Clinton Endorses Anti-Torture Pledge [View All]

October 04, 2007 3:19 PM

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports : Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has endorsed the principles of an anti-torture pledge circulated by a liberal organization, after facing criticism as the only Democratic candidate for president to withhold her support for a blanket statement condemning torture.

ABC reported earlier Thursday that Clinton had not yet responded the group's request to sign the pledge. However, the Clinton campaign said its response to the group was being drafted prior to receiving media inquiries.

The anti-torture pledge, initiated by the American Freedom Campaign -- a group founded by a coalition of civil-liberties groups and liberal activists -- commits the candidates to disavowing some of the controversial tactics employed by the Bush administration.

"We are Americans, and in our America we do not torture, we do not imprison people without charge or legal remedy, we do not tap people's phones and emails without a court order, and above all we do not give any President unchecked power," the statement reads. "I pledge to fight to protect and defend the Constitution from assault by any President."

In a letter to the group sent Thursday afternoon, Clinton writes that she agrees with the statement.

"To lead, our country must uphold its most fundamental rules and standards," she writes. "The next president must not only possess a clear-eyed assessment of the terrorist threat, but must demonstrate the moral courage to face that threat without forsaking the values which set our Nation apart."

Technically, Clinton did not sign the pledge. Instead, she sent a letter outlining her principles and broad agreement with the group's stance, in a manner similar to responses sent by Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., and former senator John Edwards, D-N.C...........

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/clinton-wont-si.html