John McCain Jokes About Waterboarding John Kerry

John McCain Makes Awkward Joke About Kerry

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) joked that he would do whatever it takes to get the truth out of John Kerry, President Barack Obama's nominee for secretary of state -- including torture.

McCain said at a press conference Tuesday he's intent on "mercilessly" questioning Kerry during his confirmation hearings this week, Politico reports.

“We will bring back for the only time waterboarding to get the truth out of him,” McCain said.

Clearly a joke, McCain's comment was met with laughter at the press conference.

McCain, a survivor of torture himself, has been a strong supporter of ending torture methods like waterboarding. During 2012 presidential election he denounced GOP candidates who supported the practices.

Waterboarding, a method of torture that simulates drowning, has been a topic of conversation recently. The film "Zero Dark Thirty" depicts it as one of the key factors that lead to finding Osama bin Laden.

McCain was one several senators who spoke out against the film, saying its emphasis on torture and its link to finding bin Laden were wrong, The Associated Press reported.

"Not only did the use of enhanced interrogation techniques on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed not provide us with key leads on bin Laden's courier, Abu Ahmed, it actually produced false and misleading information," McCain said.

Amid controversy over the film, the CIA released a statement stating that the film took significant artistic liberties.

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