McCain: Obama conducting a “witch hunt” on OLC lawyers
posted at 1:33 pm on April 23, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
John McCain fired a shot at Barack Obama today after the release of the OLC memos on interrogation prompted calls for action against the attorneys. McCain, who opposed the use of enhanced interrogation techniques and led the fight against them in Congress, warned Obama that any such pursuit would turn into a “witch hunt” aimed at the wrong people. He also warned that treating policy differences as criminal actions would turn the US into a “banana republic”:
“If you criminalize legal advice, which is basically what they’re going to do, then it has a terribly chilling effect on any kind of advice and counsel that the president might receive,” McCain said during an interview on CBS’s “Early Show.” …
McCain compared the potential prosecutions with the actions of “banana republics” that “prosecute people for actions they didn’t agree with under previous administrations.”
“To go back on a witch hunt that could last for a year or so, frankly, is going to be bad for the country, bad for future presidents — precedents that may be set by this, and certainly nonproductive in trying to pursue the challenges we face,” he said.
I’m a little surprised to see McCain leading the pushback against Obama, and it indicates just how badly Obama fumbled this issue. McCain and Obama were almost sympatico about this during the campaign, and McCain has angered his own base on numerous occasions on this topic — about which he unfortunately knows much more than the rest of us. Having McCain, of all people, accuse Obama of a witch hunt and warning of a banana republic on the torture issue is a real political blow to Obama.
As I wrote earlier, of all the people in the loop on the interrogations, the lawyers are the least culpable. They didn’t order the interrogations, and they didn’t approve them, either. People may disagree with their interpretation of the law, but all they did was offer legal advice. They may have given bad advice, but that’s not a crime.
If crimes were committed, then the pursuit would be against those who conducted the interrogations, those who ordered them, and those who winked at them while in a position to stop them. As Peter Hoekstra says, that includes a number of people on Capitol Hill. Furthermore, in order to prosecute the people who ordered the interrogations, one has to prosecute the people who conducted them, which will likely create a walkout at CIA when Obama needs them for critical missions.
Pete Abel says that a truth commission with immunity all around is the best option. Now that Obama has wreaked havoc by selectively leaking the OLC memos, it may be the least worst option, but only if we start with an honest release of all related material so that America can judge the actions and the results in full context.
Update: Fixed the repetition in the excerpt.
Update II: Just to clarify, it was my assumption that a truth commission would involve immunity all around. Pete says he’d prefer not to make that explicit, although he knows that other truth commissions have operated in that manner.
Blowback
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Me too. If it were a fellow Republican he would have already called for resignations and a bi-partisan
witchhuntcommission.BacaDog on April 23, 2009 at 2:21 PM
I hope you’re right. But I still wonder if Obama has too much confidence in his own gift of gab, believing that he can have peace on earth by speaking and wishing for it, and being a cool-cat buddy with Chavez and Castro and Crazy Kim and AhmaNutJob. He wants to be the Great Peacemaker after George Warmonger Bush, and hopes that the enemies will hold off until the next President takes office.
Gird your loins.
Steve Z on April 23, 2009 at 2:21 PM
But one of those minds is backed by a much better keyboard.
unclesmrgol on April 23, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Maybe the OBama cluster f**k is going so bad they try to get Bush out of in front, cause he thinks he’s still running against Bush.
the_nile on April 23, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Great minds, but my fingers are slower than yours!
Knucklehead on April 23, 2009 at 2:23 PM
I’m a little surprised to see McCain is under the delusion that Obama is averse to turning the US into a banana republic. So far as I can tell, it’s not a risk but a deliberate plan.
Blacklake on April 23, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Interesting thought.
I just get so tired of George Bush taking shots to the head and never hitting back.
STONES -
jake-the-goose on April 23, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Aren’t all of them dead? Maybe the Obama administration can go back and postumously retract Medals of Honor from Audie Murphy and Alvin York for “torturing” Germans? Where do the witch hunts stop after all?
Go ahead Obama, open this can of worms. I can’t wait to see his administration get put on trial in future years for taking this nation under and gross incompetence, hell they’ve already got known tax evaders!
Geministorm on April 23, 2009 at 2:25 PM
But McCain said Obama was a good guy
Elric66 on April 23, 2009 at 2:26 PM
That Clinton “witch hunt” also served to distract from the actual key issue, Clinton using the Office of the President, his position as the chief law enforcement officer of the Nation, and to an extent, as governor of Arkansas, to deny the civil rights of at least five US citizens who attempted to use legal processes to obtain justice specific to their complaints of sexual harrassment and other related offenses.
