Video - Senate hearing for new US ambassador to Turkey: Turkey is "drifting in the direction" of authoritarianism.

Video - Senate hearing for new US ambassador to Turkey: Turkey is "drifting in the direction" of authoritarianism.(HD).

John Bass, who has been nominated by the Obama administration as new U.S. ambassador to Ankara, has said Turkey is "drifting in the direction" of authoritarianism, following persistent questions at a Senate hearing.

McCain replied by asking whether the Turkish government’s “suppression of social media, YouTube and Twitter and restrictions on the freedom of the media” represented a drift toward the authoritarianism,” adding that Bass was “jeopardizing his nomination” by not giving a clear answer to a question.

“It is a pretty simple straight forward question ... Do you believe that the oppression of social media, the desire to change the Constitution to be a more powerful president, which he obviously will be, is a drift towards authoritarianism?” McCain asked.

When Bass again tried to refrain from giving an answer, McCain replied sharply. “Mr. Chairman, I am not going to support this nomination, and I will hold it until I get a straight answer. I think it is a fairly straightforward question Mr. Bass. Is it a drift towards authoritarianism?” he said.

“It is a drift in that direction, yes,” Bass replied. “Thank you. It took 3 minutes and 25 seconds,” McCain said in response. Read the full story here.