Army Field Manual" -- a Manual he gave a ringing endorsement to in a November debate: "I just came back from visiting a prison in Iraq. The army general there said that techniques under the Army Field Manual are working and working effectively, and he didn't think they need to do anything else. My friends, this is what America is all about."
But not apparently once you have the White House in your sights. Then all bets -- and deeply held convictions -- are off.
The media and independent voters need to stop offering McCain valentines, and start interrogating him -- humanely, of course -- about the Faustian bargain he has struck.
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
There's an unhealthy element within the right that reveres the simplicity of the few passages of the Old Testament the know: the eye for the eye stuff - even if there's not an eye; the harsh and eternal punishment of the sinner - even if there's no sin. And the casting of the first stone.
This is the wingnut constituency who wants to know what's going on within the privacy of ones home. The Scarlett Letter brigade. The Elmer Gantry contingent. People, who despite their core beliefs believe in nothing else it would seem be in getting even. Certainly, they care not about consequences.
his endurance of pain for a cause--whatever that was in Viet Nam. It was refreshing to see someone stand for something real in the face of two,old draft-dodgers like
Bush, or that decorated strategist, Dick Cheney.
But as Addy above says, McC has sold his soul rather early to the far right--and so quickly too: he has given in to the far-right on torture, on the near trillion given to the struggling wealth 20%--and of course Perpetua;l
War to Liberate (perpetual oil flows). It is all sickening, quite typical and the main reason I could care less: on a certain Tuesday in November, I intend to watch my favorite Hitchcock "Dial M for Murder" while the nation dials "m" for McCain. Good Luck to
the herd!--Gorman12
The millions of secret manipulations and crimes of the Bush Regime will be expertly covered up and stacking the bureauocracy (paid for by all taxpayers) with right-wing goose-stepping fascists will be complete and total.
McCain will be a potted plant.
I can hardly wait to see him call some foreign heads of state "Jerks" as he did Dana Bash and her colleagues last week on CNN. By then, the U.S. media cuckholds will be completely controlled by the GOP and the neoncons, so he will get a completely free ride, as Bush has.
And Bush will be taking vacations at his ranch in Paraguay protected by the Air Force and the Marines, thanks again to the taxpayers.
John McCain is the Ozzy Osbourne of politics. The heavy metal demigod sold his soul for rock `n' roll. McCain held out for a much better offer.
Jonathan Berr
http://ketchupandeggs.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/john-mccain-is-the-republican-ozzy-osbourne/
March 1, 2008 Forum" details at http://www.pdavirginia.org/ -- let's change the conversation and get out.
mr bomb bomb iran guy will shed much blood both american and iran blood to get that glory and honor he thinks he deserves.
he found the right country to accomplish his goals. most americans never saw a war they did not want to fight. neo con americans have a kick ass mentality.
lets just hope the chinese credit card holds out to finance this war like the iraq war.
let the grandkids pay for it that is the american way. profits now baby.
now americans go shop till you drop with that new irs check in the mail come may. and thank the chinese for that money.
the chinese will call the shots as long as we owe them trillions. smart people the chinese.
and folks said that the commies would lose and capitalism would win. whoops missed on that one.
Once deplored the infliction of pain.
But a swat on the tush
From the family Bush
Knocked his principles right down the drain.
I'm just wondering if as a result of being tortured when a POW, has John McCain ever been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)?
Would or could that account for his outbursts of anger?
But more importantly, if he has been diagnosed with PTSD, shouldn't that disqualify him as being fit for office as President of the United States of America ???
Arianna, I do not know what Faustian means but I do know that McCain is a traitor.
He is as much a war hero as Bush is a cowboy
All hat no cows
Want a real man
Ron Paul
Two thoughts:
First, I am sick and tired of Bu$hco and the media's mis-use of the word detainee. The word is not descriptive of the circumstance. If you are behind an eight foot chain link fence with razor wire at its top and in chains yourself and are confined behind bars, you are not a detainee. Your are a prisoner. Period!!! Detention, as I recall it, is something like being held after school for some minor violation of the rules. No chains. No fences. No bars.
Secondly, I recall a report (about three months ago) that McCain was on the verge of dropping out of the campaign for lack of funds. Recently I read that he has raised over $40 million. So where did this sudden surge of funds come from? I am neither surprised that McCain has begun to spew right wing propaganda nor am I surprised that George H.W. Bu$h has endorsed him.