Gonzo: Don't Blame Me For Torture -- I Wasn't At DOJ Yet

[babylonsister]

Run time: 01:15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZWrVeIbdpg   Posted on YouTube: May 26, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 27, 2009 By DU Member: babylonsister Views on DU: 923

 
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/05/gonzo_dont_blame_me_for_torture_--_i_wasnt_at_doj.php?ref=fpa

Gonzo: Don't Blame Me For Torture -- I Wasn't At DOJ Yet
By Zachary Roth - May 26, 2009, 5:32PM


TPMmuckraker favorite Alberto Gonzales went on CNN this afternoon to talk Sotomayor.

But Wolf Blitzer also asked him about the ongoing torture debate. And it was interesting to see that Gonzo -- who was White House counsel at the time the torture policies were first formulated -- seemed eager to shift any blame onto the Justice Department he would later go on to lead.

Pressed by Blitzer about his role in approving torture, he first clarified that he wasn't at the Justice Department at the key time, and said "It's the responsibility of the Department of Justice to provide legal guidance on behalf of the executive branch."

In other words: blame Ashcroft, Yoo, and Bybee.

Of course, it's unclear how that stance lines up with a report that Gonzo, while at the White House, personally signed off on CIA requests to conduct torture.

Gonzo also assured Blitzer: "I stand by my record," and "I did my best to defend our country."

[county worker]

1. I guess he can't recall the meetings he had in the White House before he went to Justice.

[sellitman]

2. It's nobodys fault. Shit happens.

My explanation is more believable than Gonzo's.

[JayMusgrove]

3. I wonder what he will remember when we put him on that

waterboard!

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Republican Party needs to order more buses, looks like.

Wonder when Bush will have a media chat to shove his ex-buddies under one?

[SemperEadem]

5. he weighed in on the torture debate while WHC

he was cheney's personal water carrier.. in fact, he was so afraid of crossing cheney that he, on purpose, ignored any legal training he ever got and co-signed cheney's program. He cannot wash his hand on this one quite that fast--he is up to his eyeballs in complicity.

[florida08]

6. LOL

K&R for replies :applause:

[JDPriestly]

7. We want to chill those in administration who violate the law.

Gonzales is using a term that applies to violations of the First Amendment-- chilling speech -- to apply to crimes. Yes, we should chill lawyers who advise their clients to commit crimes.

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

8. Hey Gonzo

it's easy to stand by a record when it's mostly,

"I do not recall".

[Hubert Flottz]

9. How in the #$%K does he remember where he was or what

he did, before he went to the DOJ, when he can't remember ANYTHING he did AFTER he went to the DoJ?

"I did my best to defend our country." He can't remember what he did, but he's sure it was his best?

One other thing...what good would this ass kissing flunky be as a lawyer? Would you want him in your corner making up excuses for you if you were in trouble? This man is not now nor was he ever smart enough to be a real lawyer. A third grader can come up with better answers than Gonzo does to cover his ass. And a third grader would be a better interviewer than that droning drone Wolf("DUH") Biltzenjammer!