Audience Applauds As Giuliani, Tancredo Endorse Waterboarding Torture

Think Progress
Wednesday May 16, 2007

Audience Applauds As Giuliani, Tancredo Endorse Waterboarding Torture

Think Progress
Wednesday May 16, 2007

During tonight’s presidential debates, candidates were asked whether they would support the use of waterboarding — a technique, defined as torture by the Justice Department, that simulates drowning and makes the subject “believe his death is imminent while ideally not causing permanent physical damage.”

Audience Applauds As Giuliani, Tancredo Endorse Waterboarding Torture

Think Progress
Wednesday May 16, 2007

During tonight’s presidential debates, candidates were asked whether they would support the use of waterboarding — a technique, defined as torture by the Justice Department, that simulates drowning and makes the subject “believe his death is imminent while ideally not causing permanent physical damage.”

Both former mayor Rudy Giuliani and Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) suggested they would support using the technique. Specifically asked about waterboarding, Giuliani said he would allow “every method [interrogators] could think of and I would support them in doing it.” Tancredo later added, “I’m looking for Jack Bauer,” referencing the television character who has used torture techniques such as suffocation and electrocution on prisoners.

The audience applauded loudly after both statements.