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Carnahan: No position on Guantanamo Bay

May 12, 2009

Smith: “It is the height of naivety to believe that we can simply ‘get past’ an issue without solving it.”

JEFFERSON CITY— Exhibiting her lack of understanding or interest in one of the most important issues of our time, Robin Carnahan yesterday evaded specific questions on the controversial closure of the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility.  Her equivocation comes weeks after receiving harsh criticism for her refusal to take a stand on card-check legislation while being endorsed by the Teamsters.

“Robin Carnahan continues to duck and dodge questions from reporters and the public—this time on the issue of President Obama’s promised closure of the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party.  “Carnahan’s refusal to take a position on such an important national security issue once again calls into question her readiness for the job.   Missourians should not have to guess about where candidates for political office stand on the central issues of our time.”

When asked about her position on the potential closure of Guantanamo Bay and a Congressional resolution meant to hinder the President’s ability to send terrorists detainees into the United States, Carnahan responded with a classic non-statement: “There’s pretty wide consensus that we need to get past Guantanamo…We need to do things that reflect our values.” (St. Louis Beacon, May 11, 2009)

“It is the height of naivety to believe that we can simply ‘get past’ an issue without solving it,” said Smith.  “The questions posed to Carnahan remain: What is her position on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility? What should be done with the terrorists?  And does she support legislation that would help prevent them from being sent to the U.S.? If we want to truly reflect our values, we must put the lives and safety of Americans first by ensuring that no terrorist is allowed into the United States.  But Carnahan cannot or will not take a stand. ”

To date, Congressmen Blunt, Emerson, Graves, and Luetkemeyer have co-sponsored to H.R. 2294, The “Keep Terrorists Out of America” Act.