Obama and Clinton Should Tell Rice to Resign

Of course, tonight's Democratic debate will feature the "media issues" of recent weeks: Reverend Wright, elitism and what did or did not happen in Bosnia a decade ago.

But if the two-hour debate, the last before Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary, is going to matter, it should focus on the fundamental question that has arisen in the past two weeks: What will it take for Congress to begin holding members of the Bush-Cheney administration to account.

Since the beginning of the month of April, we have had a steady string of revelations about the involvement by key players in the administration in the approval of the use of what most of the world considers to be torture -- and what the founders of the republic would have seen as precisely the sort of "cruel and unusual" punishments that were barred by the 8th amendment to the Constitution.

Despite the fact that it received little coverage in the media, it was revealed that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice personally presided over meetings where top administration officials reviewed, selected and then encouraged the use of specific torture techniques.

To help the media and the candidates focus on fundamental issues, TrueMajority.org, Democracy for America and Brave New Films -- the people who campaigned so successfully for the removal of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez -- have launched a new website, www.CondiMustGo.com and a television ad campaign demanding the resignation of secretary of state.

The CondiMustGo site asks visitors to sign a petition that reads, "America will not stand for a Secretary of State who approved torture and then misled Congress. We call on the presidential candidates to ask Secretary of State Rice to resign."

In case anyone is unconvinced, a Brave New Films video documents the role Rice has played in promoting the use of torture. "The very idea of a so-called Secretary of State planning torture gives Orwell a bad name. It is time to end this shameless and un-American abuse of power," says Robert Greenwald, the president of Brave New Films and the man behind documentary projects such as "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism."

Jim Dean, the chair of Democracy for America, says, "Secretary Rice's direct involvement is an embarrassment to our nation. Her shameful tenure as Secretary of State must come to an end."

It would be refreshing if the candidates were asked tonight to address the question of whether Rice should resign.

It would be more than refreshing if they both said, "Yes!" and promised to sign the "Condi Must Go" petition.

Comments (42)

1. Of course, this is a very silly suggestion. After all of the other revelations that have ravelled out over the past 7+ years, it seems as purposeful to call for Condi's resignation as it would be to call for Bush's or Cheney's. No one is going to do it, least of all the senator that voted for war in Iraq and all of the demons and devils that have come along with that Faustian bargain.

   Besides, polling shows that the public actually have a very positive view of Rice. In fact, there are some very strong (equally silly, but strong nevertheless) currents of sentiment among the GOP that Rice would be a viable Veep prospect. Not the sort of thing that goes along with a precipitate resignation.

   No, the time for brave statements of principle are behind us. Like Robert Byrd's impassioned & principled call for the Senate to simply slow down, take a good, close, hard, reasoned approach to the proposition of war against Iraq, and not be stampeded into mindless collusion with the war fever the Bushies had kicked up.

   I happen to agree with most of Greenwald's work. It is founded in a rational appraisal and close examination of material facts. Reason enough that it has gone mostly unregarded in this echo-chamber society we laughingly call American democracy.

   But on this one I part company. No point revisiting moments of decision that lie behind us. Let's focus on those that remain yet in front of us. (But like I've said, we'll fuck that up too. Why ruin a perfect record .000 batting average?)

   Posted by goyadad at 04/16/2008 @ 6:44pm

2. If this weren't an election year with Rice out of office anyway in 9 months, I think there would be more uproar over Rice's approving torture at Guantanamo.

   Posted by Metteyya at 04/16/2008 @ 7:09pm

3. This ain't going to happen ought as well stop fighting for it. This is almost less likely than Bush being impeached. No one in this administration will be held accountable for anything they've done so give it up they are all almost gone.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/16/2008 @ 7:14pm

4. What no story about the Pope?????????? not even mention???? Wow!! I guess he didnt say what you wanted him to huh?

   Posted by CPT at 04/16/2008 @ 7:14pm

5. Posted by CPT 04/16/2008 @ 7:14pm

   I didn't get to see it I have been at work all day.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/16/2008 @ 7:18pm

6. The public apparently has very positive feelings toward duplicitous characters like Rice. The earnest & polished manners seem to be approved almost as readily as good ol boy populism. Our only hope is that several million Americans arrive at a sort of political Epiphany come November.

   Posted by Sorelish at 04/16/2008 @ 7:20pm

7. Oh, dear....Mr Nichols off on another quest.

   With no Sancho Panza and Condi Rice as Esmerelda's mirror image!

