McCain caved today - He voted AGAINST ban on torture

[DeadElephant_ORG]

This caught me off guard.

A few hours ago the Senate voted in favor of the Intelligence Authorization Bill. The bill requires the intelligence community to abide by the same standards for interrogations as the Army Field Manual which bans waterboarding (forced drowning). McCain, himself a victim of torture, has in the past spoken strongly specifically in favor of implementing the Army Field Manual standard. And in the most recent Republican debate he took Romney to task saying “I am astonished that…anyone could believe that (waterboarding) is not torture. It’s in violation of the Geneva Conventions.”

McCain voted today against the ban on waterboarding. I know he's desperate for the support of the Far Right of the Republican Party, but... I'm genuinely very surprised. And sad.

I've predicted that if he made this choice it would destroy the McCain "brand" as a maverick, and a straight-talker, and as a torture victim. This is the ugliest example political pandering I can think of. But it remains to be seen if it will hurt him.

So I guess that's up to us.

[Arkansas Granny]

1. I heard that earlier on the news and my jaw dropped.

Although I don't agree with his politics I had always maintained a certain amount of respect for McCain because of his stance on torture. I would never have believed that he would do this.

[DeadElephant_ORG]

3. holy jesus... here's the whole exchange between McCain and Mitt

John: Well governor I'm astonished that you haven't found out what
waterboarding is

Mitt: I know what waterboarding is senator

John: Then I'm astonished that you would think such a torture would
be inflicted on anyone in in our... who we are held captive and
anyone could believe that that's not torture. It's in violation of
the geneva conventions, it's in violation of existing law, and
governor, let me tell ya, if we're gonna get the high ground in this
world and we're gonna be america that we have cherished and loved
for more than 200 years, we're not gonna torture people. We're not
gonna do what Pol Pot did, we're not gonna do what's being done to
burmese monks as we speak, and I suggest that you talk to retired
military officers and active duty military officers like colon
powell and others, and how in the world anybody could think that
kind of thing could be inflicted by americans on people that are
held in our custody is absolutely beyond me.


I agree with your comment about "a certain respect". I can't get over the personal and moral tragedy of this.

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. It's Stockholm syndrome, the poor guy. n/t

[trashcanistanista]

4. Yesterday on Larry King he went into his diatribe about

how he was so against torture and wouldn't ever want it used on our troops. Lying sack of shit.

[VOX]

5. A few years ago, I used to have some respect for this guy...

And I appreciated the genuine bi-partisan efforts he at least attempted with Russ Feingold and Hillary Clinton.

But when he genuflects before the hoo-hahs of the Christian right, and now does a major flip-flop on torture, I can only view him with the same contempt I have for all Republicans. :grr:

[hisownpetard]

6. McCain has now made a mockery of his own principles, doing a 180 on his strong stand

against torture. By doing this, he has shown that there is nothing he won't do to be President.

Trading in his principles for a shot at the presidency? Change the 'W' to an 'S'.

POW? No, POS.

[DeadElephant_ORG]

7. he was against waterboarding before he was for it.

the devil came for John McCain

[AlCzervik]

8. oh yeah, he's a real maverick.