For Immediate Release: October 25, 2012
Contact: Rev. Richard Killmer, (207) 450-7242
Compares Obama and Romney on Torture
(Washington, D.C.) Disappointed that none of the debate moderators chose to question the candidates about their views on torture, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund has released a Presidential Voter Guide comparing President Obama and Governor Romney with respect to their previously stated positions on torture. The Guide (which can be viewed at http://www.nrcatactionfund.org/2012-Presidential-Voter-Guide) draws clear contrasts between the candidates and makes a powerful case for the possibility that this election will determine whether or not the U.S. resumes the use of torture in interrogations.
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund is a coalition of people of faith who oppose torture. It engages in public policy advocacy and electoral campaign work. It is a partner organization of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. Its website is www.nrcatactionfund.org.
Text of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund 2012 Presidential Voter Guide (http://www.nrcatactionfund.org/2012-Presidential-Voter-Guide):
VOTER GUIDE FOR PEOPLE OF FAITH
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY ON TORTURE
As people of faith, we know that some things, no matter what our motivations, are always wrong. Torture is one of them.
Torture as an Interrogation Method
President Barack Obama
In 2007: “The secret authorization of brutal interrogations is an outrageous betrayal of our core values, and a grave danger to our security.”[1]
In 2009: "I was clear throughout this campaign and was clear throughout this transition that under my administration the United States does not torture...We will abide by the Geneva Conventions. We will uphold our highest ideals.”[2]
On January 22nd, 2009, two days into his presidency, President Obama issued an executive order banning torture and allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross access to all detainees. That order remains in place today.[3]
Governor Mitt Romney
In 2007: “I oppose torture. I would not be in favor of torture in any way, shape, or form.”[4]
In 2011: “We’ll use enhanced interrogation techniques which go beyond those that are in the military handbook right now.”[5] “Enhanced interrogation techniques” is a euphemistic term used to describe waterboarding, sexual degradation, slamming detainees against walls, induced hypothermia, and other forms of abuse that are widely held to be torture.
In 2012 it was reported that Governor Romney’s advisors have recommended that he “rescind and replace President Obama’s executive order [banning torture]” and allow the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques.”[6]
Waterboarding
President Barack Obama
In 2011: “Waterboarding is torture. Anybody who has actually read about and understands the practice of waterboarding would say that that is torture. And that's not something we do -- period."[7]
Governor Mitt Romney
In 2011 when asked if he believed waterboarding is torture: “I don’t. And I, but I don’t, I’m not going to lay out the list of what is and what is not torture.”[8]
Guantanamo
President Barack Obama
In 2009 President Obama signed an executive order calling for the prison at Guantanamo Bay to be closed within a year. When he signed the order, there were 242 detainees in Guantanamo. Today there are 166 remaining.[9]
In 2012: “I still want to close Guantanamo. We haven't been able to get that through Congress.” [10]
Governor Mitt Romney
In 2007: “I want them on Guantanamo, where they don't get the access to lawyers they get when they're on our soil…My view is we ought to double Guantanamo.”[11]
[1] http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/10/sweet_blog_special_obama_react.html
[2] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28574408/ns/politics-white_house/t/obama-names-intel-picks-vows-no-torture/
[3] http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/EnsuringLawfulInterrogations
[4] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk6CQVvMtNU
[5] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/us/politics/election-will-decide-future-of-interrogation-methods-for-terrorism-suspects.html?ref=charliesavage&_r=0
[6] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/us/politics/election-will-decide-future-of-interrogation-methods-for-terrorism-suspects.html?ref=charliesavage&_r=0
[7] http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/14/us-usa-campaign-obama-foreign-idUSTRE7AD0IN20111114
[8] http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/us/politics/election-will-decide-future-of-interrogation-methods-for-terrorism-suspects.html?ref=charliesavage&_r=0 (audio clip)
[9] http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2012/10/09/guantanamo-khalid-sheikh
[10] http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-10-18/news/34562049_1_prison-purchase-guantanamo-prison-thomson-correctional-center
[11] http://www.pri.org/stories/politics-society/despite-differences-guantanamo-prison-out-of-sight-if-not-mind-in-presidential-election-11640.html
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