It's Hypocrisy, But Answer The Question

By Cernig

Eli Lake says Republicans intend questioning CIA director-designate Leon Panetta nomination on the basis of his possible involvement in the Clinton administration's illegal rendition activities.

Put aside the glaring hyypocrisy of rightwingers suddenly deciding such renditions might be a bad thing after protesting vigorously for eight years that they were an essential and excusable tool in the War On Some Terror. Put aside the hypocrisy of leftwing pundits who are suddenly using the term "extraordinary rendition" where before they had no problem calling an illegal spade a spade.

It's still a good question.

Panetta should face questions like these, and he shouldn’t do what CIA director-designates often do when receiving them, which is offering answers in closed sessions. The public is owed a reckoning about the torture that was done in its name, no matter who was president when it occurred. Just because committee Republicans are being selective and obnoxious about this doesn’t invalidate the principle.

Illegal is illegal, and I for one am heartily sick of those who change their stance on that depending on whether or not "their" guy did it. It's not simply all about closing Gitmo.

Comments

[Enlightened Layperson]

I'm sure right wingers will question Panetta on ER in hopes of getting him to admit that it is a Good Thing and promise to continue it. Their whole strategy is to try to paint opposition to torture as a wild-eyed view held only by the "hard left."

[Nell]

leftwing pundits who are suddenly using the term "extraordinary rendition" where before they had no problem calling an illegal spade a spade.

Any examples? Just one cite?