Naomi Wolf attacks McCain for giving enemies info

No one knows what they would do under those circumstances.

Wolf needs to go away.

This is self destructive.

I'd love to see what she would do under those conditions.

Most of us would turn our mothers in to the Gestapo.

Ms. Wolf. Please go away and don't come back.

Don't these people know when they are hurting, not helping?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME! THE MESSIAH HAS BEEN TREATED LIKE A CODDLED EGG BY THE PRESS NOW THE POT WANTS TO CALL THE KETTLE BLACK please! Those saturday night live skits are so funny because they are true. The press still isn't asking about obamas role with Rezko Auchi or Alsamarrae. The press knew about Reverend Wright for about a year now. Not a single mention of it until now. The press is lazy. Most of the anti Hillary stuff is so old it is covered in rust. How about a follow up on why obama made his speech against the war. Why is the would be first just feeling proud to be an American. Any connection to Reverend Wright? I have my suspicions but where is the press?

Yow. A new low. Ms. Wolf seems like the type who'd smile brightly while plucking fingernails from the hands of a rival. It's these nimrods on the periphery who are really uglifying this campaign. (It's not a word, but it oughta be.)

I'd like to know where McCain differs from George Bush and Dick Cheney on anything?

Bush has a 19% approval rating and McCain thinks things are going so well that American's are going to want to continue those very same failed policies and elect him?

http://www.attytood.com/2008/02/worse_than_watergate_bush_scor_1.html

I don't think so.....

WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain likes to present himself as the candidate of the "Straight Talk Express" who does not pander to voters or change his positions with the political breeze. But the fine print of his record in the Senate indicates that he has been a lot less consistent on some of his signature issues than he has presented himself to be so far in his presidential campaign.

Mr. McCain, who derided his onetime Republican competitor Mitt Romney for his political mutability, has himself meandered over the years from position to position on some topics, particularly as he has tried to court the conservatives who have long distrusted him. His most striking turnaround has been on the Bush tax cuts, which he voted against twice but now wants to make permanent. Mr. McCain has also expressed varying positions on immigration, torture, abortion and Donald H. Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary.

The article points out that McCain has reversed course on several key issues as he has tried to gain the support of the Republican base. To summarize the article:

On tax cuts...

In 2001, McCain voted against Bush's tax cuts, saying "I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief." He also voted against additional tax cuts in 2003, later saying that "I just thought it was too tilted to the wealthy, and I still do."
Today, McCain wants to make those tax cuts permanent.

On immigration...

In 2005, McCain supported comprehensive immigration reform, which included a pathway to citizenship.
Now, he claims that "if his original proposal came to a vote on the Senate floor, he would not vote for it."

On abortion and Roe v. Wade...

In 1999, McCain said that he would not support overturning Roe v. Wafe "int he sort term, or even the long term," because that would "force X number of women in America" to undergo "illegal and dangerous operations."
Today, McCain has campaigned on overturning Roe v. Wade.

On his revisionist history regarding Donald Rumsfeld...

In 2004, McCain refused to call for Rumsfeld's resignation, saying that Bush "can have the team around him that he wants around him." In 2006, retired generals called for Rumseld's resignation, but McCain did not.
Now, while running for president, McCain has claimed that "I’m the only one that said that Rumsfeld had to go." The article notes that "[t]he campaign has since acknowledged that Mr. McCain was incorrect, and more recently the senator has stopped short of claiming he called for the defense secretary’s ouster."

On torture...

McCain has traditionally been against torture, citing his experience as a POW for his decision.
Now, McCain voted last month "against a bill that would require the Central Intelligence Agency to abide by the restrictions on interrogating prisoners outlined in the Army Field Manual."

In his decades in office, McCain has an average party unity score in the low 80s. Since he has campaigned for president, his party unity score has skyrocketed (link, link).

2005: 81%
2006: 76%
2007: 90%

It's refreshing to see members of the press taking a closer look at John McCain's disparate record instead of taking his "maverickness" at face value. And while it was expected that McCain would pander to the right to get the GOP nomination, the sharp turns on the "Straight Talk Express" listed above are sure to be a problem for him in the general election.

