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Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbin

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Detainees
Posted on Fri Jun 17, 2005 at 03:43:27 PM EST
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Why is no one calling on Senator Bill Frist to apologize to Senator Dick Durbin? Sen. Frist, repeating a false headline in the Washington Times, accused Sen. Durbin of saying Guantanamo is “a death camp." (Frist's statement, in two parts, is here and here. (pdf)) Read Senator Durbin's remarks (pdf). He never said that.

Frist also falsely claimed that Durbin said our service members are “committing genocide and war crimes.” Durbin never said that either. Most outrageously, Frist essentially accused Durbin of encouraging suicide bombers:

“It is anti-American and only fuels the animus of our enemies who are constantly searching for ways to portray our great country and our people as anti-muslim and anti-Arab. It is this type of language that they use to recruit others to be car bombers; suicide attackers; hostage takers; and full-fledged jihadists.”

This is a transparent attempt by the right-wing to change the subject from the real problem – torture. The Bush administration’s torture policies are un-American and they put our troops and risk and make American less safe.

People should be calling for Frist to apologize and retract his comments about Durbin and for the White House to rescind their torture policies. Our initial post on Senator Durbin's comments is here and a follow-up on right wing spin is here.

Update: Atrios, America Blog, Crooks and Liars, Daily Kos, Blogging of the President, Body and Soul, Oliver Willis and Steve Gilliard join the call for a Frist apology.

Update: The FBI e-mail that Senator Durbin referred to can be viewed here. There are many more like it here.

Update: Via Armando at Daily Kos, Senator Durbin again explains his comments. My take: If Durbin was big enough to clarify what he said, Frist should apologize for his gross distortion of Durbin's remarks.

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    Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbin | 41 comments (41 topical)
    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:10 PM EST
    It's an outrage! Remember, it's not the crime, it's the cover-up, right?

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:10 PM EST
    Frist must also apologize for lying about Ms. Schiavo's condition. On that subject, he says it's time to "move on" while Jeb Bush initiates an investigation today of Ms. Schiavo's husband. The good news is, in light of his presidential aspirations, for those of us who didn't know anything about his ethics and character, we sure know now.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:10 PM EST
    apologize for telling the truth about Durbin? a jihadist could not have done a better job in putting the quote together and it will certainly be used against us. The fact that Durbin is now too cowardly to face up to his quote is indicative of the man he is. It's not about torture, it's about Bush and politics.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:10 PM EST
    Ed Sez: a jihadist could not have done a better job in putting the quote together and it will certainly be used against us. wadda drone! thats a pretty stupid argument, eddie... far better that the fascist Busheviks had not done things that could be used agains "us," doncha think, cully? i mean, it would be better if they hadn't condoned, and encouraged torture, wouldn't it? Then Sen Durbin might not have had those gruesome, graphic details to report on? smarter drones, please...

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:10 PM EST
    It isn't Durbin who "could not have done a better job" of creating a situation America's enemies can use against us. It's the people who decided to get America into the business of torture and indefinite detention.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:10 PM EST
    I note, with amusement but without surprise, that the guy accusing Senator Durbin of being "cowardly" is someone who identifies himself only as "Ed" and leaves no email address or functional URL. Quite the example of manly bravery, "Ed."

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:10 PM EST
    Ugh. Frist still owes the Senate and the nation an apology for his witness malpractice in the Schiavo tragedy.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:10 PM EST
    The attack poodles of the right are officially on Durbin's case -- Powerline has dubbed him "Turban Durbin." (No offense to genuine poodles intended.) I'm revving up for a round o' LTEs this afternoon about Frist's comments. First he proves he ought to have his medical license revoked over the Terry Schiavo diagnosis, now he proves he can't read. Let's hope he gets his ass handed to him by Disco Bolton. And a couple of angry cats.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#10)
    by jamesepowell on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:10 PM EST
    I am sure Senator's Biden and Edwards will be right out there condemning this kind of divisive language, right?

