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A Daily Chronicle of Bush Administration Distortion May 13, 2004
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Bush Refuses to Condemn Proponents of Torture



President Bush has publicly deplored the treatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, having apologized for the fiasco. Yet, just days after his apology, the White House is refusing to condemn its right-wing allies who are making light of the situation and defending torture.

For instance, conservative radio host and White House supporter Rush Limbaugh this week called the torture "decent punishment," said soldiers were simply "having a good time, and also said "I don't see the big deal here"1. White House spokesman Scott McClellan refused to answer when asked how the President felt about those comments2. Additionally, when McClellan was asked whether Vice President Cheney would continue appearing on Limbaugh's show (as he did in March), McClellan again refused to comment3.

Similarly, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), who President Bush has repeatedly praised as an ally, said that he was "more outraged by the outrage" than by the abuse4. Inhofe also said that all the prisoners are "murderers, terrorists and insurgents"5 despite the fact that the Red Cross notes that between 70% and 90% of the Iraqi detainees were "arrested by mistake"6. The White House again has refused to rebut these comments, in stark contrast to other Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who said such comments are "undercutting us in terms of our international standing"7.

NOTE: Make sure to see the new television ad by Media Matters about Rush Limbaugh's comments at www.mediamatters.org.

Sources:
  1. Media Matters for America.
  2. Press Briefing by Scott McClellan, 05/06/2004.
  3. Press Gaggle with Scott McClellan, 05/11/2004.
  4. President Bush Calls on Congress to Act on Clear Skies Legislation, 09/16/2003.
  5. Senator 'Outraged at Outrage' in Iraq Prison Case, Reuters, 05/11/2004.
  6. Up to 90% of Iraqi detainees arrested by mistake, Red Cross says, Chicago Sun-Times, 05/11/2004.
  7. Iraq prison debate takes partisan turn, Houston Chronicle, 05/11/2004.



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