Fourth Grader Questions Rice on Torture

Not only was Condoleeza Rice under fire at Stanford University last week on the issue of torture, but the questioning of Rice by students continued during her appearance at Jewish Primary Day School. This time, the questioner was none other than fourth grader Misha Lerner.

Lerner asked Rice what she thought about what the Obama Administration was saying about the methods the Bush Administration used to get information out of detainees. Rice replied:

"Let me just say that President Bush was very clear that he wanted to do everything he could to protect the country. After September 11, we wanted to protect the country," she said. "But he was also very clear that we would do nothing, nothing, that was against the law or against our obligations internationally. So the president was only willing to authorize policies that were legal in order to protect the country."

"I hope you understand that it was a very difficult time. We were all so terrified of another attack on the country. September 11 was the worst day of my life in government, watching 3,000 Americans die. . . . Even under those most difficult circumstances, the president was not prepared to do something illegal, and I hope people understand that we were trying to protect the country."

Apparently, according to Misha's mother, the original question was going to ask Rice if she would push for torture if she worked for the Obama Administration, but the school wanted Misha to soften the question by not using the word "torture".

Does it strike anyone else as odd that a fourth grader is asking the questions that the corporate media should be asking?