   Posted by Mask at 04/16/2008 @ 7:33pm

8. She is going to be a great NFL commissioner, her next career goal.

   Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 7:39pm

9. Hello?

   Obama voted for Rice to be confirmed for Sec. of State. After all those lies...BO endorsed her. Pathetic.

   Posted by neaguy at 04/16/2008 @ 7:46pm

10. Posted by BENCHREST 04/16/2008 @ 7:39pm |

    And we spend 30+ years of some "21st Century" Christopher Hitchens telling us how Rice should be sent to the ICC! Over and over and over and over....

    Posted by Mask at 04/16/2008 @ 7:48pm

11. Posted by NEAGUY 04/16/2008 @ 7:46pm

    And how did Her Majesty vote?

    Posted by Mask at 04/16/2008 @ 7:48pm

12. Posted by MASK 04/16/2008 @ 7:48pm

    Two more overs and you had me.

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 7:55pm

13. What no story about the Pope?????????? not even mention???? Wow!! I guess he didnt say what you wanted him to huh?

    Posted by CPT 04/16/2008 @ 7:14pm | ignore this person

    you haven't got anything to say about the pope either, why should we?

    the pope is a dope. this german clown is the worst possible choice for that job. the pope's Rottweiler becomes pope. that's the story.

    the thing with the pedophile priests is not as much the abuse perpetrated by them, that's just human frailty. no, the real and colossal sin is the cover up by the management, by the cardinals and the bishops, who countenanced the abuse and shuffled the perps around other parishes. and on that subject the pope, the dope, is silent.

    one good thing, they choose popes who are very old so they have less time to stink up the place.

    howzat?

    Posted by emile duBois at 04/16/2008 @ 8:03pm

14. Posted by EMILE DUBOIS 04/16/2008 @ 8:03pm

    Did you really put Frosty on ignore? Why, if I may ask?

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 8:14pm

15. Posted by BENCHREST 04/16/2008 @ 8:14pm

    FROSTY re-posted what MARKCANYON said, to prove to MAASCH that MC is an actual neo-Nazi....and dumb ol' Professor EMILE JOHANNES got pissed ....at FROSTY...for proving a point!

    Typical

    Posted by Mask at 04/16/2008 @ 8:15pm

16. Posted by MASK 04/16/2008 @ 8:15pm

    That makes NO sense. He LIKES Frosty!

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 8:17pm

17. yes on both counts.

    Posted by emile duBois at 04/16/2008 @ 8:23pm

18. rice should be thoroughly investigated when this cromwellian interregnum of evil is over and prosecuted accordingly with the rest of these satano-aynrando-christo-fascist neocon manchurian candidate handlers.

    the mushmouth? he chokes on pretzels and cant say nuclear...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 04/16/2008 @ 8:29pm

19. Posted by BENCHREST 04/16/2008 @ 8:17pm

    Who knows why JOHANNES does anything. Usually it's ego, which means he'll not admit it was a mistake....but will eventually take FZ off Ignore and act like it never happened.

    Sort of like his "JR" declaration of leaving and not coming back because 'us kids' refused to learn at his feet!

    Posted by Mask at 04/16/2008 @ 8:30pm

20. Good grief, you gottta walk on eggshells around here.

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 8:44pm

21. not on my account. one fewer reader will not kill Froz. I'm not interfering with your enjoyment reading him.

    you'll pardon me, but I cannot stomach the Nazi, Canyon. I am only too aware of the damage that hate speech can do.

    Posted by emile duBois at 04/16/2008 @ 8:49pm

22. Posted by EMILE DUBOIS 04/16/2008 @ 8:49pm | ignore this person

    he's a goddam nazi! lol...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 04/16/2008 @ 8:52pm

23. Posted by EMILE DUBOIS 04/16/2008 @ 8:49pm

    How do you make the SOB eat his stinking words unless you shove them down his throat for all to see? Your choice, not my place to ask.

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 9:07pm

24. Posted by GOYADAD 04/16/2008 @ 6:44pm

    Once again, you nailed it. Also, signing a petition is something for us peons. Why not tell them to go on the internet and blog about how awful Condi is? Symbolism matters.

    Rubbing elbows with the unwashed has its place of course. Candidates just have to know how and when. Hillary's hanging out and doing a shot went over about as well as my favorite - the time George Herbert Walker Bush went shopping for milk, used the scanner. What was it he asked the cashier?

    Posted by winyahn at 04/16/2008 @ 9:09pm

25. http://www.thenation.com/blogs/action/ignore.mhtml?who=Benchrest

    I just don't want them shoved down my throat.

