I think it’s fair to say that I am anything but a fan of John McCain. In fact, I absolutely loathe the guy – as a senator and as an influential player in the Republican Party. That said, if standing face-to-face with the guy, I’d very proudly shake his hand and thank him for his service to our country. In fact, I’d consider it a great honor to get the opportunity. See, there’s John McCain the politician; and then there’s John McCain the war hero. The latter deserves some respect. It seems someone probably should have reminded Rick Santorum that there are two “John McCain’s” as well…
Now comes presidential candidate and “enhanced interrogation” supporter Rick Santorum arguing on Hugh Hewitt’s radio show that McCain simply “doesn’t understand how enhanced interrogation works.” Yes, he’s talking about the same John McCain who, in his five and a half years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, was interrogated during a program of beatings and torture.
Here’s Santorum:
HH: Now your former colleague, John McCain, said look, there’s no record, there’s no evidence here that these methods actually led to the capture or the killing of bin Laden. Do you disagree with that? Or do you think he’s got an argument?
RS: I don’t, everything I’ve read shows that we would not have gotten this information as to who this man was if it had not been gotten information from people who were subject to enhanced interrogation. And so this idea that we didn’t ask that question while Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was being waterboarded, he doesn’t understand how enhanced interrogation works. I mean, you break somebody, and after they’re broken, they become cooperative. And that’s when we got this information. And one thing led to another, and led to another, and that’s how we ended up with bin Laden.
I don’t care if you like Rick Santorum; think he hung the moon; think he’s the most “socially conservative” candidate in the race; or simply think he’s got a friendly smile; you have to admit this was – at the very least – a momentary deviation into the land of the utterly stupid and ridiculous. In fact, these comments were so ridiculous, I’m willing to bet McCain’s service to our country probably slipped his mind as the words were coming from his mouth.
I would expect a full apology to be forthcoming. If not, goodbye Mr. Santorum – “social conservative” or not.
John McCain may not be the utmost authority on “enhanced interrogation” that he would like us to believe he is as relates to the detention of terrorists post 9/11, but I do believe he is in a very small class of individuals who should be listened to when he talks about the matter. He may have his timeline, or even his facts slightly out of order from time to time, but I think he “understands how enhanced interrogation works.”
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UPDATE: Santorum backtracks on his comments.
“I disagree with Senator McCain’s view that the enhanced interrogation techniques used on a select few high-value terrorist detainees were unsuccessful nor do I believe they amounted to torture,” Santorum said in a statement Wednesday. “For anyone to infer my disagreement with Senator McCain’s policy position lessens my respect for his service to our country and all he had to endure is outrageous and unfortunate.”
I’m so glad Santorum’s confident enough to be himself and to say what he believes. I hope he keeps it up… And I hope folks are taking a good, long look at this candidate.
[...] Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum [...]