That it became a Clinton’s extra-curricular activities involving an intern and all the tawdry blue dress stuff and such, helped move the inquiry away from a series of major civil rights violations to one of Clinton being just a randy old guy with certain proclivities.
To this day, the vast majority of Americans still believe it was all about the Conservatives being angry that Clinton was messing around with a young intern…and nothing more.
coldwarrior on April 23, 2009 at 2:28 PM
That’s more along the line of what I’m thinking…they want this story front and center as a cover or smokescreen for something…as for John McCain, I wish someone else would take the lead on this and not him, anyone but him…the media narrative is already so built-in I can recite it: McCain’s just got sour grapes, move on Old Timer. I do appreciate his strong words on the subject, however.
RepubChica on April 23, 2009 at 2:32 PM
+1000. As always, Chica!
I think anyone that contributed to John McCain’s campaign should sue him for lying to us about how ‘Great’ Barack was. Maybe then, and only then, will he finally sit down and shut up and maybe put a ball gag on his Heifer daughter.
HornetSting on April 23, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Really… Where have you been?? McCain was the main force behind the Republican opposition to Porkulus. He was the first major Republican to come out against this. He also got pissy in the meeting with the Hispanic activists who were mad that amnesty wasn’t happening. He basically rolled his eyes and said serves you right. Just because McCain hasn’t been demanding that Obama release his birth certificate or whatever other silliness that the nuts on the far right want him to doesn’t mean he’s been soft on Obama.
As for the Janeane comparison, I resent that because unlike her, I have a brain and a sense of humor.
Illinidiva on April 23, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Does anyone else wonder if this is bait? What else is Obama/Axelrove up to? They throw this out the front door, but what are they sneaking in the back door?
portlandon on April 23, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Yeah, I hear this *all the time* from lib friends, that Clinton was impeached because of sex. I facepalm myself every time I hear that idiocy and inform them that PERJURY was the reason he was impeached and also disbarred (by the SCotUS). The stupid tripe that the left believes when they are “told” by the MSM is so unbelievable, but I guess the old saying is true; say something often enough and long enough and it becomes a fact…
/sigh
Geministorm on April 23, 2009 at 2:36 PM
You believe a president should be allowed to lie under oath?
Remember also that the case against Clinton was brought by a private citizen whom Clinton had harmed prior to becoming president.
MarkTheGreat on April 23, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Obama is still personally overseeing the methodical torture of U.S. troops in SEAL and SERE training, right?
Potential right-wing terrorists deserve it I guess.
econavenger on April 23, 2009 at 2:37 PM
If Bush didn’t have “STONES”, who knows how many of us would be dead right now? He has them. He just doesn’t use them to swat away Democrats and the media. He had more important things to do – his job.
And he shouldn’t be out front. At least not yet. He’s trying to do what is traditional for former presidents to do – stay in the background.
Let the others come out swinging.
capitalist piglet on April 23, 2009 at 2:39 PM
RepubChica on April 23, 2009 at 2:19 PM
They don’t know what the hell they are doing, Obowa and Friends never have; it’s why their stupid websites are always asking the base for ideas on what to do.
So the base said “Punish Bush!”, Axelrod managed to uncross his eyes for a second and give it the thumbs up, and then Obowa signed off on it, basically because if he didn’t have advisers he would have resigned in disgrace by now.
Bishop on April 23, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Obama is starting to remind me of Saddam after he took over Iraq when he sat on that stage pointing out former leaders then taking them out to be jailed or shot.
Sucking on his smoke and yucking it up.
Bicyea on April 23, 2009 at 2:39 PM
**Raise hand and says “I do”**
On Sunday we were told that this administration was going to move forward and that this witchhunt was basically a closed subject.
I want to know what happened in those 48 hours to change the game again?
Knucklehead on April 23, 2009 at 2:40 PM
McCain also defended Timmy Geithner and told everyone to back off, and what the hell is he doing talking to an illegal alien pro amnesty group anyway? It’s about time that McCain wake up and realize he is ALWAYS on the wrong side of his own party. I smell a rat because McCain NEVER does anything that does not benefit John McCain. It’s time for him to go. Now!
HornetSting on April 23, 2009 at 2:40 PM
He’s trying to get re-elected and it now appears he may have a serious contender. I’m thinking we’re going to start seeing a whole lot more of this, and of course, it does benefit McCain.
