Ads Call for Condoleezza Rice's Resignation for Her Role in "Torture" Discussions

Three progressive grass-roots organizations, including one associated with Ben & Jerry's cofounder Ben Cohen, today said they will air a television ad around the time of tonight's Democratic debate calling for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to step down because of new reports about her participation in White House meetings during which Bush administration officials decided what severe interrogation techniques—including waterboarding—should be used on potential terrorism suspects.

Brave New Films, Democracy for America, and TrueMajority.org, whose cofounder Duane Peterson has worked for a decade with Cohen on social change projects, have also launched a website, CondiMustGo.com. TrueMajority.org's online director Matt Holland said Rice, who led some of the White House meetings, "helped decide how to torture people; that's the bottom line." The 30-second spot includes a clip of Rice testifying before Congress that the "U.S. doesn't condone torture."

—Liz Halloran