Who is Naomi Wolf...and why is she getting press coverage? Seems like the press only like to cover the fringe folks, 'cause it makes for entertaining reading. Maybe FOX could set up a mud wrestling match between the Misses Wolf and Coulter. Might even be worthy of pay-per-view.

A feminist writer and advocate of progressive politics. See also: ball buster.

More changing the subject with BS from Unhinged and Deranged John E.

Anyway, for a change, it's nice to see C Morris post some common sense. But is his post out of disgust for Wolf's comment or because he knows it's just another instance in which the Loony Left is turning off 90 percent of America and hurt the Left and Democrats in 2008?

Saying someone caved into torture, even if it were true, is a pretty lame avenue of attack. I think with his POW history, even liberals respect him as a man, if not his politics. He has been fairly immune from personal attacks, making the people who spew them look silly. See above video, NY Times, John E, etc.

it's just another instance in which the Loony Left is turning off 90 percent of America and hurt the Left and Democrats in 2008?

Posted by: John D | March 14, 2008 9:31 PM

I was going to agree with C Mo ( I do ), then I read the garbage on the Obama pages. You know what...deal with it.

Anyway, for a change, it's nice to see C Morris post some common sense. But is his post out of disgust for Wolf's comment or because he knows it's just another instance in which the Loony Left is turning off 90 percent of America and hurt the Left and Democrats in 2008?

Posted by: John D | March 14, 2008 9:31 PM

Since when are YOU the voice of reason little Johnny Snotnose?

You wouldn't know what common sense was if it broke a beer bottle over your head.

Go back to shilling for that trade rag of yours, you nut!

Just another brain-dead liberal that will vote for an empty suit.

And of course Obama doesn't agree with Naomi Wolf...(so says) his spokesman, but what about hearing that from Obama himself?...Oh, he must be busy praying with Rev. Wright and Tony Rezko.

Paulo

We're reaching an absurd tipping point in the madness. When now we have no idea who these people are. but the politicians do. Naomi Wolf took Hillary over the coals a few weeks ago. Perhaps it's true that Bill Clinton hooked up with Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity to attack Barack Obama from the other side of the aisle. And don't tell me you don't know Bill Clinton was on the air in Texas with Rush Limbaugh's show on the night of the Texas primary suggesting Rush's listeners vote for Hillary. Perhaps this is why the primary vote is so different from the caucus.

You know, I've long felt that the race for the White House has really been very different this time around. But I've had a hard time trying to figure out why.

I think I've finally figured it out, though. It's different because, for the first time, it is a war without fronts. Getting shot in the back is just as common as a temporary truce with those arrayed on the opposite side of no-man’s land. I hope we never see one like this again.

C Hussein Morris,

Count me in your camp.

Anyone who says they know what they'd do if tortured is a fool, a liar,or both.

That said why are we hearing so little from John McSame on this?

Here is where I think that Ms Wolf was going with her comments: McCain has experienced torture and the resulting willingness to make a confession to anything - just to stop the torture. So why, when he knows how horrible and ultimately useless it is, is he now voting against attempts in Congress to stop acts of torture by the United States

She wasn't attacking McCain for "giving enemies info". She was attacking McCain for knowing from personal experience that torture elicits false info and still not voting to stop torture by the US military.

All,

I, too, have never seen anything like this. Primaries are supposed to be simple policy debates among the R's or the D's over the fine points of difference in their positions, not scorched earth politics of personal destruction.

McCain is the worst kind of coward.

John Insane E and others. It's one thing to attack someone's record, flip flops, etc. Let's have that discussion. All three terrible candidates are guitly, so it will be quite entertaining.

However, it is something far different to criticize someone for giving information after being tortured. Kerry aided the enemy under no duress and when he was similarly "swiftboated" by an overwhelming majority of his fellow swiftboaters (all but 4) everyone cried out, including McCain. This hideous Monica look alike is no different than that worthless pig Samantha who made similar attacks just a couple weeks ago. I hope these morons continue speaking because it will only help McCain, the best of the worst this election cycle (and I say that a a Democrat).