Knucklehead on April 23, 2009 at 2:44 PM
I rescind that comment, sorry.
From the far right (my) perspective, McCain has been too accomodating to Obama and most of his policies. The pork issue has always been a pet peeve of McCain’s, so that is nothing different than what its been the last 20 years+. If McCain were truly in the conservative camp and the leader of the Republican party, he would have been opposing every policy that came from the Obama administration or from across the aisle that has been completely irresponsible fiscally. He hasn’t. And, the pork wouldn’t be so bad (we’ve tolerated it for decades) if the demands for immediate funds to keep-the-economy-from-collapsing-in-5-seconds wasn’t the front for that travesty. Trillions in spending and they are throwing in every pork project they can find and then we’re told we need to cut back?!?! That’s like having to have a limb amputated and the doctor telling you that he’s taking an extra 10% off so he can help his wife who needs a bone marrow transplant…ok, that was a long and convoluted analogy…nevermind.
Geministorm on April 23, 2009 at 2:45 PM
scalleywag on April 23, 2009 at 2:46 PM
“My friends,…………………….”
BacaDog on April 23, 2009 at 2:47 PM
If the precedent is set for persecution of advice etc., I can see what will happen to obama when he leaves office. Can you imagine what the conservatives can go after him for – all the trillions that we are spending – cowtowing to the saudi king – appointing people who no nothing Napolitano – appointing a tax cheat to head the tax commission. SWEET! How about the members of congress they are a bunch of crooks and all should be put in jail.
I’m not sure all of the above is prosecutable or just plain stupid, but we could try. It would tie them up for years and cost a million, just as they are trying to do to the Bushes.
Bambi on April 23, 2009 at 2:47 PM
haha, I bleeped out my own comment.
scalleywag on April 23, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Take a drink!
*gets bad feeling in pit of stomach from debates*
HornetSting on April 23, 2009 at 2:50 PM
From “unacceptable” to “a witch hunt”.
Pathetic john.
Just flat out pitiful.
getalife on April 23, 2009 at 2:51 PM
McShame trying to make himself relevant… pity it took him so long. GO HOME, LOSER!! And take your RINO friends with you!
BoomJunkie on April 23, 2009 at 2:51 PM
The charge will be “Violating the US Constitution” but there will be 5000 counts along with 9 trillion counts of violating our civil rights.
Bicyea on April 23, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Bush shouldn’t say anything…our current idiot in cheif is doing a fine job of digging a hole, why take the shovel out of his hand?
the worm will turn…calm down.
~B
Brian on April 23, 2009 at 2:52 PM
I would not expect too much from McCain. Politically, the GOP has little power in Congress. McCain will pop up from time to time to pretend that he has some media mojo still, but he will not appear so much as to realize and accept that he truly has become irrelevant.
He is a center-right botox free version of John Kerry now.
rw on April 23, 2009 at 2:52 PM
A man broken by torture can’t stand up against it.
That is not a man.
He should retire.
Weak and pathetic.
Thank God he lost.
getalife on April 23, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Fantastic! Pelosi just came out and lied that she knew nothing about waterboarding. I remember her saying she knew about it 3 years ago! Priceless! They’re stepping right into it!
John the Libertarian on April 23, 2009 at 2:55 PM
John the Libertarian on April 23, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Feinstein said the same thing.
getalife on April 23, 2009 at 2:57 PM
John McCain needs to just let the democrats fall on the sword….he came out when everyone was attacking Timmy and DEFENDED him, now he just needs to go back to figuring out how to give amnesty to 50 million illegal aliens and ruin our country. Wait for that little turd to drop….he’ll be all over it.
HornetSting on April 23, 2009 at 2:57 PM
I just saw it and cannot believe what I’m hearing! “They were told about waterboarding but they weren’t told it was being used”
LMAO!!!!
Knucklehead on April 23, 2009 at 2:58 PM
It depends on the definition of ‘IS’ is????? They are all the same. Stupid.
HornetSting on April 23, 2009 at 3:00 PM
We have got to find some conservatives with some fight in um.
darktood on April 23, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Here come the CODEPINKERS to park in her front yard again! I love it. She’s a liar, always has been, always will be. And when the hypocrite gets done trying to bring down the Bush house, maybe we can start cleaning up hers…i.e. Frank, Dodd, Murtha, etc. etc. etc.
scalleywag on April 23, 2009 at 3:02 PM
Most ethical congress evah is going to tumble. Thanks OBAMA!
scalleywag on April 23, 2009 at 3:03 PM
They’re trying to ram universal socialist galactic health care through and want the attention elsewhere.
