MyDD :: Senator McCain is Evil

Senator McCain is Evil

by Gary Boatwright, Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 09:58:14 AM EST

Dear Senator McCain:

This is an open letter I am posting at MyDD and Daily Kos. If you or a member of your staff would like to respond, you are welcome to stop by and clarify the record.

I just watched your appearance on Hardball. You said torture is wrong. That is not correct Senator. Torture is not wrong. Torture is evil. Abu Ghraib was evil incarnate and it was done in the name of the United States of America. Allow me to remind you of a famous warning that I am sure you are familiar with Senator:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;

Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemöller, 1945

I happened to catch a portion of the O'Reilly Factor on the radio yesterday. O'Reilly was complaining about the ACLU's attempt to protect the Constitutional rights of all Americans. O'Reilly was complaining about the ACLU's efforts to rein in the Patriot Act and stop abuses at Guantanamo Bay. O'Reilly was also complaining that the ACLU didn't have a plan to fight the war on terrorism, which seems a little odd, but it was Bill O'Reilly after all.

I have no problem with any of that Senator. What I do have a problem with was his statement that the ACLU is evil. Quote, "I went to the ACLU's website and they don't have a plan for fighting the War on Terror. If you support evil, you are evil." Is that your view of the ACLU as well Senator? Is Bill O'Reilly's opinion of the ACLU consistent with your vision of America? I have another question for you Senator. Are you evil because you voted for Attorney General Gonzalez? Are you evil because you have been silent about, and even apologetic for, the people and procedures that authorized Abu Ghraib?

I don't know if you were sincere in trying to defend Vice-President Cheney's statements Senator. I do have a difficult time believing you are as naïve as you pretended. There is not any doubt whatsoever that Vice-President Cheney was plainly saying the United States was going to engage in torture as well as extraordinary rendition. There is no doubt that is exactly what happened.

President Bush and Attorney General Gonzalez have both refused to renounce either torture or extraordinary rendition. Vice-President Cheney was at the center of the evil vortex of manipulated intelligence that led us to war in Iraq and he was at the center of the evil vortex that authorized the torture memos.

I have just started reading "The Torture Papers". They are a partial record of an indelible stain on the honor of the United States of America. The Torture Papers are the record of the path to Abu Ghraib. The Torture Papers are an odyssey into the heart of evil.

You don't need an explanation from me about the type of evil that led to Abu Ghraib Senator McCain. You were a prisoner of war. You experienced evil in Vietnam. You saw evil in the South Carolina primary when it attacked you and your family. The source of that evil resides at the center of the Republican party. You have seen the source of evil and remained silent Senator McCain. You have stared into the abyss, and the abyss is now staring back into you. Are you evil Senator McCain?

I sent this to Senator McCain by email a few minutes ago. I don't know about you, but I'm getting sick and tired of vermin like Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, Scarborough, Dobson, Falwell and others accusing politicians, organizations and people I support of being evil. They toss the word around like New Years Day confetti. Are they staring into the abyss and seeing their own reflection?

The all encompassing evil of Abu Ghraib could not have occurred absent the guiding presence of malicious evil. How is it possible that not a single Republican voted against Attorney General Gonzalez? Does evil have a single focus? President Bush is evil. Vice-President Cheney is evil. Jonathan Yoo is certainly evil. Every member of the Bush administration has not only been touched by it, they have been consumed by evil.

I can no longer remain silent in the face of evil.

Tags: (all tags)

Permalink :: 7 Comments :: Post a Comment

McCain is Evil or Weak (none / 0)

Senator McCain was the biggest disappointment of all Senators voting for Gonzales. Even more than Democrats such as Salazar and Lieberman.

McCain knows torture is wrong. But McCain voted for the man who twisted U.S. and International Law in order to give President Bush what he wanted. That being a rationale to allow Bush to break the laws prohibiting torture.

Why did McCain hold silent? He is either evil or he is one of those identified by this aphorism:

All that is needed for evil to flourish is for enough good men (and women) to do nothing.

Either start acting like you believe your words renouncing torture Senator McCain or accept your rightful brand as an evil man or a weak man. Because you certainly can't stand by while torture continues and call yourself a good man.

by Curt Matlock on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 10:28:44 AM EST

Maybe we need to use the word "evil" (none / 0)

Becuase, if the bastards want the talk of war, fuck 'em, give 'em the language of a warrior.

That is one of the things the GOP has done so successfully. They have seized important ground by positing themselves as manly and warlike. Any time a Dem takes this sort of tone, they're shouted down.

It's time for Dems to become as obnoxious and hostile as they are.

If they want to lower the quality of discourse, I say fine. They cast the first stone. We'll cast the last.

by jcjcjc on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 10:30:56 AM EST

Re: Maybe we need to use the word "evil" (3.00 / 0)

I'm playing their game by their tactics and using their choice of weapons. If Senator McCain has a problem with that, he needs to let everybody know.

Pesonally, the only problem I have with Howard Dean is that his opinion of Republicans and the Republican party is way too generous.

If McCain has a problem with this type of language, he needs to get on the "straight talk express" and say so.

by Gary Boatwright on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:52:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

No standards anymore (none / 0)

People just let their surrogates bash and bash and bash.

And, of course, McCain is under some delsuion that the Noise Machine -- which sixed his ass in 2000 -- is going to give him a pass if he plays along.

Poor John McCain . . . one of history's great victims. A complete and utter failure who gets to watch the President he never was screw everything up.

I just hope historians make sure to include the part where John Kerry gave him a chance at redemption.

by jcjcjc on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 02:26:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thank you, thank you (none / 0)

for your compelling and cogent letter of protest. The fact that McCain voted for Gonzales, a man so closely aligned with US torture policies, is incomprehsnible, given his POW experience in VN-- I suppose the only (plausible) explanation is that his desire to run for President supercedes his personal physical & mental anguish at the hands of true evil. So vilifying the ACLU for being silent on the War Against Terror, is only one more step in the height of hypocrisy tango. McCain's collusion w/ Fox et al. is exactly the MO of RWNM, which I suspect is gearing up their smutt slinging b/c the ACLU has just filed a criminal complaint in Chicago against Rummy charging him with war crimes.

by languagedoc on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 10:52:22 AM EST

Re: Thank you, thank you (none / 0)

I couldn't agree more. McCain needs to get off the fence, fish or cut bait, shit or get off the pot. I'm sick and tired of the Condi mock indignation and I'm sick of above the fray McCain.

McCain is laying down with dogs and he's gonna get fleas. My apologies to canines and fleas for putting them in the same category as Republicans.

by Gary Boatwright on Wed Mar 02, 2005 at 11:55:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Gary, you're fucking with my guideposts, man... (none / 0)

I have to digest this baby too. I like McCain, and I say the Ha'dBall session, but I hadn't really thought about it in this light...

I guess I was giving him a pass because he's Red, and I know that he's always got 1 eye on primaries.

But there are issues and there are issues, and torture is evil. On this there is not really a 'moderate' view. Either torture is wrong in all cases, or you are a total fascist (that being said, I am a parent, and I can understand someone flipping out should they catch some sadistic fuck doing horrible shit to their kid, because I would too. But that is totally outside of this topic...).

And anyone who is doing that, orders or not, is not serving honorably.

Speaking of Gitmo... anyone else find it crazy that we have these presumably highy trained, intelligent female interrogators. And the best anyone can come up with is "rub your tits on him."? WTF? That's just sad...

McCain sucks!

by teknofyl on Sun Jun 19, 2005 at 11:32:46 PM EST

You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.