McCain: Torture Probe Will Be A "Witch Hunt"

CBS News - Political Hotsheet ^ | 2009-04-23

[rabscuttle385]

Sen. John McCain warned that a pursuit for charges against Bush administration officials who helped design harsh interrogation tactics used on terrorist suspects would turn into a "witch hunt."

Speaking on CBS' The Early Show, the former Vietnam POW and Republican opponent of President Barack Obama in the 2008 election, said there is no evidence that he knows of that shows the officials who approved the tactics weren't giving plausible legal advice.

This will have a "chilling effect on legal counsel," McCain said.

McCain, who was himself tortured as a U.S. soldier by his North Vietnamese captors, was a vocal critic of the Bush administration's treatment of terrorism suspects.

"To go back on a witch hunt that could last for a year or so is bad for the country," he said.

[cripplecreek]

Well gee John, maybe you shouldn’t have been right there handing out torches and pitchforks.

[jcb2009]

ditto

[rabscuttle385]

The Juan McCain Truth File. "I have great respect for Al Gore." —John McCain, October 2, 2008 FR Keywords: mccaintruthfile, mcqueeg, mcbama Please tag all relevant threads with the aforementioned keywords. This can be a very high-volume ping list at times. To join the ping list: FReepmail rabscuttle385 with the subject line add  mccaintruthfile. (Stop getting pings by sending the subject line drop mccaintruthfile.)   Republican Commissar’s Warning: By joining this ping list, you may be subjected to the delusional rants and ramblings of McCainiacs, of "moderate" Republicans, of pragmatic conservatives resigned to voting for the lesser of two Democrats, and of countless RNC shills who simply want to meet a new overlord.

[junkman_106]

Why is he even relevant any more?

[junkman_106]

Having said that, I must remind myself. He is a politician and therefore not to be trusted. Who can we trust to help run the country? And how much help should we allow? They always seem to “help” most of us right into the grave.

[Kakaze]

Of Course its a witch hunt McCain. It's one hell of a distraction designed to work us all up as they pass legislation to destroy this country while we argue over torture.

[DHC-2]

If the left wants to play this (dangerous) game, then they will certainly be fair targets when the “right” people get back in power ... and they will. But unlike some triviality, if we get hit again, treason comes to mind. And what is the penalty for treason? Treason? Yep, he/they took an oath to protect and defend the USA ... we already have the proof they have done the opposite, (Gitmo, torture regulations, apology tour ... not defending the USA, weakening it). If something happens, they OWN it and when the right gets back in, this administration is a perfect target for accusation of treason to the USA.

[Concho]

As much as I hate to say it, McCain is right on this issue, and it is going to double right around and bite Obama square in the ass. What goes around, comes around, he is opening the door to have the next administration do this same bully pulpit BS to him.

[saganite]

Why is he even relevant any more?

Because he has a loudmouth daughter keeping the McCain name in the news?

[PA-RIVER]

If Hussein were found guilty of treason after leaving office, what would the punishment be?

Also, would Kenya, Indonesia, or Great Britain offer asylum for their citizen - Ex president?

[CaptainAmiigaf]

Sorry, don’t agree with your tagline. 01-20-2009 wasn’t an ERROR...an error is a boo-boo, a misstep, a lapse of reason, maybe even a screw-up. 01-20-2009 was a MAN MADE CATASPHROPHE of the first magnitude.

[highlander_UW]

It will be interesting to watch Obama up for accessory to murder once abortion becomes illegal. He's opening up quite a slippery slope if he prosecutes people of crimes that weren't crimes at the time they occurred.

[Just mythoughts]

This man is ‘brain’ dead. Just as he voted against the Bush tax cuts and Bama and crew reminded US in last years dog and pony show called an election... So will Bama and Crew remind dear lord McCain they are just following his own legislation.

[anoldafvet]

Mark Levin was on Hannity yesterday. He said that Landmark Legal Foundation is prepared to defend anyone charged. His first act would be to take video depositions from ALL the members of congress (including the president). His last words on the subject were “Bring it on”.

[Twinkie]

On this one, McCain is right. It’s a THIRD WORLD BANANA REPUBLIC DICTATOR tactic, a WITCH HUNT that will cost our country millions to pursue when money isn’t growing on trees. Yet, the Democrats seem rabidly bent on any tactic that promises to insure them of a few votes so they’ll stay in power in perpetuity, as long as WE TAXPAYERS have to pay for their chicanery.

Next, they’ll be exhuming Truman in order to prosecute him for bombing Japan (a “war crime”)if it’ll get them a vote or two from their base.

[Concho]

You are right, I need to rephrase that. Lemme think on that for a minute.

[fooman]

Mccain is such a jerk. He promoted this!

[cripplecreek]

He didn’t exactly promote it but he sure helped to keep it in the news.

[highlander_UW]

Next, they’ll be exhuming Truman in order to prosecute him for bombing Japan (a “war crime”)if it’ll get them a vote or two from their base.

They will probably leave the democrat Truman alone, but going after Nixon for bombings in Viet Nam seems a possibility.