Now, I'm still holding out for Gore, but this appears to be nothing more than someone hoping other DUers are lazy enough to just read and believe. While, perhaps, they did not sign someone else's pledge both responded 'in their own words'. And, Edward's letter, IMO, is actually stronger than the AFC's document. Now, maybe someone wants to 'read between the lines' to support their candidate ... but, these types of insinuations, that leave out pertinent information, seems rather Rovian to me.
Perhaps, there is reason to question Senator Clinton further, however, to imply that she is pro-torture, based on everything I've read so far is overreaching.
And, further, I think it is disingenuous, with regards to Edwards, given his letter and statements.
From the original thread 12/15/2007:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2473516"Mrs. Clinton refused, however, to sign an anti-torture pledge that a liberal group, the American Freedom Campaign, had asked the presidential candidates to embrace.
All of the other Democratic candidates had either signed the pledge or, in the case of former Senator John Edwards and Mrs. Clinton, foregone the pledge while committing to an anti-torture position in letters to the group.
Mrs. Clinton’s position on torture has been under scrutiny since last week, when, in a Democratic presidential debate, she said torture “cannot be American policy, period.” She told the New York Daily News last year that she was open to a narrow exception to a torture ban to interrogate a terrorist and prevent “something imminent.” "
Per the organization's website:
http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=41And, Senator Clinton's actual letter sent on October 4th
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/us/politics/05text-clinton.html?_r=1&oref=sloginTHE AFC's list of respondents:
Former Senator John Edwards provided the American Freedom Campaign with a signed letter on September 13, detailing his commitment to defending the Constitution.
Senator Edward's letter
http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org/storage/afagenda/documents/Edwards%20response%20-%20color.pdfSenator Barack Obama (D-IL)
Senator Obama signed the pledge on October 2.
'Didn't bother to write a letter in response to the AFC' - an example of how I could spin this were I to take the same tact.
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
Senator Hillary Clinton provided the American Freedom Campaign with a signed letter on October 4, detailing her commitment to defending the Constitution.
Additionally ...
Project VoteSmart
Political Courage Test 2008 Presidential Candidates
http://www.vote-smart.org/election_president_search.php?type=alpha Announced Hillary Rodham Clinton Democrat No
Announced John Reid Edwards Democrat Yes
Announced Barack Hussein Obama Democrat No