| While refusing to answer U.S. Senate questions about whether waterboarding is considered torture under U.S. law, Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey provided a clear answer to whether or not he'd prosecute interrogators that forced suspects to attend Vassar College. "Some issues stand beyond the grey areas of partisan discord," an impassioned Mukasey told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "If we send terrorism suspects to Poughkeepsie for four years, subjecting them to substandard professors and wolf-like women, are we not engaging in a brand of terrorism worse than al Qaeda?" His answer was punctuated by a standing ovation from the 19 members of the committee. Republicans and Democrats stood arm-in-arm and cheered Mukasey, bringing the body together in unity not seen since just after the 9/11 attacks. "While I have often been critical of the Bush Administration, just knowing that they have sent us a nominee dedicated to ending the depraved practice of Vassaring gives me a warm glow about American justice itself," said New York Senator Charles Schumer, who has often spoken out against the process of Vassaring. Republican Senator Arlen Specter echoed Schumer's sentiments. "We can confidently move forward now, knowing that as terrorism suspects scream incoherently while we simulate drowning them, their desperate gurglings are saying, "Thank you for not enrolling us at Vassar." |
| AG Nominee: Attending Vassar Is Torture Mukasey Tells Senate Committee: "On some issues, all Americans can agree." November 5, 2007 |