Maddow: Conservatives using ’sick torture fantasies’ to politicize terror plot

26Dems Editorial Note: You'll need to watch the video to hear Rachel strongly debunk opportunistic orchestrated GOP attacks on Homeland Security Secretary and former AZ Governor Janet Napolitano, who initially defended the U.S. RESPONSE to the near tragedy on the Christmas day attempted bombing of Northwest flight 253. President Obama explained the context of Secretary Napolitano's remarks, which are consistent with the president's acknowledgement that the international system did not work to prevent the bomber from getting on the plane in the first place and his determination to find and correct the security flaws.


By David Edwards and Sahil Kapur
Rawstory
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 -- 11:17 am

WASHINGTON -- MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on Tuesday accused conservatives and Republicans of exploiting the foiled Christmas terror bombing for political gain and to promote torture.

"Conservatives have been racing for the nearest TV camera to try to score political points off of this failed terrorist attack," Maddow said.

Maddow pointed out the rift between the arguments of senior Republicans in the Bush administration in 2001 and the party's stance now with regard to prosecution of terror suspects.

In December of 2001, Richard Reid (commonly referred to as the "shoe bomber") failed in his attempt to blow up an aircraft with explosives. At the time, Attorney General John Ashcroft and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge advocated and defended his civilian criminal prosecution, and he was ultimately convicted of a life sentence.

"When there's political hay to be made, there's no reason to let complete intellectual incoherence get in your way," Maddow said. She then showed clips of conservatives saying the suspected Christmas attacker, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, does not deserve the rights of ordinary civilians.

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