Anything Less Than Absolute Moral Clarity from Democrats Will Enshrine Bush's Abuses

Over the past four months there have been a series of flare-ups between the Obama administration and the progressive activist community, centered mainly around the new administration's willingness (or lack thereof) to reverse Bush-Cheney's radical excesses in the realm of civil liberties, secrecy, detainee treatment, interrogation, and counter-terrorism.

Ever astute and incisive, Digby raises what I think is the critical point in this entire debate:

The argument against torture is slipping away from us. In fact, I'm getting the sinking feeling that it's over. What was once taboo is now publicly acknowledged as completely acceptable by many people. Indeed, disapproval of torture is now being characterized as a strictly partisan issue, like welfare reform or taxes.

Ari Melber, my former Kerry campaign colleague, takes a parallel tack, arguing that there should be no debate here; torture is illegal. Even Bush acknowledged that.

Glenn Greenwald, an indispensible voice on this topic, says bluntly:

Ever since he was inaugurated, Obama has taken one extreme step after the next to keep concealed both the details and the evidence of Bush's crimes, including rendition, torture and warrantless eavesdropping.

As has been the case for years, Democratic leaders, operating within the Washington bubble, misconstrue the concerns of the netroots and often privately dismiss them as the rantings of immature outsiders and political neophytes.

But as always, the progressive community, a far more efficient thinking machine than a handful of strategists and advisers, is looking ahead and raising a unified alarm. The message is this: anything less than absolute moral clarity from Democrats, who now control the levers of power, will enshrine Bush's abuses and undermine the rule of law for generations to come.

Setting aside all the campaign slogans about hope and change, what Obama really signifies is a razor sharp break from Bush, Cheney, Yoo, Rice, Rumsfeld, Addington, Libby, Bybee et al. After eight years of damage to the fabric of our Constitution and our nation, the entire point of a new face, a smart, youthful, inspiring Democratic president is to completely and totally reject the Bush years, to reject the lawless behavior, the Orwellian rationales, the blatant disregard of the Constitution.

Neglecting to do so, and leaving any doubt about where Democrats stand on these issues, is profoundly detrimental to the country.

Back to Digby:

We are in big trouble when torture becomes just another political football. It's the kind of thing that turns powerful empires into pariah nations.

Exactly. The underlying issue here is not these intermittent battles between the new administration and the progressive community (fodder for the media and conservatives) but whether the White House and Democratic leaders comprehend the repercussions of allowing DC's complex internal pressures and maneuverings -- which are largely invisible to outsiders -- to obfuscate the Bush administration's excesses.

Failing to make a clean break from the Bush years will deprive America of the one thing it needs most: an affirmation of the rule of law and the consequent reclaiming of moral authority.

Comments

[provgrays]

The Bush abuses have already been enshrined with a sleeping Congress during his term and a desire to "move on" in the new adminstration.

Add Pelosi's professed ignorance on torture in spite of being briefed on "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques" in 2002 and you have official enshrinement of Bush's high crimes.

[ProfessorDuh]

Absolutely right. "Amnesty" for the rule to law, for constitutional protections, for torture and for police state spying on Americans is nothing but an invitation to tyranny. Power-hungry politicians always want totalitarianism, and this policy will reassure them that they will pay no price for trying to grab it.

[laocoon]

what reason does any one in the executive have any longer to abide by the constitution? only politics!

[doug108]

George Carlin, appearing on Olbermann months ago, said that the republic is finished, that this country has long since been bought and paid for. He was so calm in his certainty. I was afraid he was right, but I didn't want to give in to cynicism and just throw up my hands in defeat.

I'm past that now. I think we're watching the indisputable end of our nation unfolding before our eyes. I'm still clinging to hope, but it's looking more and more like we're letting it slip through our fingers.

[SolarArray]

I can't help but feel the same thing. In history books 100 years from now one will read in large tomes about the collapse of the USA due to disregard for the law.
Cheney and the Bush administration will be analyzed first and foremost as the cause of the collapse.

[Michael Shanley]

You know I have to agree with you, but then that's what is so cool about these times. That we have these great tools like the internet that allows us to connect with like minded individuals; that you and I and others would never let that happen. I feel so strongly as you do that we are at a turning point, and I feel more resolve then ever knowing there are other individuals out there that also won't let that happen. Not on our watch! You kjnow I loved George Calin, he spoke from his mind and his heart but he underestimated the people that are out there.

[ProfessorDuh]

They'll be after those "great tools like the internet" yet. The corporations are eying the internet like the power-hungry predators they are.

[ProfessorDuh]

As Lily Tomlin has said, no matter how cynical you are, you just can't keep up. I fear you may be right, but rage, rage, against the dying of the light.

[northstar11]

it is always painted as left vs right ---reality is corporate america owns both sides,-- democracy is the milk and cookies for the "children"--makes em believe they count

government of, for and by is a long lost illusion.

[provgrays]

The Republic is all but finished because most Americans don't know their own history or the Constitution. Most don't value them and most can't be troubled to defend our founding principles.

[Viola]

You are EXACTLY Right: "anything less than absolute moral clarity from Democrats, who now control the levers of power, will enshrine Bush's abuses and undermine the rule of law for generations to come." It's so obvious and the failure by Obama to grasp this concept is excruciating.

We don't expect much from Congress - there were so many Democratic enablers who let us down - but we did expect more from Obama. AND, he's the man to do it. He has the ability to make the moral argument and I think this moment in history requires the moral argument. Anything less becomes tacit approval, and creates beliefs that do yet more damage: "why don't the laws apply to the rich and powerful?" "Why should we believe anything our government tells us?" and on and on.

[JustifiablyParanoid]

I keep seeing the momentum for truth and accountability building..­.at least on the internet. I really, really, really want to believe that Americans will put forth enough pressure on their representatives to uphold the law and the Constitution.

But I'm quite wary too. Power does not adhere to the will of the people easily--if at all.

[SolarArray]

You are so correct. If this is not dealt with through the rule of law, the rest of the world will never believe or trust the USA ever again and that will be very dramatic.

[duufus]

what the rest of the world seeing right now is this

obama has evidence that bush ordered the raping of children in front of their parents

and americans dont think that bush should be tried for war crimes...

deal with that

all the rest is bullshit