Lebanon, NH --Jay Buckey, Democratic candidate to represent New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate, said that Michael Mukasey's appointment today as Attorney General is a disappointment for anyone who values the Constitution and common sense.

"I couldn't believe that he refused to condemn water boarding,” said Buckey, a former flight surgeon in the Air Force Reserve. "Most commonsense folks would look at that and say, 'Gee, if it were done to me, I'd consider it torture.' It doesn't take a constitutional scholar to figure that out."

Buckey said that he doesn't question Mukasey's intelligence or qualifications, but he's concerned about the Attorney General's backbone, and he would have voted against Mukasey's confirmation. New Hampshire's current Senators, Republicans John Sununu and Judd Gregg, voted to confirm Mukasey.

“The Attorney General should have the strength of character to stand up to the administration and define water boarding as torture, “ said Buckey. “Terrorists present difficult issues, but we have to expect our Attorney General to uphold the Constitution. This is a time for clarity and having the courage to stand for what we believe in."

Torture is not only illegal, it's also ineffective, Buckey noted. "Our use of torture isn't scaring the terrorists, but it is alienating millions of other people throughout the world who we want on our side. I hope that in the upcoming months Attorney General Mukasey will re-think his position and condemn torture.”

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