People like this woman who have accomplished little, endured nothing, and offer zippo are the reason the political climate today is crap.

Naomi and many on the left are a unique breed of hypocrites. John may have eventually caved under torture, but many on the left are aiding the enemy, and empirical research from Harvard proves it.

"Using data on attacks and variation in access to international news across Iraqi provinces, we identify an "emboldenment" effect by comparing the rate of insurgent attacks in areas with higher and lower access to information about U.S news after public statements critical of the war. We find in periods after a spike in war-critical statements, insurgent attacks increases by 5-10 percent. The results suggest that insurgent groups respond rationally to expected probability of US withdrawal. As such, counterinsurgency should consider deterrence and incapacitation rather than simply search and destroy missions."

From The National Bureau of Economic Research has published an interesting paper by Radha Iyengar at the Center for Government and International Studies at Harvard University, and Jonathan Monten, an International Security Program Research Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs with the Kennedy School of Government.

You're getting people killed lefties.
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2008/03/lies-damn-lies.html

Third Waver Naomi Wolf has managed to do for Barack Obama in a short time, what she was able to do for Al Gore over the long haul.

McCain will be President and Obama's run is over.

http://hickeysite.blogspot.com/2008/03/john-mccain-35-years-of-freedom-to.html

Naomi Wolf is a liberal cartoon character who dressed Algore in earth colors he hasn't recovered he still pushing global warming when reputable statiticians say it is a crackpot idea.He's being sued for selling carbon offsets which is fraud on the face.
No reputable American has ever accused John McCain of not being a patriot. Jerry White, Springfield, IL

"McCain is the worst kind of coward.

Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | March 15, 2008 10:39 AM "

And you, Johnny boy, or Chuckman, are the very best kind of a coward.

Interesting that Doug Zook in a subtle way supports the attack on John McCain by asking why he is quiet about this. Doug, who claims he is ex-military and supports the military continues to keep quiet among the hateful attacks committed by his idols, John E and John Chuckman, both of whom are lower than crap in a waste filtration site.
Zook, you think McCain has been quiet because Naomi Wolf's diatribe is not worth his attention and let the assaults by the Loony Left stand alone for us normal Americans to see?
Shame on you, Doug Zook, shame!!

John E and John Chuckman, both of whom are lower than crap in a waste filtration site.
Zook, you think McCain has been quiet because Naomi Wolf's diatribe is not worth his attention and let the assaults by the Loony Left stand alone for us normal Americans to see?
Shame on you, Doug Zook, shame!!

Posted by: John D | March 15, 2008 12:51 PM

Lil Johnny Twirp,

Just a couple of months ago you were calling McCain a RINO, a liberal and someone you could never trust.

This proves my theory that Wingnuts like you will vote for anything or anyone with a Republican (R) in front of their name no matter what the candidate actually says, Charles Manson could run for office and if he had a Republican (R) in front of his name dopes like you would vote for him.

Lil Johnny, I'm thinking of going shark fishing down in the Bahamas, why don't you come along? I'll need some bait.

Demented Johnny E., since you folks save all my posts, please show me where I say McCain is a RINO and cannot be trusted.

This much is true: McCain was not my first, second, third, or even fourth choice among the GOP candidates. I have some serious issues with him. However, compared to Obama and the Queen B, I'll take McCain ANY day of the week!

This much is true: McCain was not my first, second, third, or even fourth choice among the GOP candidates. I have some serious issues with him. However, compared to Obama and the Queen B, I'll take McCain ANY day of the week!

Posted by: John D | March 15, 2008 2:32 PM

Yes little Johnny Cakes and your comment just proved my point, you moron.

You're a robot, you have no functioning brain, in the end you do what your Wingnut overlords tell you to do.

http://www.powerware.com/News/2007/PR110907.asp?CC=1

This is disgusting, just as it was a month or ago when some Republicans engaged in the same type of innuendo about McCain's POW experience.
There's a swiftboat styled group of veterans that have engaged in this hyperbole for quite some time now.
http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/
Wolf is a hack, and not a very original one at that.

I ran across this article browsing news, and wondered at the headline as I do find that Ms. Wolf often touches on important topics in her discussions.

