Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Could Packergate Remind People of McCain's Argument Against Torture?

Willravel · 07-14-2008, 12:02 PM

John McCain is running for president. He has changed most of his political views from a more progressive Republican to a neoconservative Republican over the course of his 2008 campaign. One of those changes was on torture. Several years ago, John McCain recalled a particular instance when he was in a POW camp, where he was being tortured for information. Instead of giving correct and/or reliable information when asked the names of his fellow soldiers, he gave the name of the Green Bay Packers starting defensive line. This was used in his argument to demonstrate that torture does not provide reliable intelligence. Now, however, John McCain seems to support torture.

In a recent interview, John McCain mentioned incorrectly that it was the Pittsburgh Steelers and not the Green Bay Packers who he named, which has for some reason been very controversial over the past few days. While I consider this particular story to be quite inconsequential, could it prove to be ultimately important in that it brings to light his previous argument about his imprisonment and torture that makes the case that torture is wrong? Or will people allow the story to pass and continue to either be unaware of or forget what he once said about torture being wrong?

Could a seemingly unrelated story bring his previous argument back into the light?

07-14-2008, 12:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Could Packergate Remind People of McCain's Argument Against Torture? John McCain is running for president. He has changed most of his political views from a more progressive Republican to a neoconservative Republican over the course of his 2008 campaign. One of those changes was on torture. Several years ago, John McCain recalled a particular instance when he was in a POW camp, where he was being tortured for information. Instead of giving correct and/or reliable information when asked the names of his fellow soldiers, he gave the name of the Green Bay Packers starting defensive line. This was used in his argument to demonstrate that torture does not provide reliable intelligence. Now, however, John McCain seems to support torture. In a recent interview, John McCain mentioned incorrectly that it was the Pittsburgh Steelers and not the Green Bay Packers who he named, which has for some reason been very controversial over the past few days. While I consider this particular story to be quite inconsequential, could it prove to be ultimately important in that it brings to light his previous argument about his imprisonment and torture that makes the case that torture is wrong? Or will people allow the story to pass and continue to either be unaware of or forget what he once said about torture being wrong? Could a seemingly unrelated story bring his previous argument back into the light?