NextGenGOP Denounces Cheney and Torture

Marvelous post from Abel S. Delgado at NextGenGOP.com encouraging his beloved Republican party to stand up and denounce torture.

While we as Republicans are trying to decide whether to give the outgoing President credit for his accomplishments or completely disassociate ourselves from what has been a thoroughly disappointing lack of leadership, the administration is trying to put a positive spin on the Bush Legacy. Something we cannot accept, however, is Vice President Dick Cheney defending the indefensible: torture. Cheney was the chief force behind the Neo-Conservative movement that morphed our party from the party that defended small government and personal liberty to the party that defended big government spying on Americans and water-boarding.

Cheney wants us to believe it was the right thing to do. Forget Franklin’s contention that “those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither,” forget Jefferson’s assertion of “inalienable rights,” and forget Madison’s masterful architecture of a divided government that protects our rights. President Bush and Vice President Cheney kept us safe after 9/11 and as loyal Republicans we shouldn’t second guess their methods in doing so, right? Wrong. Am I grateful they kept me safe? Of course. Am I absolutely ashamed and disgraced that they tortured others in doing so? Of course.

Cheney admits he was directly involved in approving “severe interrogation methods” at Guantanamo and wants to keep that black eye on America’s conscience open, despite calls from members of both parties to close it and the willingness of European governments to take in the enemy combatants. He says water-boarding is okay by him. While our Navy Seals have gone through it in training, I highly doubt Cheney would have the same opinion if he were ever subjected to it. Why is the stance on torture important to Republicans once Cheney leaves office? Because we can no longer think like Cheney. We can’t be the party that thinks torture is okay and still expect to win the trust of the American people in securing individual liberties. Torture is not okay, torture is not American, and we need to stop defending its use.

This is the kind of Republican I could actually debate with. Bravo.