The first thing I noted was how misdirected that headline really is.

Shouldn't it more appropriately read, "Wolf Takes Issue With McCain Allowing Loopholes In Torture Law"?

As I read it, she was pointing -- in context -- quite specifically to the loopholes McCain allowed for in what is arguably called an "anti-torture" bill. I think her entire point was calling him to account. That as someone who has experienced torture first-hand, how could he allow for anything resembling a gaping loophole in anti-torture legislation?

That he "gave information" under duress isn't in question. In a lengthy one-hour appearance on Fox News, he expressed dismay at having done so. He did not express his "failure" based on giving a roster of football player names! Please.....

Perhaps Ms. Wolf overstepped by highlighting his "failure" with such indignance, but the real context of this piece is overshadowed by the headline.

I'm not supporting or opining on any part of this other than, when you put news out there, and spin it as this has been spun (to be a dialogue "attacking McCain on giving information" rather than "about McCain allowing loopholes in an anti-torture bill"), it diminishes the importance of a very pressing issue on many people's minds.

"America Does Not Torture". Well, apparently we do, and that needs to be fixed in short order, no loopholes allowed!

Thank you for indulging me...

Jeez, John D'mime, McBush was not even your 4th choice!? That must put you somewhere in the outer fringes of the right wing constellation of 'ideas'.

Re. my Wolf comment; You will never know!

BWWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

I shouldn't even dignify this smear with a response but I will.
I do not agree with John McCain on some of his political positions BUT as a Marine Corps Viet Nam combat veteran, I MUST stand up for my fellow combat Veteran and American. John McCain spent five & a half years of hell in a P.O.W. camp, endured unspeakable torture for his country and REFUSED to come home from imprisonment when offered by his captors. For anyone, ANYONE to smear this man's military service is absolutely despicable, cowardly & outrageous.

John McCain showed more guts than 99.9%!

Semper Fi,
Mike

I am loving the implosion of the Democrat Party.

Call whatever names you will – for, as always, the name-callers have no arguments - McCain is a coward, the truest form of coward.

He likes to burst out with bold-sounding words every once in a while, as though he is challenging the status quo. Then, every single time, he backs off and apologizes shortly afterward. It is his pattern, over and over, for his entire political career.

When Bush attacked him unmercifully in 2000, with the lowest, garbage propaganda I can recall in a primary, McCain still crawled back to him and ended up in Bush's arms, literally, for there is a disgusting photo on the Internet.

Not only that, during the actual campaign, McCain worked to promote Bush, coming close to crawling for votes - a disgusting display when he well understood Bush’s low intelligence and dishonest nature.

When McCain attacked the Religious Right in 2000 for their meddling in politics, one of the few very true things he has ever done, he backed off almost immediately afterward.

Then he crawled quietly around apologizing to moral cretins like Falwell and Robertson.

Of course, there was McCain's serious involvement with the Savings and Loan Disaster, something he never paid any penalty for and for which he went around, again, apologizing fulsomely. This was not some simple little scam but a massive case of corporate fraud, and McCain had his part in it.

McCain has always had a reputation as a skirt-chaser, and the New York Times story - coming from two workers in his own camp - is utterly believable. His denials indicate how easily he lies.

McCain’s efforts at campaign-finance reform, years ago, went nowhere. He compromised in an ineffective legislation that has changed nothing of substance.

McCain, who supposedly was tortured in Vietnam, has defended recently forms of torture in the Senate. There really has to be a special place in hell for someone like that.

McCain was shot down over North Vietnam while bombing civilians in the Hanoi area. He is lucky not to have been torn to pieces. That is not the work of war heroes, but cowards who don't mind killing.

During his imprisonment, a number of those imprisoned with him said he talked a lot to the North Vietnamese. They had a nick-name for him, calling him “songbird.” They have already spoken publicly to this.

McCain is given to insane, psychopathic jokes like the one in front of reporters some while back making fun of bombing Iran.

This aspect of him very much resembles Bush, who once made fun to reporters of the woman who was executed in Texas when he was governor and her pathetic pleas for mercy. The psychopath actually made fun of her tone of voice and words with a sickening effort at imitation.

