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Showing Original Post only (View all)The Dumpster Fire of Obama's Moral Authority [View all]

President Obama briefs the press on the economy and foreign
policy issues at the White House, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014.
(Screengrab via Whitehouse.gov)
The Dumpster Fire of Obama's Moral Authority
By William Rivers Pitt
Truthout | Op-Ed
Thursday 07 August 2014
Whatever lingering moral authority remaining in the administration of President Barack Obama fell to dust last Friday in a news dump that no one, apparently, was expected to pay any attention to.
That's what Friday news dumps are for; you drop the smelliest stories in the late afternoon, when the citizenry is staring out the window at work and waiting for the weekend to begin. Very few people pay attention to the news on the weekends, and by Monday morning, the damning or damaging stories that were dropped on Friday have flowed far down the river to pollute the bay, out of sight and out of mind.
The news dump last Friday, however, was a doozy, and didn't sink from sight in the manner the Obama administration hoped it would. Over the intervening days, a great many people have taken a long, slow burn on remarks made by the president regarding America's use of torture during the so-called "War on Terror."
(snip)
One is immediately struck by the staggering glibness of using the line "We tortured some folks" to encapsulate a years-long comprehensive international program that tore a great many people to pieces, among them many innocents, to no appreciable gain. The program was used, in no small degree, to extract niblets of highly questionable "intelligence" the previous administration used to justify a war of aggression against Iraq that won them elections and made their friends rich. Along the way, public international knowledge of America's actions destroyed this nation's reputation utterly. They all got away with it.
(snip)
As bad as the "some folks" gambit was, this, this right here, is where the moral authority of this president and his administration became a dumpster fire. No one has any business blaming President Obama and his administration for the deplorable actions of his predecessor. However, the simple fact of the matter is that all of them swore a public oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. They are required to swear that oath not for the times when defending the Constitution is easy, but for the times when it is hard. Otherwise, the oath itself is pointless.
By citing the fear that came after the attacks of 9/11 - a moment when defending the Constitution and holding to that oath was very, very hard - as a free pass for those who instituted and practiced this program of torture, the president betrayed his oath, just as those who practiced torture betrayed theirs. No one was prosecuted for these crimes, and the "investigations" conducted by this administration into that torture were so piddly and toothless as to be utterly meaningless.
(snip)
"Not to feel too sanctimonious in retrospect," he said. Note this well: that specific remark was not directed at the Republicans, the Tea Party or the "mainstream" news media, all of whom happily went along for the ride back when torture was the hip thing to do. Mr. Obama isn't going to get any static from them on the issue of torture; their hands are grimy with the blood they helped to spill.
No, that line was directed at people like me, and maybe you, and everyone who stood up and shouted from the rafters that torture is wrong, that torture is evil, and the people who did it need to be punished if the United States has even a whiff of a prayer of recovering its morality after so long and cruel and despicable a practice. The torturers are the "real patriots" here, you see, and those of us who stood against them - and will ever do so - are only being "sanctimonious" in our outrage.
(snip)
Why is the president bending over backwards for what is demonstrably a CIA that has gone dangerously rogue? It might have something to do with the fact that the current CIA Director, John Brennan, was up to his neck in the torture program while a member of the Bush administration, and is now the CIA director because Mr. Obama nominated him. Yes, it just might.
The whole thing reeks of a cover-up, but don't get too sanctimonious about it. They were "patriots," and we were "afraid," and besides, it was just "some folks" who were tortured.
What took place during the long, gruesome practice of torture is a stain on the soul of this nation. President Obama has done nothing to bring those responsible to justice, and has in fact tapped several of the architects, such as Mr. Brennan, for positions of incredible power. On Friday, Mr. Obama chose to soft-pedal the disgrace of torture, called the perpetrators "patriots," and told those of us upset about the whole thing not to be "sanctimonious" in our indignation.
The rest: http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/25430-the-dumpster-fire-of-obamas-moral-authority
365 replies
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But kneejerk dismissals of critical articles, posted clearly without having read them...
Marr
Aug 2014
#302
Nuremberg was different. Everyone wan't the trial. With Bush, Cheney et al there would be plenty
Maraya1969
Aug 2014
#351
of course it does. he hasn't prosecuted anyone for anything. Silence means agreement.
roguevalley
Aug 2014
#118
He called the torturers "patriots" and those who want prosecution of said torturers "sanctimonious"
cui bono
Aug 2014
#149
Well said. Some are apologizing for the President apologizing for torture. nm
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#185
So where in any of that did are these words you just attributed to him, "He called the torturers "
Maraya1969
Aug 2014
#355
Oh, sorry. I don't know how, but somehow I thought you were talking about him likening himself
cui bono
Aug 2014
#356
He said, "A lot" not "The torturers" And the quote about torture said we did a lot of things right
Maraya1969
Aug 2014
#358
Yes, that's exactly who he was talking about. That was the subject at hand. Torture.
