Michael Mukasey
| By Harry Reid - Nov 7, 2007 9:31:44 PM ET |
| Also listed in: Featured Bloggers |
Waterboarding is torture.
Because Michael Mukasey cannot admit to this basic fact, I will vote against his nomination.
I respect Michael Mukasey and believe he is an intelligent and capable man. However, given our recent history, it is important that our next attorney general be able to stand up to the President and for the rule of law. I am not confident that Michael Mukasey will.
Send the message:
If he can't say no to torture - we say no to Mukasey.
While Michael Mukasey refuses to answer the question of whether waterboarding is torture, the precedent is clear. In 1947, Yukio Asano, a Japanese officer, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for performing a form of waterboarding on an American citizen.
In 2004, Daniel Levin, who was then acting assistant attorney general, volunteered to be waterboarded. Later, he told the White House "even though he knew he wouldn't die, he found the experience terrifying and thought that it clearly simulated drowning."
If Michael Mukasey cannot answer the simple question of whether or not waterboarding is torture, he should not serve as attorney general.
Our message needs to be loud and clear:
If he can't say no to torture - we say no to Mukasey.
Because Michael Mukasey cannot admit to this basic fact, I will vote against his nomination.
I respect Michael Mukasey and believe he is an intelligent and capable man. However, given our recent history, it is important that our next attorney general be able to stand up to the President and for the rule of law. I am not confident that Michael Mukasey will.
Send the message:
If he can't say no to torture - we say no to Mukasey.
While Michael Mukasey refuses to answer the question of whether waterboarding is torture, the precedent is clear. In 1947, Yukio Asano, a Japanese officer, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for performing a form of waterboarding on an American citizen.
In 2004, Daniel Levin, who was then acting assistant attorney general, volunteered to be waterboarded. Later, he told the White House "even though he knew he wouldn't die, he found the experience terrifying and thought that it clearly simulated drowning."
If Michael Mukasey cannot answer the simple question of whether or not waterboarding is torture, he should not serve as attorney general.
Our message needs to be loud and clear:
If he can't say no to torture - we say no to Mukasey.
Comments are closed for this post.
You folded like a tent in the wind - you talk a good game, but when it comes to backing it up you sold out!
I hope stem cell research gets approved some time and used to give a backbone to the spinless Democrats now in congress.
I totally agree with the post from CC yesterday - why did you not filibuster this new lackey from Bush?
One pissed off American.
I have wanted to talk to you and give you my opinions, but unfortunately, your line is always busy or your voice mail is always full. I can understand as you probably want to hide from the American people. I don't blame you. I'd want to hide too, if I were a sissy like you.
Frankly, I am disgusted by your lack of patriotism for your country. If you don't agree with the war, that's fine. But, playing politics with our soldiers' lives is sickening. I am praying for your removal from office.
Either, get on our side or get out! If you can't be a patriot, leave this great country. I'm sick of the garbage that comes out of your mouth. Now, I don't agree with everything President Bush has done (immigration and this stupid North American Union), but I believe he has done his best to do what is right for this country. I call on you to stop your petty temper tantrum and do the same.
Please, stop talking about "our boys" and start listening to "our boys".