Steele Spokesperson Walks Back Claim That He’s Open To Torture Probe — UPDATED
A spokesperson for RNC chief Michael Steele appears to be walking back Steele’s suggestion yesterday that he could support a truth commission on torture, claiming that he only wants to ensure that such a probe, if it took place, would also look at Dems.
Yesterday Steele appeared on Meet the Press and turned a lot of heads by saying that many Republicans supported a truth commission. Asked about such a commission, Steele said the following:
“I think you have heard a lot of Republicans call for that. If this is a door that the Democrats and their leaderships, they have the House and Senate and the presidency, and if they want to expose all this, then let’s put it all on the table and take a closer look at it.”
Asked whether he backs such a commission, RNC spokesperson Gail Gitcho told me that Steele’s position was in line with other Republicans. They aren’t calling for a commission, but say that if such a probe is launched, it should also include a look at what Dems knew. Gitcho emailed me this:
“The Chairman’s point is that the Democrats are in control of the House and Senate and they have repeatedly called for an investigation of the Bush administration about the use of enhanced interrogation techniques. If they do have an investigation, Republicans believe they should also investigate what Pelosi and other Democrats knew about the interrogations and when they knew it.”
That’s the mainstream GOP position right now. Though he seemed to suggest as much yesterday, Steele is not in fact signaling any openness to backing any truth commission.
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Update: Steele’s spokesperson gets in touch to say that this isn’t a walk-back of Steele’s position, merely a clarification of it. She says that Steele didn’t mean to say on Meet the Press that many Republicans endorsed the idea of a “truth commission,” but merely that
they supported the idea of an “investigation” into what Pelosi and other Dems knew and when.
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The lede does not appear correct – there is no “walking back” here. (Greg – does someone else write your headlines here or do you now take the credit/blame?)
Nancy on Friday, however, is another matter entirely . . .
sbj — it’s a clear walking back. In first statement yesterday, Steele said clearly that Republicans supported a truth commission. That’s not what his actual position is, as expressed by the second quote.
This is nitpicky but if true your headline should read, “Steele Spokesperson Walks Back Claim That REPUBLICANS Open To Torture Probe.”
So you DO write the ledes now?
I knew that was going to come back to haunt him. Do you think he will make it this whole week without being called on to resign?
yes, that is extremely nitpicky.
Greg, dude, who takes Michael Steele seriously?
Anyone who actually grabs anything at all that comes out of his mouth and tries to make it into a position that Michael actually believes in or will stick with is going to come to a sad new understanding. It can’t be done.
Remember his role model: Algonquin C. Calhoun. Seriously.
And yes it is a clear walking-back, for the unbelievers here. Ahem.
Greg, did you catch Zack Roth’s piece about Bushies citing Iraq-Qaeda links that were provided by detainee interrogations?
SG — I think this one won’t damage Steele much because there’s so little MSM pickup of it…Tena, that is certainly worth remembering, says it all…and yeah Chris, I saw that. Seems to me that’s a major, major part of this whole story and has the capacity to be a “game changer,” as they say.
Exact words in context
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In response to a question about whether there should be a truth commission then Steele says “lets get all the cards on the table”. That’s as clear an endorsement of a Truth Commission as you can get. Hell the “rebuttal” doesn’t even refute that he called for a Truth Commission, all it does is clarify the parameters of one. Notice they didn’t say “No Michael Steele didn’t say he wants a Truth Commission”. Because its pretty clear that IS what he said.
Greg
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HuffPo, you and TPM have all picked up the story. I don’t know that its going to die even after that clarification. As a matter of fact I doubt the RNC would have even put a statement together if they didn’t think it might be a problem.
“Hell the “rebuttal” doesn’t even refute that he called for a Truth Commission, all it does is clarify the parameters of one.”
Exactly so.
It is easier to say you support something than to actually support it.
Only when enough Americans demand it-that is when we will get a Truth Commission !
Let the chips fall where they may and prosecute everyone from the Bush Executive Branch on down !
McClatchy is putting in work on Dick Cheney. They deserve some kind of an award.
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http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/05/gitmo_investigator_interrogators_were_tasked_to_fi.php?ref=fpb
I support a Truth Commission. Why is no one listening to frmr Sen Graham who also does not remember hearing that these “enhanced techniques” (what a joke) were being used? As a matter of fact, when Sen Graham asked the CIA to tell him what dates he was briefed ~ they gave 4 dates and Sen graham’s records showed only 1 (he’s a meticulous record-keeper). The CIA then backed off and agreed that is was only one date; so why is Nancy Pelosi and the dems been made to look like the torturers? They’re not the ones that did it (even if they knew about it).
Coward. Did he get a note from limbaugh, the destructor of the GOP.
He’s not very good at chess is he?
Steele’s an embarrasment not only to the GOP but to all non butt kissing humans. It must make eating dinner awful to have so much booty lint from rush and others constantly spicing up his meals.
I thought Kaine handed him his hat on this when I watched it yesterday! I guess they mean to say investigate what Pelosia dn other Democrats AND REPUBLICANS knew … including those Republicans on Congress.
Tena, if you want this to catch on, you gotta be accurate.
It’s Algonquin JAAAAAY Calhoun. That’s the only reason I’ve remembered it after all these years.
A Truth Commision conducted by Cats, would burn Dogs at the Stake. And Visa-Vesa. Truth Commisions sound like some Kangaroo court some of this worlds worst dictators would call a pre execution. Term Limits would get rid of most the liars. Term Limits.