statements from Dems who voted for Bush torture bill (most silent)

[rodeodance]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/1225
> Most Democrats Voting For Bush Torture Bill Silent About It
> by Bob Geiger | Sep 30 2006 - 10:51am | permalink
>
> ......
>
> Yet the 12 Democrats who checked their consciences at the Senate cloakroom and voted in favor of the Bush Administration's torture bill this week, have almost nothing to say about their votes. In case you haven't seen the roster of who voted with Republicans on this, here they are:
>
> * Thomas Carper (D-DE)
> * Tim Johnson (D-SD)
> * Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
> * Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
> * Joe Lieberman (D-CT)
> * Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
> * Bill Nelson (D-FL)
> * Ben Nelson (D-NE)
> * Mark Pryor (D-AR)
> * Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)
> * Ken Salazar (D-CO)
> * Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
>
> .............
>
> .........
>
> Finally, we have Joe Lieberman, who has a press release announcing his vote and setting the bar awfully low for what it takes for him to follow George W. Bush.
>
> “I voted for this bill because I believe it is better than the Administration's original proposal to respond to the Supreme Court's Hamdan decision," said Lieberman. "I would have much preferred the bill we reported out of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and I supported amendments to this bill because they addressed concerns I had. I regret that they were rejected by the Senate.”
>
> But Joe clearly did not regret it enough to vote the right way on the torture bill.
>
> There's currently a big argument going on in the Progressive community on the tension between calling Democrats on stances that are so antithetical to what being a Democrat is supposed to mean and making Republicans positively gleeful by bashing our own side six weeks before a crucial election...........

[sandnsea]

1. We could focus on the amendments

That would have protected our Constitution, rights and Geneva Conventions. The amendments Republicans voted AGAINST.

But nah, that'd just be too easy.

[bluestateguy]

2. 6 of those 12 are up for reelection this year

Bill and Ben Nelson are up 20 points in the polls and have no excuse to vote as they did. Carper is up over 30 points in the polls and is facing an opponent with no money. Stabenow is up 7-15 points in the polls, and probably could have afforded to vote no as well. Menendez is in a tight race, and may even be a little behind, so his vote is understandable.

Johnson and Landrieu will have tough races in 2008, though voting no probably would have faded into history by the time their campaigns rolled around.

And as for voting their conscience, Lieberman's conscience is probably pro-torture anyway.

I don't hold out any illusions that the American people are opposed to this bill. The American people are very child like and obedient. Any doubts that they MAY have about this bill would be quickly erased with a series of negative ads, demagoguing the issue and blasting the Democrats as "weak on terror". Menendez and those other Democrats don't want their Republican opponents to be able to credibly air such ads.

[mitchtv]

3. yup, I got it

Unfortunately it plays to the Puke argument that "some" Dems will say/do anything to get elected,and don't believe in anything They are scumbags , just like Sherrod Brown and Harold Ford , who also voted yes

[rodeodance]

4. yes, i have sympathy for those in tight races.

[mitchtv]

6. I have more sympathy for the people

who have to vote for candidates who believe in nothing but getting elected., Oh and also innocent folks who are sure to be tortured.

[Mojorabbit]

7. Bill Nelson isn't in a tight race though.(sigh) eom

[LiberalArkie]

5. Mark Pryor has always voted with feerless leader. I wonder if his

dad ever talks to him. If Karl Rove ran against him in the next Arkansas election, I am afraid I would have to vote for Karl, instead of another Lieberman

[Clarkie1]

8. In the end, it's their bill. Not ours.

True, I would have preferred Democrats to unanimously vote against the bill. True, I think Lieberman lacks balls to stand up and vote against it (along with the rest of the dirty dozen). However, that said...

I understand Lieberman's argument even though I disagree with it. Here's a bit of an expansion of his argument: a bill needed to be passed, and we didn't get the bill we wanted. However, we got the best (remember, this is Lieberman's argument not mine) possible with the current Senate.

A vote to restore habeas corpus rights failed by a slimmer margin of 52-48. That was one of the amendments. This is a Republican bill, not a Democratic one. All Democrats are united against provisions of the bill the was passed. We are more united on this than many here think, even if we disagree with the logic of voting for an imperfect bill.

We shouldn't be attacking our own, not now. Focus on what unites us and the fact that Dems overwhelmingly sought to amend the bill but failed. And help do whatever you can to retake the senate and the house.

Edit: edited for spelling, as usual (I always forget to run the checker before I post).