We now live under the Patriot Act, where the Feds can enter your home without a warrant. If you tell you spouse, they're subject to 5 years in prison. In fact, the U.S. President and his Congressional counterparts are no different than the North Koreans or the Iranians. They and the media they control are probably lying to us about them too.

This is little more than a sound bite, but even so it is clear that Wolf's intent is not to smear McCain by questioning his courage while a prisoner of war, but rather to bring up the issue of his blatant hypocrisy in abandoning his firm and principled stand against torture to ingratiate himself with the few remaining Bush-lovers in the GOP. Why does it always seem to be the case that anyone who dares to bring up SUBSTANTIVE issues in this campaign is attacked as racist or unpatriotic or insensitive or whatever??? It's as if we don't want to see the candidates feelings hurt or something. It's absurd.

This snippet is taken out of context, and the comments indicate a gross misunderstanding of Wolf's point. She is not criticizing McCain for succumbing to torture, not in the least; she is pointing out the irony that after his own horrific and tragic experiences he still hasn't acted to ban torture (regardless of the name).

I just finished Naomi Wolf's latest book "The End of America", describing the current situation with our Bush government and their blatant disregard of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. What Ms. Wolf is worried about it non-partisan. It is pro-Democracy, pure and simple. I don't believe any of the 3 main contenders for president are speaking to the concerns her book presents. I urge all of you out there to get her book and read it. Our country is in trouble, and all of you who seem to care about it need to find out what is really wrong and help fix it. Her problem with McCain is purely his endorsement of the torture aspect of the 2006 Military Commisions Act, especially since he was tortured himself. Read her book and then report back.

Re: A letter to US Congress
To Americans: Congress and President

Re: A letter to Congress

To Americans: Congress and President

Now is the time to tell the truth. Without it, you will never have peace. We know that all of you do not tell the truth, and we understand why. You have been given more than an opportunity to CHANGE, and you choose, as is your right not to tell the truth. Our Country is in trouble, and over 200 million Americans need help. This we know. This fact you know, but because of selfish pride, greed and other self-serving agendas, America will continue to suffer no matter who is in power. Congress has failed to help Americans live a life of prosperity and peace, and this is not acceptable.
As Congress, it is your moral and public duty to protect and serve your districts, and you have failed. As President, it is your duty to do the same and work with Congress for Change and you have failed. As Americans we are suffering, and we know that Congress and our President can do nothing, because you do not tell the truth. It has nothing to do with race or religion. It has to do with doing the right thing for Americans, not yourselves or others that have their own interests. Our Military is in trouble and needs help. We can offer them the respect and dignity due someone who is willing to lay down their life for us all.
Obama and others will not Change America; only Americans can truly change America after we change ourselves.
We need a new Government managed by those that tell the truth. We also understand that this is the last 4 years of America, as we know it. We also know that all of you would like for all us to believe you all and accept our fate, and that, will not happen!
On September 11, 2008 at 8AM PST we will become public. At the Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, California.
Our first order of business will be to introduce a plan to nationalize the oil industry in America. Under the current Congress this plan will not work, only under a new Congress will this work.
We are not afraid of the TRUTH, are you?
We are a Legion of many, who will live a life of peace, and have respect for all living things, while having considerations for those who are different, and look for ways to truly accommodate those who are slow in understanding.
We support the poor, helpless, and defenseless people. We support the freedom of Women, we support the sane treatment of animals and the environment, and we support the freedom of religion and expression. We do not support ignorance, period.
We are a growing nation of people that encourage all Americans to become part of the New American Republic!
CHANGE FOR AMERICA FOR AMERICANS!

mccain sold out on the torture issue by allowing bush to get away with a "signing statement" whereby bushco basically says they'll torture who/when/where they like; he sat for the photo op with w and breathed not a word of protest. but anyone who believes obama will be different is in for a big surprise -- do you really believe he (or anyone) will be permitted to end this evil war-for-profit?

I just want to point out an error in this article. From the quote by Wolf, it seems to me that she is attacking McCain's vote in support of torture, not for "giving enemies info."