Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak of Pennsylvania has been under attack from the Republican Jewish Coalition for his support for trying Khalid Sheik Mohammed in civilian court, even offering up Western Pennsylvania as a potential site. Ben Smith posts this ad from Human Rights First, which it is airing as a response. The ad features a number of former military and intelligence officials supporting the use of civilian trials for suspected terrorists:
The ad notes that there have been only four convictions by military commission. Given that whoever wrote the Republicans' Pledge to America didn't know the difference between military commissions and military courts-martial, I suspect most Americans don't know how ineffective they are.
In any case, it's good to see a Democrat running for Senate other than Russ Feingold refusing to cower before Republicans on matters of civil liberties.
