Mediaboss Marketing

Hillary Clinton on Tuesday heaped praise on the Obama administration for banning brutal interrogations and called for legislative action the first comments from the former Secretary of State since the CIA torture report was made public.

In a speech before a well-heeled crowd honoring a liberal hero, Clinton took a sharp swing at the George W. Bush era while appealing to her partys growing coalition of black and Hispanic voters, who propelled President Barack Obama to the White House.

Story Continued Below

Theres no doubt that at home and abroad America is at our best when our actions match our values, Clinton said as she was honored at the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights gala in Midtown Manhattan.

(Also on POLITICO: Obama's immigration actions ruled unconstitutional)

Yes the threat of terrorism is real and urgent - scores of children were just murdered in Pakistan. Beheadings in the Middle East. A siege in Sydney. These tragedies not only break hearts but should steel our resolve and underscore that our values are what set us apart from our adversaries. I am proud to have been a part of the Obama administration that banned illegal renditions and brutal interrogations.

Today we can say again, in a loud and clear voice, the United States should never condone and practice torture anywhere in the world, said Clinton, adding that it should be reflected in both policy and law if that requires new legislation, then Congress should work with President Obama to quickly enact it and it should not be an issue of partisan politics.

In her speech, in which she repeatedly invoked Kennedy, the slain civil rights icon, she referred repeatedly to the protests over the deaths of two black men at the hands of police.

We can stand up together and say yes, black lives matter, said Clinton, a reference to the slogan used by protesters nationally in the wake of the deaths of unarmed black men in Staten Island and Ferguson, Missouri.

(Also on POLITICO: McConnell: Keystone will be GOP Senate's first move)

Continued here:
Hillary Clinton: Pass torture laws