MANCHESTER, N.H. — The GOP presidential primary field debated the definition of torture Saturday night at a Republican primary debate hosted by ABC News.
Ted Cruz said waterboarding isn't torture, but added he would "not bring it back in any sort of widespread use."
.@TedCruz says he'd employ just a smidgen of torture if elected president. But not a lot. A little bit. #GOPDebatehttps://t.co/zXuuVDyWx8— Mashable (@mashable) February 7, 2016
When posed the same question, Donald Trump agreed that waterboarding isn’t torture, but said he would “bring back a hell of a lot worse” if he were elected president.
Trump: Worse than waterboarding.
Cruz: Very limited waterboarding.
Jeb: No waterboarding.#GOPDebate— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) February 7, 2016
The two Republicans made the comments when asked about the practice at Saturday night's GOP debate. Waterboarding is a controversial practice that was used during former President George W. Bush’s administration during interrogations of suspected terrorists.
The Bush administration later deemed the practice — which simulates drowning — torture and banned it as an interrogation tactic.
The one candidate on stage who said waterboarding is torture was Jeb Bush, George W. Bush’s brother.
So the strongest opponent of waterboarding onstage seems to be.....George W. Bush's brother— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) February 7, 2016