Obama Presser: Torture memos were legally flawed (discredited Bybee)

[babylonsister]

Run time: 03:35 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85Bgju_mPJM   Posted on YouTube: April 30, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: April 30, 2009 By DU Member: babylonsister Views on DU: 515

 
Obama Hits Back Against Bybee’s Defense: ‘Legal Rationales’ For Torture Memos Were ‘A Mistake’

In tonight's press conference, ABC's Jake Tapper asked President Obama if he believes "that the previous administration sanctioned torture," in light of Obama's recent release of Bush-era torture memos. Obama refrained from saying the Bush administration committed criminal acts, but he said, "I do believe that it is torture." The President added that the legal guidance that Bush lawyers provided were a "mistake":

QUESTION: Do you believe the previous administration sanctioned torture?

OBAMA: I believe that waterboarding was torture. And I think that the -- whatever legal rationales were used, it was a mistake.

Although Obama has repeatedly said that waterboarding is torture, his response saying that the "legal rationales" were "a mistake" is important because it discredits 9th Circuit Court Judge Jay Bybee's recent claim that his flawed OLC memos were legally sound.

More...

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/04/29/obama-torture-press-conference/

[sattahipdeep]

1. QUESTION: Do you believe the previous administration sanctioned torture?

Why not just say YES they did?

[babylonsister]

2. Because that's the job of the judicial branch. He's trying to

put out enough fires. I like this approach.

Some good reasoning here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8380536

[sattahipdeep]

3. He's being diplomatic huh?

I can still hear bush telling the world ......... come on....u want a piece of us......come on.

That was before we lost.......how many thousand in Iraq and Afganistan?

Is he going after bush an his cronies? or is it the same song ....different singer?

[Left Coast2020]

4. What I think he's doing or has done is defered to Mr. Holder.

I have the feeling that the AG is like a cat waiting to pounce on a mouse--but only when the time is right.

[Ztolkins]

5. I don't see the problem with his answers...

to the torture segment of the presser, nor see K.O and Rachel's arguments.

I thought it was telling that he said, quite bluntly, waterboarding is torture. He's a smart guy and can probably see the same logic you guys all do in saying that it is torture.

[sattahipdeep]

6. Same logic?

61 Arrested Protesting Torture Outside White House :wtf:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=306156&mesg_id=306156