KENNEDY URGES SENATE TO DENY GONZALES NOMINATION OVER TORTURE POLICIES

KENNEDY URGES SENATE TO DENY GONZALES NOMINATION OVER TORTURE POLICIES:

"A 'no' vote is the right vote if we care about maintaining America's standing in the world and fighting the war on terrorism. The torture and other abuses of prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo have done immense damage to America's standing in the world. The extreme and irresponsible claims in the Bybee and Goldsmith Memorandums have raised basic questions about the genuineness of our commitment to the rule of law.

"It is the right vote for our troops. The Administration's shameful disregard for our laws and treaties on torture has lowered the bar for the protection of our own soldiers. It has violated the military's longstanding 'golden rule': treat captured combatants in the manner we expect our own soldiers to be treated. What can Mr. Gonzales possibly say to a country that justifies its torture of a U.S. soldier by citing Mr. Gonzales's own record of support for it?

"A 'no' vote is the only vote that is consistent with the fundamental values on which this nation is founded: justice, accountability, and respect for individual dignity.

"The continuing effort to blame the torture scandal on a 'few bad apples' among our soldiers while rewarding Mr. Gonzales with promotion to Attorney General is a despicable signal for America to send the world. We should not support a nominee who has done so much to harm America's basic interests and fundamental values. I urge my colleagues to reject this nomination. "