MISSING: McCain's "straight talk" on Cheney's torture

[DeadElephant_ORG]

Cornered by the destroyed videos, this week Cheney publicly admitted to, and defended, torture. This puts McCain in the ultimate no-win political bind. The "straight talk" would be to accuse the President and Cheney of war crimes. If he fails to call them to account, he brands himself as history's preeminent flip-flopping, pandering, wimp.

-------------------------------------------------

We can check-mate John McCain in the next 5 days. Here's how:

Last week, the Administration was finally cornered by their torture videos - forced to admit to waterboarding prisoners. Now, their only way out of criminal charges is to try to make torture NOT ILLEGAL. That's why last Thursday (Feb 7th) Cheney publicly admitted to, and defended, torture. He stood in front of an Ultra-Right audience (CPAC) and, in-effect, dared the country to arrest him: "Would I do it again? You're damned right I would."

This places McCain in the ultimate no-win political bind. Torture is John McCain's signature issue. The best-known fact about McCain is that he was tortured. He lead the fight in the Senate to ban torture - and won the issue, over stiff White House resistance, 90 to 9! Right now he's in a fight with the Ultra-Right for his political life. Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, et. al., are attacking him relentlessly and refusing to support the Republican ticket. He went before that same CPAC audience, just before Cheney, to beg for conservative support. He can't win the general election without it. So he can't cross the Ultra Right right now. But Cheney is defiant about breaking McCain's torture ban. And what has McCain done about that? NOTHING.

If McCain is going to give us "straight talk", he'll have to accuse the President and Vice President of war crimes. That would finish his campaign. BUT, if he fails to stand up for his principals and call them to account, he will brand himself as history's preeminent flip-flopping, pandering, wimp. It would destroy the McCain brand. If we demand that he answer the question, any answer he gives is his doom.

So our task is simple: for the next 5 days we hold John McCain's feet to the fire over torture. Our demand for his answer should be lead by both of our Democratic candidates.

And the price of failing to do so? To wake up tomorrow in an America in which torture is forever legal.

Makes sense? Kick it, and then go and DO it.

-------------------------------

You can Digg this here:
http://digg.com/politics/MISSING_McCain_s_straight_talk_on_Cheney_s_torture

And promote it on Care2.com here:
http://www.care2.com/news/member/404810293/631990

-Jeff Goldsmith
www.DeadElephant.ORG