No one is going to be prosecuted for anything. Too many democrats concurred with Bush.
Their health care plan, with all it’s governmental controls over our lives is infinitely more dangerous.
darwin on April 23, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Exactly! The way Dianne had NO idea her husband was receiving bailout money!
John the Libertarian on April 23, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Do they really? Among folks I know who opposed impeachment, it wasn’t being they felt the only crime was sexual harassment, because they felt there was no crime at all, or because they felt perjury shouldn’t be punished. They just don’t feel perjury regarding a personal civil lawsuit constitutes “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” Even ultra-liberal MoveOn.org called for censure (i.e., “censure President Clinton and move on,” which provided them with their ironic name). “About sex” is just shorthand for that idea. Moronic shorthand, but shorthand nonetheless.
calbear on April 23, 2009 at 3:11 PM
If this political witch hunt goes forward, I would like to see the prosecution of any government official, currently alive, in any administration, that was aware of, directed, condoned, or participated in “S.E.R.E.” training, or P.O.W. training, of any American serviceman, or woman.
I was slapped, sleep deprived, exposed to heat and cold, forced to stand at attention for hours in the hot sun, threatened, put in small boxes and had food and water withheld.
If the Obama administration wants to open this pandora’s box, let’s get it on.
Is there anybody out there that could help set it up?
Star20 on April 23, 2009 at 3:17 PM
There will be no witchhunt.
Obama has already done all the damage he needed to do
by merely by threatening a witchhunt.
Does anybody believe that now or in the future, those who work for the gov in the legal or intel community will do anything that remotely resembles protecting the USA, when to do so could ruin them for life?
IMPEACH OBAMA NOW!
THE CHARGES? THAT’S EASY. GIVING AID & COMFORT TO THE ENEMY DURING A TIME OF WAR — FAILURE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE NATION
tigerlily on April 23, 2009 at 3:18 PM
What do you know, John McCain finally woke up.
GarandFan on April 23, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Stuff other people know that are retired.
Old Hippie Vet on April 23, 2009 at 3:26 PM
Wow… Politicians working for their own interests!! I’m just shocked, shocked, shocked!! As I pointed out, the reason why McCain doesn’t like Obama is entirely personal; he wanted to be President. McCain’s little pissing match with Dubya for eight years was also entirely personal; he wanted to be President. These personal dislikes entirely color McCain’s way of thinking about things. Frankly, it was ridiculously obvious to see McCain during the Bush years become an “expert” and opponent of the Bush administration on things like tax policy that he had absolutely no interest in before. Expect the same thing to happen with the Obama administration. McCain will suddenly become a principled supporter of school vouchers or a principled opponent of universal health care, despite the fact that his main interests are A. defense and foreign policy and B. gov’t corruption and waste. Whatever the reason, McCain’s new conversion is good for conservatives.
Illinidiva on April 23, 2009 at 3:35 PM
No.
HornetSting on April 23, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Nothing about Juan McCain is good for conservatives or this great republic.
thomasaur on April 23, 2009 at 3:44 PM
John, Getting angry with your best friends is no way to live. Go back and rest your head in Teddy Kennedy’s lap and it will all be better in the morning.
RJL on April 23, 2009 at 4:05 PM
There is no “conversion.” McCain has been solid on this always.
Ditto for a lot of his positions. He’s a bit of a goof, I agree, but not on a lot of issues.
AnninCA on April 23, 2009 at 4:07 PM
The OBungler-In-Chief just doesn’t seem to get it. What comes around, goes around. OK Barry, set the precedent, but just remember, the people that are advising you now, could be up for prosecution on the next presidency, and so could you for intentionally failing to producing a birth certificate.
Incidentally Mr. Soetoro, your releasing CIA memos to the world, and to enemies of the United States during war time, could constitute aiding/abetting, and IMO, a treasonable offense. So just a word of advice, be careful what you wish for.
byteshredder on April 23, 2009 at 4:14 PM
BINGO Darwin
While everyone is focused on this story, they will nationalize healthcare. I was in a townhall meeting the other day with Pete Sessions and he said they will enact a single payer system by June. It is going to happen, and the Senate will use budget reconciliation to pass with 51 votes. Done deal, and the American medical system and our economy will be irreparably harmed. All the while this witch hunt will consume all the oxygen in the media and noone notices anything else.
txmomof6 on April 23, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Poor john,
Tossed his principle of torture being unacceptable, to tow the party line to please the cons.