    I don't mind discussing anything with you, Bench.

    Posted by emile duBois at 04/16/2008 @ 9:29pm

26. hi JR.

    Posted by frosted zoom at 04/16/2008 @ 9:42pm

27. Posted by EMILE DUBOIS 04/16/2008 @ 9:29pm

    Frosty explained what "nomen est omen", "are you made of wood", and "I come from the forest" meant the other day to me. I could'nt make the connection with wood. He said Dubois meant 'of the wood', and I was hung up on him being a chemist. I'll never know how you guys know all these little details.

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 9:52pm

28. Posted by FROSTED ZOOM 04/16/2008 @ 9:42pm

    Holy crap! You never cease to amaze the hell out of me!

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 9:54pm

29. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 9:57pm

30. I guess the umteenth time calling for impeachment hasn't sold many books lately.

    Posted by ACook at 04/16/2008 @ 10:03pm

31. OMG, my post got teleported to the top!! Where's agents Scully and Mulder when you need 'em?

    Posted by ACook at 04/16/2008 @ 10:07pm

32. five years of "training" and the Iraqi troops cut and run? how many more years?

    Posted by emile duBois at 04/16/2008 @ 10:18pm

33. Hey RIO....still waiting (weeks later) for an answer to a question--

    As an "independent", could you name a few of the NON-Republicans you ever voted for?

    Posted by Mask at 04/16/2008 @ 10:33pm

34. Posted by RIO BRAVO 04/16/2008 @ 10:31pm

    I have something you will enjoy. There are some great things that come from Texas. Go to YOUTUBE and look up Cactus Cuties sing the national anthem. Perfection and a moment in time. The way it should be sung!! Texas Tech basketball game. Gave me chills.

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 10:35pm

35. EMILE, if you were ordered to kill yr own people & be killed by them, wouldn't you run, no matter what the foreign invaders were paying you?

    Pope the Dope, jeez, now how about this timing of his, the popemobile on the streets of DC in the midst of an important US election. Mere coincidence? Talk about chutzpah. Whew, quel stench.

    And then we have Condi, the elite torturer. She ought to get together with Ratzi the Nazi, Defender of the Faith, and talk history. Crusades. Inquisition. Vatican concordats with Hitler, Mussolini, Franco.

    Posted by sloper at 04/16/2008 @ 10:47pm

36. Posted by RIO BRAVO 04/16/2008 @ 11:12pm

    I will miss the Greatest Generation. Their shoes can never be filled, ever.

    Posted by Benchrest at 04/16/2008 @ 11:22pm

37. Madeleine Albright is available.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/16/2008 @ 11:50pm

    aren't you married, frank?

    Posted by frosted zoom at 04/17/2008 @ 12:20am

38. Absolutely I signed the petition. Thanks!

    Posted by Maxzj05 at 04/17/2008 @ 01:35am

39. Well there's mo biz like politics. Do some rhetoric and get tons of money. Ah, smart guy this Obamacaca.

    ----------

    Obama reports income of $4.2 million in 2007 tax returns By BETH Ther's no biz like politics: Do some rhetoric and get tons of money.

    FOUHY, Associated Press Writer Wed Apr 16, 7:13 PM ET

    PHILADELPHIA - Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, made $4.2 million last year as widespread interest in the presidential candidate pushed the sales of his two books.

    Posted by HelenDAO at 04/17/2008 @ 02:30am

40. RE: Obama and Clinton Should ...

    Ah, smart this guys nation's edittors. Why not just ObamaCaca teells the other African-American Rice to steps downs/ Well I wish Rice join McCain-Rice ticket that would make Clinton-Obama (not the other way around) ticket inavoidable.

    Posted by HelenDAO at 04/17/2008 @ 03:07am

41. Posted by HELENDAO 04/17/2008 @ 02:30am

    HELEN's memory must be fading or she thinks the REST OF US have forgotten that the Clintons made TWENTY-FIVE TIMES the Obama figure!

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 04/17/2008 @ 08:52am

42. With no Sancho Panza and Condi Rice as Esmerelda's mirror image!

    Posted by MASK 04/16/2008 @ 7:33pm

    I think it was Dulcinea that was in the same book as Sancho Panza. Esmerelda was in that book with Quasimodo. Small point, but we want to keep our French & Spanish classics, our 17th & 19th century lits distinct, don't we?

    Posted by goyadad at 04/17/2008 @ 5:57pm