Fox News Bans Three Star General Thomas McInerney Who Said Torture ‘Worked’ on John McCain

Mediaite.com ^ | | 7:41 am, May 11th, 2018 | by Ken Meyer

[ethom]

A spokesperson for Fox News said they have banished the guest who said torture “worked” on Sen. John McCain, calling him a “songbird” for his five years spent a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Air Force veteran and former military analyst Thomas McInerney caused massive outrage yesterday for his interview on Fox Business Network where he bashed McCain for his opposition to Gina Haspel‘s nomination as CIA Director. McCain opposes Haspel because of her history overseeing the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, and when McInerney spoke to Charles Payne about this, he bashed the Arizona senator.

“The fact is John McCain — [torture] worked on John. That’s why they call him ‘Songbird John.’ The fact is those methods can work, and they are effective,” McInerney said.

Payne didn’t challenge McInerney’s remarks during the interview, but he later claimed in a public statement that a producer was talking in his ear, so he couldn’t hear the objectionable comments while they were being made. Fox has also offered an apology to the McCain family.

The Arizona senator’s wife, Cindy McCain, took to Twitter to request that the network chooses its guests “more wisely.”

As for McInerney, who has a history of making controversial comments, network representatives said they won’t be booking him on Fox News ever again.

[ExTexasRedhead]

I agree wholeheartedly. I’m sick of Hannity “repeating and repeating” the same dossier facts that he’s memorized. I also wish Hannity would shut up and let DiGenova speak. He repeats a variation of the same monologue every night. Hey, Sean, dump the monologue and give DiGenova and his wife, a longer segment as well as Mark Levin. Lately, I’ve gotten up for 15 minutes the minute Hannity comes on, giving him time for his same ole monologue. I return when the guests begin to appear.

Tarlov makes my skin crawl. IMO, she’s an airhead.

[gandalftb]

Good point.

Bless McInerney for his service but he’s gone off the tracks lately.

I have deep misgivings over McCain politically, but let him go easy.

[drpix]

In 2016, "The Arizona Independent Daily" (AID) revealed that some really significant information on McCain's POW record had resurfaced:

"McCain’s Victims May Be Vindicated By “Hanoi Hilton Songbird” Audio" Excerpt:

In 2008, Politifact determined that the Vietnam veterans who claimed that Sen. McCain was a traitor and a “Hanoi Hilton songbird” were “Pants on Fire wrong.” The press gave McCain a pass and attempted to destroy his critics.

Now, a recording of McCain has been uncovered that appears to support those claims.

While the AID, properly noted questions about the group that posted that audio on youtube, it also noted that they found and published the below National Archives page listing that audio recording (monitored and recorded by US intelligence) that strangely disappeared for years before reappearing. Here's that page listing:

Note: As for the other POWs listed as also making that propaganda broadcast, you should remember that Jeremiah Denton was using his appearance on those enemy broadcasts to blink his eyes to spell "TORTURE" in Morse code. No similarly heroic motive has been revealed for McCain.

[LeonardFMason]

If confessing to war crimes and thanking the NVA is singing then yes.

[jyo19]

Getting pretty sick and tired of the new Fox. Only Tucker and Hannity’s night-time programs are watchable.

[McGavin999]

There should be no nepotism. If they appoint someone it needs to be someone who goes to DC clean, can run and win in 2020. Whoever they appoint has to run in 2020 and even with Trumps coat tails a family member would not be re-elected. The resentment would be too much to overcome

[Cuttnhorse]

I’m with you...I appreciate what Hannity tries to do, but he is unwatchable. My wife and I make bet on how long it takes him to start his standard repetitious yammering.

My favorite program is Lou Dobbs...I think he is and has the best analysis on TV.

[Kent C]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd304Qo7Iw4

[antidisestablishment]

With this truth telling, I forgive General McInerney for painting the entire Alaskan Command brown. Prior to his tenure, AK bases were painted bright colors to overcome the winter doldrums. He decided that it was too nonstandard and picked out the lovely drab “McInerney Brown” scheme that has since been inflicted across the USAF.

His calling out McCain is shows how far we’ve sunk since the current worthless crop of generals won’t even address simple biological facts anymore.

[chris37]

Acid wash, bleach byte, if it was you or me...

[Pure Country]

My husband’s cousin was a POW with McCain and he would not say anything bad about McCain. I always thought it was a code of honor thing.

[ManHunter]

The commander of my SERE school was in the Hanoi Hilton with John McCain - and he hates him. Need I say more?

[Harpotoo]

A 3 Star General would know!

[wardaddy]

Thoughts on these McCain allegations in Hanoi?

I’m ignorant

[Irish Eyes]

Transcript is there but video recording has been scrubbed.

[MayflowerMadam]

“Rather inappropriate comment.”

It would be if it had come out of a clear blue sky. However, the context was McCain yapping about Haspel and torture, and criticizing her. In context, McInerney was entirely appropriate. If McCain doesn’t want to be criticized he needs to STFU — and die already.

[FES0844]

How can we ever believe anything our goverment leaders say is the truth? I guess only those who were hostages with him know the truth.

[mass55th]

They kept letting that perverted, alcohol and drug addicted Bob Beckel back on the network, and only fired him after he allegedly made a racist comment.

[fella]

When telling the truth is a radical act . . .

[nonsporting]

Rather inappropriate comment...

From the General? I find his candor refreshing.

Here is how King David addressed his ungodly enemies.

6 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
(Psalm 109:6-9)

Traitorous McCain deserves no honor.