McCAIN WAS AGAINST TORTURE-- REALLY AGAINST IT, MAYBE-- BEFORE HE WAS FOR IT (TODAY)

Many Americans who bought into the well-greased McCain p.r. machine about what an independent and what a moderate he is, may have been shocked today when they found out he's actually a complete weasel. Last year when McCain was trying to burnish his credentials as a moderate and an independent he made a noisy stink about Bush's use of waterboarding and torture and played up how torture is prohibited in the Army Field Manual, which he was treating as a McCain Family Bible just a few months ago.

Now that he has other credentials he's decided he needs to burnish-- in order to make those mean far right extremists like Rush Limbaugh, Tom DeLay, James Dobson, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter stop saying so many mean thing about him-- he's tossed away that particular Bible. The John McCain who supposedly stands for something, Mr. Double Talk Express himself, voted for torture.

A few Republicans with consciences like Olympia Snowe, Dick Lugar and Chuck Hagel (plus a few who are pissing in their pants because of November elections that will probably force them to find real jobs, especially Bush rubber stamps Susan Collins and Gordon Smith) joined with the Democrats to pass, 51-45 a bill that includes a ban already banned torture practices like waterboarding. Lieberman, of course, in preparation for his appearance at the Republican Convention, voted with the GOP, as did reactionary Ben Nelson. Obama and Clinton were off campaigning but McCain made it to the Senate for a change to show conservatives that he's changed his mind and now supports torture.

Here's Harry Reid's statement after the bill passed:

"The Senate today declared that the Army Field Manual works and torture does not.  In sending the President a bill that establishes one interrogation standard for the entire U.S. government, we are taking an important step toward restoring our moral leadership in the world.  Military and foreign policy experts agree that torture is counterproductive. It elicits unreliable information, puts U.S. troops at risk and undermines our counterinsurgency efforts. 

"It is now up to the President to show his own moral leadership and sign this bill into law. And if he refuses to do so, I hope the Republicans who voted for this bill's passage will stand up to the President and override his veto."

Like many Americans, Christy over at FDL was scratching her head today, wondering if McCain is for torture or against torture. Now he's on the record; he used to be against it but now he's for it. See, and you thought the GOP was done with the flip floppers when Romney pulled out of the race! Turns out McCain is as big a flip flopper as Willard ever was. Bush, of course, promises to veto the bill.