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McCaskill scolds Missourians for opposition to terrorists in the U.S.

June 11, 2009

Despite overwhelming public opinion, Carnahan still refuses to take a position

JEFFERSON CITY—Less than a month after defying President Obama’s wishes and voting to prohibit funding for the transfer of terrorists imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay to the United States, Claire McCaskill has changed her position and is now scolding Missourians for their continued opposition to Obama’s plan.

McCaskill recently told MissouriNet: “I think people need to take a deep breath about Guantanamo… A vast majority of the country believed that Guantanamo needs to be closed. It is an ugly chapter in our history and we need to close it…” She McCaskill also compared terrorists to violent criminals, saying that they could be successfully tried and jailed in Missouri. But Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey wrote that “terrorism prosecutions in this country have unintentionally provided terrorists with a rich source of intelligence.” (Wall Street Journal, 8/22/07)

“Claire McCaskill scolded Missourians for opposing the closure of the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility, but less than a month ago, she was one of 90 Senators who voted to prohibit funding to bring terrorists to the United States. McCaskill can’t seem to make up her mind,” said Lloyd Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. “Despite McCaskill’s claim that terrorists are similar to violent criminals, we know this is not the case. In fact, there have been several cases in which the prosecution of terrorists in open court in the United States has tipped off others about U.S. counter-terrorism tactics—which puts Americans in danger.”

A recent Gallup poll showed that 65% Americans oppose closing the Guantanamo terrorist detention facility and bringing the terrorists to the United States.

In the face of overwhelming public opinion, Robin Carnahan has refused to take a position, simply saying that we need to “get past Guantanamo.”

“Americans have spoken very clearly on this issue: they do not want terrorists in the United States. But McCaskill can’t make up her mind and Robin Carnahan refuses to take a serious position,” said Smith. “Obama, McCaskill, and Carnahan are out of touch with the public. We cannot simply ‘get past’ Guantanamo without solving it, and Missourians should not have to ‘take a deep breath’ and accept policies that potentially put them in danger.”

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