Markey Blasts Bush bill allowing torture (and Sinclair note)

[George_S]

Markey raps prisoner policy: Blasts Bush bill allowing torture treatment of terror suspects
By Peter Reuell / News Staff Writer
Thursday, October 14, 2004

Congressional Republicans want to allow the United States to secretly deport terror suspects to nations known to use torture in interrogations, U.S. Rep. Edward Markey charged yesterday.

In a meeting with News editors, Markey attacked Republicans and the Bush administration for including the provision, known as "extraordinary rendition," as part of a bill to implement reforms recommended by the 9/11 Commission.

...

Markey also weighed in on the brewing controversy over a plan by the Sinclair Broadcast Group, which plans to run a documentary critical of John Kerry on 62 television stations, including many in so called "swing" states.

"The license is to serve the public interest, convenience and necessity," said Markey, a member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Internet.

"To run a 90-minute anti-John Kerry propaganda film in prime time calls into question just whether the public interest is really being served by that," he said.

Markey yesterday said he believes the Federal Communications Commission has the authority to step in.

With just under three weeks left until Election Day, Markey yesterday also expressed confidence Kerry would be sworn in as the nation's 44th president.

"He's violated the first law of holes," Markey said of Bush. "And that's when you're in one, stop digging."

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=80437