Americans across the country are outraged after Fox News military analyst Air Force Lt. General Thomas McInerney slandered Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) by claiming that torture worked on him during the Vietnam War.
On Wednesday, McCain responded to the nomination of Gina Haspel as CIA Director by calling upon the Senate to reject her due to her role in overseeing torture against detainees in 2002 despite torture being illegal under American and international law.
“Like many Americans, I understand the urgency that drove the decision to resort to so-called enhanced interrogation methods after our country was attacked. I know that those who used enhanced interrogation methods and those who approved them wanted to protect Americans from harm. I appreciate their dilemma and the strain of their duty. But as I have argued many times, the methods we employ to keep our nation safe must be as right and just as the values we aspire to live up to and promote in the world.
“I believe Gina Haspel is a patriot who loves our country and has devoted her professional life to its service and defense. However, Ms. Haspel’s role in overseeing the use of torture by Americans is disturbing. Her refusal to acknowledge torture’s immorality is disqualifying. I believe the Senate should exercise its duty of advice and consent and reject this nomination.”
On Thursday morning, McInerney despicably used his appearance on Fox News to defend torture by smearing McCain, who suffered horrendous torture at the hands of his Vietnamese captors during his time as a prisoner of war.
“The fact is, is John McCain — it worked on John,” McInerney claimed. “That’s why they call him ‘Songbird John.’ The fact is those methods can work, and they are effective, as former Vice President Cheney said. And if we have to use them to save a million American lives, we will do whatever we have to.”
Here’s the video via YouTube.
It is truly galling to see Fox News stoop to such a low. McCain is currently battling brain cancer and he’s a veteran who served honorably. Fox host Charles Payne claims he didn’t hear McInerney’s remarks, but issued an apology to the McCain family on Twitter.
My Apology to Senator McCain and his Family
“This morning on a show I was hosting, a guest made a very false and derogatory remark about Senator John McCain. At the time, I had the control room in my ear telling me to wrap the segment, and did not hear the comment.— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) May 10, 2018
I regret I did not catch this remark, as it should have been challenged. As a proud military veteran and son of a Vietnam Vet these words neither reflect my or the network’s feelings about Senator McCain, or his remarkable service and sacrifice to this country.”
Charles V. Payne— Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) May 10, 2018
Speaking of Twitter, everyone was pissed off at Fox news and McInerney, including McCain’s wife Cindy.
@FoxBusiness @cvpayne Please choose your guest more wisely.
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) May 10, 2018
Fuck you Thomas McInerney and anyone who refers to John McCain as Songbird John. He was serving his country. Went through hell. Came back and served his country again. I don’t agree with his politics, but the man has given more to us then you have. #FoxNews #Shameful
— ChrisIsTheWayILive (@GOSU49) May 10, 2018
To @MeghanMcCain: A horrific man, Thomas McInerney, is spreading the lie on @FoxNews that your father cooperated under torture. He even used the “name” from an anonymous 2008 poster. Slam this guy. Your father, @SenJohnMcCain, is a hero. McInerny isn’t fit to kiss his shoes.
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) May 10, 2018
The American people should demand that this atrocious man—retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas #McInerney—have his pension and rank stripped. He’s a stain on our armed forces. #Fox #McCain https://t.co/RONgddNsZs
— NoEmptySuits (@NoEmptySuits) May 10, 2018
Thomas McInerney should be banned. He showed himself to be a lowlife disgusting human being! He doesn’t deserve a voice on a public forum for viewer consumption!
— Blah Blah (@Jasaka8) May 10, 2018
Thomas McInerney is a dispicable evil man! John Mccain is a war hero battling Brain cancer! Fox news needs to fire Thomas McInerney!!!
— Alexandra Romana Susan Walter Shepiro (@AlexShepiro) May 11, 2018
Thomas McInerney is a vile, disgraceful excuse for a man. To say the things he did about John McCain today on FOX News is a new low, even for FOX. Both McInerney and FOX should apologize to John McCain and his family.
— michele (@EaglezFan) May 10, 2018
Welp…Fox News proves that it’s rock bottom behavior in spewing lies now has a basement.
Referring to John McCain as “Songbird John” is not just disgusting it’s a straight up lie.
That crazy birther crank, Thomas McInerney, needs a heaping spoonful of STFU. What a disgrace! https://t.co/WYEs7aIq0R
— Hadley Sheley (@HadleySheley) May 10, 2018
@foxnews @usairforce @SenJohnMcCain I am appalled at the comments made by Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney. Senator McCain, I salute you, Sir and you are a true hero. The general is a pathetic and loathsome individual. Sincerely, a USMC Veteran
— Brent Shelley (@drshelleyod) May 10, 2018
This smear vs @SenJohnMcCain has been debunked many times, including by @PolitiFact https://t.co/CoBpZXsNMV People who repeat the lie do so because he has vocally opposed torture, including by CIA. No surprise it’s revived this week during Haspel hearing https://t.co/tCrZyz28GI
— Indira Lakshmanan (@Indira_L) May 10, 2018
Indeed, the claim that McCain gave up information because he was tortured has been thoroughly debunked and McInerney should be ashamed of himself for repeating it.
The world has known for 400 hundred years that torture is an ineffective tool for getting information. Plus it is even banned by the Army manual, which McInerney clearly hasn’t read, nor has he read national and international laws outlawing it. Its a disgrace how he ever became an officer with this line of thinking, much less a Lt. General.
McCain suffered brutality that most Americans, including McInerney, will never know or understand. He walks with a slight limp, hates enclosed spaces and being alone, and can’t lift his arms above his shoulders because of the torture he went through.
And he only gave his captors his name, rank, and serial number, which is standard military practice, while letting other POWs get freed ahead of him whenever he was offered a chance to get home. Rather than give up, McCain came home and continued serving his country by becoming a lawmaker, a job he is still doing today despite having serious health problems.
McCain is a hero. McInerney is a douchebag. And Fox News should fire him.
Featured Image: YouTube screenshot
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