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    Im not so sure how stating the obvious is going to hurt the US. Will it suddenly convince all the exteremists on the fence to join in the fight? Most of the global community, expect the those supporting the right in the US, understand what is going on and why it needs to stop. Keeping this place open will do far more damage than any words a Senator can utter.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    it was an FBI report, Cat-killah.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    Wow, Ed, a real ball of fire like you needs to be over in Iraq givin' those terra-rists heck. I'm sure there's an Army or Marine recruiter near you, and I hear they're running short this month. Don't forget to bring a big jug of Kool-Aid over with you. You'll need it.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#13)
    by jimcee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    I don't think either of them should apologise, they said what they said and let the public decide. Sen Durbin's comments were beyond the pale but there is no excuse for Sen Frist make up worse comments and attribute those comments to Durbin. Durbin was wrong to carelessly toss about Pol Pot analogies and effectively call the US military Nazis. And so what if he said it! Afterall its not as if it would be above the fold on Al Jeezzra or anything. It is not like he is a modern day "Tokyo Rose", or maybe he is. If the guy wants to say stupid things that is his right as it is Sen Frist's right to be the fool himself. These guys aren't really helping the situation at all with thier childishness and that is sad.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#14)
    by Avedon on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    I read things like some of these comments and the dark part of me wishes fervently that these people would find themselves banged up under the Patriot Act and screaming, "You can't do this to me! This is America!" And then they'd understand what Durbin meant, finally.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    Durbin made a deliberately inflamatory exaggeration to get attention, and he succeeded. Comparing the US to the Nazis and Soviets is what distracted from the torture issue. "Moderate physical pressure" is the Israeli euphemism for torture. Our Mideast ally has been using those methods during interrogations for decades. I don't recall the Clinton administration raising a peep of protest about these methods used by the ally to whom we give the most foreign aid year after year.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#16)
    by jarober on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    If Durbin's statements don't qualify as "aid and comfort to the enemy", then nothing does. Lott lost his leadership position (something I called the RNC to ask for) for a lot less. Lott's statements were merely reprehensible - they didn't actually aid the enemy. Durbin should resign his leadership position at the very least. If Frist should apologize, it should be for not being harsh enough.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    Posted by jimcee: "Sen Durbin's comments were beyond the pale" Sure, sure, and Dick Cheney and C. Rice threatening our children over NUKES THAT DIDN'T EXIST, that's just peachy. Don't criticize the illegal actions of the government -- that's how you lot define yourselves. BOOTLICKERS. Posted by James Robertson: "If Durbin's statements don't qualify as "aid and comfort to the enemy", then nothing does." HILARIOUS. Durbin's statement, that the conditions reported by the FBI agent were horrific, ARE HIS JOB. The Senate has oversight on the military, in case you didn't know. It is Durbin's (and Frist's et al.) JOB to protest and correct excesses by the Department of Defense. You lot don't like our system of government, that's YOUR problem. First you encourage attacks on judges who don't fall in line; actually, first you called anyone who called Bush a liar on his lies, unpatriotic -- when it is now clear that patriotism was EXACTLY what we were doing, trying to keep the country we love out of a DEBACLE.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#18)
    by jarober on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    So Paul: "Sure, sure, and Dick Cheney and C. Rice threatening our children over NUKES THAT DIDN'T EXIST, that's just peachy. Don't criticize the illegal actions of the government -- that's how you lot define yourselves. BOOTLICKERS." Getting intelligence wrong is now illegal? Let's dredge up FDR's body and hang it, since he screwed up the intelligence prior to Pearl Harbor. Let's get Clinton in the dock, since he didn't see 9/11 coming - it was planned on his watch. Let's dig up Truman's bones too, since he didn't see Korea coming, and while we're at it, we can get Reagan in there too, since he didn't see the Marine barracks bombing coming. Sheesh Paul - I suppose you're super rich and living in a mansion, due to your exquisite ability to see the future perfectly?

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    Brian Sussman: Pro-torture Talk show host in San Francisco So I'm listening to KSFO (in San Francisco) today and this right wing talk show host (former weatherman Brian Sussman) is going on about Durbin. Same stuff about how terrible it is that he is saying this. I heard him yesterday and listened to a few calls where wing nuts agreed with him. I was getting the impression that he thinks it is swell to torture people. So I wrote him and told him some facts about torture and Americans taken from the Schlesinger Report, the Taguba report and from Mark Danner's book Torture and Truth. He wrote back and said,
    From: Brian Sussman To: "Mr. spocko" Date: Jun 17, 2005 8:04 PM Subject: Re: Why don't you want to admit that Americans torture people? no beating around the "Bush" on this one:torture of those who would like to kill us is okay by me. I've said it on the radio and will make sure I say it again loud and clear for misguided people like you."
    Have you heard anyone else come out and say, "Torture is okay" on the right wing talk shows? Are Rush and O'Reilly pro-torture? Sure it is free speech, but his postion is pretty distasteful especially since he clearly had no way of measuring who is trying to kill us. Were you on the ground in Afghanistan and knew who was "trying to kill us"? Were you part of the team that rounded up all the people in an area for Abu Ghraib? Check out my link to see the letter I wrote him.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#20)
    by roger on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    JR, According to your logic, W should be impeached because 911 happened on his watch. I thought that W sucked because of his reaction afterwards, but I'll let you have it your way

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#21)
    by jarober on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    I guess sarcasm is a lost art on the left - witness Roger's reaction to my comment...

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durbi (none / 0) (#22)
    by Al on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:11 PM EST
    Robertson: "getting intelligence wrong is now illegal?" Please. I remind you of the infamous Downing Street memo:
    However, at the July meeting Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, said the case for war was “thin” as “Saddam was not threatening his neighbours and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran”.
    This was in July 2002. It gets better: They then go on to discuss how to create a justification for the invasion. Here is Bob Woodward on the subject, from MSNBC:
    Woodward says Bush pulled Rumsfeld aside Nov. 21, 2001 — when U.S. forces and allies were in control of about half of Afghanistan — and asked him what kind of war plan he had on Iraq. When Rumsfeld said it was outdated, Bush told him to get started on a fresh one. The book says Bush told Rumsfeld to keep quiet about it and when the defense secretary asked to bring Tenet into the planning at some point, the president said not to do so yet.
    The problem the administration and its parasites have is that the evidence for their crimes is public, and it's only going to get worse for them, as it keeps piling up. There's pictures of Abu Ghraib, for heaven's sake. There's the Downing Street memo. There are all the documents the ACLU are dredging up, including the FBI memo that Sen. Durbin read, or the DOD memo saying that military personnel were impersonating FBI people so if anything went wrong the FBI would be blamed. You can't keep saying "Oh, look over there: It's Bill Clinton" forever.

    Re: Call for Sen. Frist to Apologize to Sen. Durb