John McCain Only Opposes Torture When He's the Victim

Earlier today, ThinkProgress noted that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), a former prisoner of war, has spoken strongly in favor of implementing the Army Field Manual standard. When confronted today with the decision of whether to stick with his conscience or cave to the right wing, McCain chose to ditch his principles and instead vote to preserve waterboarding.

I used to like John McCain and probably would have voted for him in 2000 if he'd been the Republican nominee. I would not vote for him now, even before this vote, but I've lost the last vestige of respect I once held for him. McCain is a tragic figure, a man so consumed with the desire to become president that he'll sacrifice anything to achieve his goal. When McCain started his second run for the White House, he subdivided his integrity and sold off lots, a piece or two at a time. He embraced Bush, Falwell and Robertson and has reversed just about every position he ever took that ran counter to the Republican playbook. And who can forget one of his greatest hits, his transparently stage-managed visit to a Baghdad market while under the umbrella of attack helicopters and a cordon of armed troops just out of camera range.

I think we should torture McCain by depriving him of the presidency.