Durbin Offers Vets Apology for Remarks

[The Straight Story]

Durbin Offers Vets Apology for Remarks
(06-25) 20:12 PDT Peoria, Ill. (AP) --

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin apologized to war veterans Saturday for his remarks earlier this month comparing interrogators at an American-run prison camp in Cuba to Nazis and other historically infamous regimes.

"I think when you've done something hurtful to people you have to stand up and say I'm sorry," Durbin said at a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Peoria, five days after he apologized for the comments on the Senate floor.

Durbin came under fire after he quoted from an FBI agent's report in the Senate on June 14 describing detainees at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp as being chained to the floor without food or water in extreme temperatures.

"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags or some mad regime that had no concern for human beings," the senator said.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/06/25/national/w201214D53.DTL

[waynew706]

1. Talk about Class....

This guy IMHO has so much class that it's almost painfull. What the hell more can he do to apease these Ahols?

[Eric J in MN]

2. When does Bush apologize for his leadership causing torture?

For appointin Alberto Gonzales Attorney General?

For telling Donald Rumsefeld he's doing a wonderful job?

[reality based]

3. Who's going to say "I'm sorry" for trashing the nation's honor

with all this moral relativism about torture and inhumanity?

[illini]

4. Durbin is shrewd.

I still do not think he should have apologized for telling the truth. But, I will bet dollars to donuts he is playing the rethuglicans for suckers. He got the issue out there even though it cost him a little personal heat. Now he can apologize and look like a statesman.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

8. Does he have designs on the White House?

He better not, for this will come back to bite him - just like JK's protests and medal/ribbon-throwing. (Despite whether it was the right thing to do.) I doubt the troops are saying, "Ah gee, he apologized and he seems so sincere - all is forgiven." Plus, didn't he cry or get teary-eyed when he first apologized? (How many more apologies are coming?!) In the eyes of Idiot America, that is weak and something a "girlie-man" would do.

[snowbear]

9. Oh bull crap..

If apologizing for reciting an FBI memo is the most dirt they could dig up on him in an election...

...he'd win with FLYING COLORS! :bounce:

Girlie man my ass! :mad: :mad: :mad:

ARNOLD is the only "girly man" politician!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

12. We'll see. I'll be curious to see how he fares...

during reelection in 2008 and whether his opponent, in true Rovian fashion, brings up the remarks (selectively) and the waterworks.

[snowbear]

13. Ok... deal....

But Rove will probably be 6' under by then. The pudge-bucket's valves have to be so clogged right now he's a heart attack waiting to happen..

[WorseBeforeBetter]

15. LOL...actually, I was hoping for a brain tumor...

like his mentor Atwater. Not very "Christian" of me! And I certainly wouldn't get sucked in by any death-bed repentance.

[Mythsaje]

5. sfgate is a pretty liberal source

but I'm actually thinking this second apology was a good idea. He's making it clear that he never meant to insult them, and, as the story progressed, it appears that sfgate, at least, quoted his original comments exactly, which will give the people who haven't been getting this information HERE will be reading it and thinking "what the hell did they make him apologize for?"

Or so I see it.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

6. Is Durbin in the bag?

I mean, why in the hell did he use the term/make the comparison in the first place? Surely to God he knew the reaction it would invoke on the "right." Let the facts speak for themselves: "chained to the floor without food or water in extreme temperatures," beaten to a bloody pulp, forced to perform oral sex, etc.

[snowbear]

7. He was reciting an FBI memo..

They seem to leave that little piece of information out of the media stories though. :shrug:

He's actually a very awesome guy! http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=H1201103 ~~ :smoke:

[WorseBeforeBetter]

10. I did read that it was from an FBI memo...

but I still think we should probably lay off the "N" (Nazi) word. Durbin should have known that the Corporate Media wouldn't cover his comments fairly and accurately. We gotta stop playing into their hands - this was perfect fodder for Limpballs, Insannity, etc.

Today was a real eye opener for me - I spent the day boating with friends (it had been years). All around us were massive powerboats, Hummers/SUVs adorned with flags and yellow ribbons, and McMansions all along the river. There is no way this crowd will buy into the idea of a gestapo-like military, so we've got to find another way to get through to them.

Thanks for link for the bio.

[snowbear]

11. I agree.. we shouldn't use that word.. BUT...

Why is it when someone like Rick Santorum uses it, the media keeps it mum?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/20/8319/72370

Hmmm? Why is that? :shrug:

[WorseBeforeBetter]

14. I absolutely agree with you on that one...

what's good for the goose is good for the gander (or sumthin' like that). But we all should know that the Corporate Media won't cover Santorum and Durbin equally. I honestly don't know the solution to right-wing bias in the media (considering wealthy Republicans are running the show) other than some sort of coup of a cable news channel (little fantasy I've been entertaining lately...and only half-kidding!).

[illini]

16. He is a true servant of the people.

There are not that many politician I would say that about. He is one. I have met him several times over the years and he has always been willing to shake my hand. Even in a hotel lobby where I worked.

[bunny planet]

17. Anybody else think that Durbin's apologizing actually emphasizes the

lack of apologies and admission of mistakes coming from Jr. and Co. Maybe it will actually have the effect of making people realize that honest politicians and people in general apologize and try to compromise and dishonest ones don't ever admit a mistake.