John McCain Pledges to Either Torture, or Not Torture

Posted by Booman, Booman Tribune at 7:31 AM on July 1, 2008.

John McCain sticks his foot in his mouth in an interview with the Orange County Register:

MARTIN WISCKOL: When was the last time you pumped your own gas and how much did it cost?

JOHN McCAIN: Oh, I don’t remember. Now there’s Secret Service protection. But I’ve done it for many, many years. I don’t recall and frankly, I don’t see how it matters.

I’ve had hundreds and hundreds of town hall meetings, many as short a time ago as yesterday. I communicate with the people and they communicate with me very effectively

(Via folo.)

I thought John McCain was pushing a summer gas tax holiday. I guess someone just told him to propose that without informing him that gasoline is edging towards $5 a gallon. Who's the out of touch elitist now, Karl Rove?


Kind of a gotcha moment that will haunt McCain throughout the rest of the campaign. But I actually found this next part more interesting.

MARTIN WISCKOL: Next one from a voter: What will make you different from George W. Bush?

JOHN McCAIN: My vision for America.

MARTIN WISCKOL: Name a couple specific things that will distinguish you.

JOHN McCAIN: Climate change. Spending. The torture of prisoners. There are numerous other issues that we’ve been in disagreement on in the past. Spending is one of the fundamental one. Torture of prisoners. Addressing climate change effectively. Just to name a few.

John McCain is going around glibbly accusing the President of the United States and the leader of his own party of torturing prisoners. And the story that everyone focuses on is the price of gas. Modern America, ladies and gentleman, where the discourse isn't just debased, it's immoral.