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After a contentious Senate hearing on Gina Haspel's nomination to be CIA Director on Wednesday, John McCain issued a statement urging his colleagues to oppose her nomination, in part due to her refusal to acknowledge the immorality of torture.
McCain tweeted:
I believe Gina Haspel is a patriot who loves our country & has devoted her professional life to its service & defen… https://t.co/nSU8tuawsj— John McCain (@John McCain) 1525912032.0
In response, Retired Air Force Lieutenant General Thomas McInerney went on Fox Business to defend Haspel's nomination and ended up slamming McCain in the process, claiming that torture "worked" on McCain when he was a POW during the Vietnam War.
Lt. Gen. McInerney: 'Torture Worked' On 'Songbird John' McCain.
You sir are a disgrace.
Nobody knows what John suffered except John.
Unless you spent time in Vietnamese POW camp, you can't comment on what he faced. pic.twitter.com/gZdP1iciRg
— Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) May 10, 2018
Well she can't use it anymore because we have determined in Congress that it's not legal. The fact is, is John McCain -- it worked on John. 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.
McCain, who is currently absent from the Senate due to battling brain cancer, has been an outspoken critic of torture and of Haspel's role in the CIA. Haspel ran a black ops prison in Thailand after 9-11 and oversaw "enhanced interrogation" methods against suspected terrorists. She then approved the destruction of digital files documenting their treatment.
Hours after the appearance, Fox Business Host Charles Payne issued an apology to McCain 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 de… https://t.co/Yu3OG5BfGA— Charles V Payne (@Charles V Payne) 1525978810.0
But that didn't keep Twitter from weighing in, pretty much unanimously condemning McInerney's remarks.
A retired USAF three-star general, Thomas McInerney - a birther crank - just referred to former POW John McCain as… https://t.co/F4efO2W50l— Tom Nichols (@Tom Nichols) 1525976315.0
WHAT THE HELL? 😡😡😡😡😡 THIS EXCHANGE ACTUALLY HAPPENED ON @FOXBUSINESS, AND THIS GUY IS A @FOXNEWS MILITARY ANALYST.… https://t.co/GNDk6JkP9T— The Reagan Battalion (@The Reagan Battalion) 1525973638.0
Lt. Gen. McInerney: 'Torture Worked' On 'Songbird John' McCain. You sir are a disgrace. Nobody knows what John su… https://t.co/5r3HrwXWLB— Red T Raccoon (@Red T Raccoon) 1525977150.0
Fox guest endorses the use of torture, arguing it is effective—by claiming torture worked well when it was used on… https://t.co/9zKtxESh4b— Brian Klaas (@Brian Klaas) 1525975712.0
no big deal, just Fox Business News giving a platform to a smear of Sen. John McCain's time being tortured in a Vie… https://t.co/8dixnNgr6j— Jake Tapper (@Jake Tapper) 1525976420.0
Lt. Gen. McInerney: 'Torture Worked' On 'Songbird John' McCain. You sir are a disgrace. Nobody knows what John su… https://t.co/5r3HrwXWLB— Red T Raccoon (@Red T Raccoon) 1525977150.0
This retired general is a DISGRACE to Americans Fox Biz Guest Lt. Gen. McInerney: 'Torture Worked' On 'Songbird Joh… https://t.co/RGgKVVc9e3— Karoli (@Karoli) 1525974943.0
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump expressed his support of torture, telling an audience that "torture works."
TRUMP in 2016: "Torture works, okay, folks? I have these guys, 'torture doesn't work.' Believe me, it works, okay?… https://t.co/KJEZdxDE5L— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1525886018.0
It should be noted that intelligence agencies and the military have since agreed that torture, or "enhanced interrogation," is not an effective method of extracting information since people are likely to confess to anything to make it stop.