And cons still hate him.
Retire john.
getalife on April 23, 2009 at 4:38 PM
Too little too late from McCain. Would have been nice had he spoke out on this two days ago when it first started breaking. Instead of leading on this front he is following and way behind. Where was he and his concern and outrage on this Tuesday and Wednesday? Taking inventory of the political wind. I hope the fine people of Arizona boot this RINO in 2010.
karen32862 on April 23, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Couple things …
First … Bush needs to come out and do an interview with Rush or Hannity and he needs to say that HE authorized the waterboarding and that he’d do it again. He also needs to tell the Libs to leave the little guys alone – he’s the one they want – and if they have the balls they need to come after him – not torture his underlings. Throw the ball into the court of the
Terrorist’s Rights PartyDemocrats. Let ‘em arrest Bush – I’d live to see it – TURBO CHARGE THAT TEA PARTY MOVEMENT OBAMA! How many thousands of us will be outside of Bush’s jail cell chanting for his release? I’ll be there – and many others of us who served in the military under this fine Commander In Chief who kept this country safe.Second thing here … What in the hell is with Obama? In his first 100 days he’s got the country on a path to civil war. He whipped up a lynch mob against the AIG execs. He got hundreds of thousands of the “silent majority” – people who didn’t even know how to protest – off their asses and into the streets with the Tea Parties. And now he’s got the left wanting to lynch George Bush. Everything home boy touches just spins right out of his control!
HondaV65 on April 23, 2009 at 5:02 PM
If you wish to do something against the attorneys, file an ethics complaint with the appropriate bar association. Otherwise, shut up lefties.
cackcon on April 23, 2009 at 5:03 PM
If we investigate these lawyers for their role in torture, can we also investigate Obama for his role in trashing the economy and costing Americans their livelihoods and financial resources?
SheofTwoMinds on April 23, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Good job, McCain.
He’s been hitting Obama pretty hard so far.
therightwinger on April 23, 2009 at 6:01 PM
It’s not a good idea to equate those circumstances. Differing on whether to pursue is one thing, but those wanting an inquiry into Clinton’s doings did NOT manufacture evidence, distort the truth or encourage witnesses to lie.
Equating the circumstances also casts a shadow over Bush that he does not deserve. There is ZERO evidence, as memo after memo is released and more is known (much regurgitated over the years) that laws were broken. Want to change policy? Fine. Calling what was done criminal? Wrong. With Clinton, there was wrongdoing, so there was no witch hunt. Want to avoid pursuing for a host of good reasons? Fine, but don’t call that a witch hunt. What’s going on now, though, certainly qualifies.
KittyLowrey on April 23, 2009 at 7:57 PM
You are a disgrace.
KittyLowrey on April 23, 2009 at 8:09 PM
My hope is that the Republican “leadership” (shaky though it may be) are hanging back, and letting the Democrats make bunches of semi-contradictory public statements, with which they can be identified later.
And, for those who are waiting to hear from former President Bush; he has always been a “class act;” he, like his father, will not enter this fray until forced to. Then, he will accept responsibility for the decisions. This will prove (again!) his essential strength of character. Mr. Bush, I miss your leadership.
massrighty on April 23, 2009 at 8:59 PM
I don’t buy it, not one cent. This “memogate” is simply serving up two plates of pablum for the masses:
1) to the left “We’re gonna get em for what they did.”
2) to the right “They did bad things, shame on them.”
The question is why? Just like the controversy over veteran health care, all this is doing is serving as a smokescreen. The first was to distract from the administration inability to fill its cabinet. This second one is to take the focus off the 100 day milestone (the one Obama tripped over) where the cabinet is still lacking, and in one case a call for dismissal is already in the wind. Not to mention all the other failures, gaffs, and missteps.
Keep watch, as each new challenge to the administration occurs there is a smokescreen to distract and shift focus away from the real issue. In the Clinton era it was govern by poll – no concrete decision unless it was proven to be popular. In this administration it is dish up the indigestible and have the pepto cover-up ready. Perhaps more accurate would be sort of like an SBD. Let loose but have a can floral spray ready.
dkeppner on April 24, 2009 at 10:37 AM
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