cui bono
Aug 2014
#359
Give you a break? For defending the President who seems determined to give Dick Cheney the medal
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#184
Too afraid to not torture. Too afraid to prosecute. Fear seems a powerful motivator
Ed Suspicious
Aug 2014
#288
I like that. I hope you don't mind if I use something similar. With regard the sad sniping by those
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#310
Down with the Constitution and up with War Crimes? Is that what you intended to
sabrina 1
Aug 2014
#122
Cheney/Bush/Rumsfeld and all the rest didn't torture because they were scared
WHEN CRABS ROAR
Aug 2014
#208
If you're asking me to 'stop all this nonsense' you don't have to. I KNOW why Cheney/Bush/
sabrina 1
Aug 2014
#266
Hey stonecutter, do mind me jumping in here to say I think LordGlenconner got a Hide
Cha
Aug 2014
#264
Obama also said the word "the"... pisses me off when he said "the" and even drags it out sometimes
uponit7771
Aug 2014
#2
Relative to the last time the "piece of shit" president said something someone didn't like i think
uponit7771
Aug 2014
#146
Hey...didn't Will Pitt just post an article of yours here? Are you returning
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#30
Awesome! So, did you agree with Will that the President is a piece of shit used car
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#50
That's a really nasty question for someone who might not be aware of the context.
Electric Monk
Aug 2014
#98
Oh...I read nothing Will Pitt writes. Not since he failed to address some serious
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#120
Oh, thanks for the permission, kind sir!!! Yeah....how about I continue to post
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#130
Dude...you are telling me to read for "comprehensive?" My gender is clearly part of my username
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#134
The second coming "off" James Joyce? I bet you didn't even mean to write something that
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#168
Welcome to DU. Don't worry about the perpetually bitter and aggrieved.
DisgustipatedinCA
Aug 2014
#140
Some are in DU to discuss issues, others to ridicule, alert, lock and hide. nm
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#269
I suggest that we put them all on ignore or form a progressive group free from trouble makers. nm
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#301
Yay! Autocorrect error! That means Obama is perfect and we can all go home! Yay! nt
Akira Watts
Aug 2014
#192
You are far more gracious and witty than your newly appointed and ardent defenders
Number23
Aug 2014
#240
Pretty funny. You don't read anything he writes, but you make sure to show up
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
Aug 2014
#205
Now why would you bring that up again and again and again? Just trying to keep things stirred up
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#309
Why wouldn't I bring it up? Seriously....it's a proud and shining moment for the OP, isn't it? nt
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#317
No but it seems you are obsessed with attacking the OP author. It has nothing to do with this
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#319
No--I mean the OP's magnum opus. Don't be coy, rhett....it does not suit you. nt
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#324
So I got it wrong and you're proud of your ad hominem attack. Whatever. nm
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#325
How is referencing the OP's own writings an ad hominem attack? You remind me of
msanthrope
Aug 2014
#326
The only reason for you to bring up what the OP author said in a different OP
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#327
"Because clearly, the article involved picking a random selection of Obamas words and flying into a"
uponit7771
Aug 2014
#147
Unbelievable. You seem to think torture is just a quaint little thing we shouldn't bother
cui bono
Aug 2014
#151
I also think cute little bunny rabbit ears are too long... so.. snip snip :rolleyes:
uponit7771
Aug 2014
#157
what is worse than him defending the people who committed torture?
questionseverything
Aug 2014
#191
He also said the words 'we tortured'. The word WE 'chaps MY hide' because WE
sabrina 1
Aug 2014
#303
Succinctly stated, Rufus. Obama is a brand, as Chris Hedges has been at pains to make everyone aware
truth2power
Aug 2014
#125
I like your final thoughts the best, the last graf at the link. Yes, the man is hollow.
Demit
Aug 2014
#18
These words spoken by the president made my blood run cold. I would never vote for him again.
northoftheborder
Aug 2014
#35
It is just his personal manner of speech, William. You should know better.
Fred Sanders
Aug 2014
#27
I understand. But tone is important, you begin with a character assassination, and then pull back on
Fred Sanders
Aug 2014
#36
He did speak for himself and he called the torturers "patriots" and those that want prosecution
cui bono
Aug 2014
#161
No, he started with mild criticism of 'folks', and built through "people were afraid"
muriel_volestrangler
Aug 2014
#87
Tone is totally important. And I was thinking you missed the boat. Pres Obama's tone was completely
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#321
I did not take his speech as an apology, more a resignation that there is nothing he can do without
Fred Sanders
Aug 2014
#323
If it was only resignation, he could have condemned it and indicated his resignation. He did
rhett o rick
Aug 2014
#328
You believe it was staged to create fear in Iraqis and the world..not to mess with the likes of us?
Fred Sanders
Aug 2014
#71
Given many of the released photos, I'd say that "sadistic pleasure" had a lot to do with it.
gtar100
Aug 2014
#68
I was not referring to Abu Ghraib, I was talking about the fear in America....I agree with your post
Fred Sanders
Aug 2014
#73
You said the truth right there. You look at those photos. There is no fear on their faces, those in
Autumn
Aug 2014
#67
I was talking about the fear of the general public, as I thought my post clearly said. I agree that
Fred Sanders
Aug 2014
#76
I think we need to keep the powder wet until after the elections this year.
Fred Sanders
Aug 2014
#105
I meant keep the powder wet, meaning not screaming at the President....time for that later.
Fred Sanders
Aug 2014
#312
So if he had said "We tortured some guys & gals" that would've been unremarkable too?
Demit
Aug 2014
#55
He was explicitly absolving those in higher seats of power of any responsibility
muriel_volestrangler
Aug 2014
#90
Obama clearly says that HE sees them as patriots. You're giving him a pass on this...
truth2power
Aug 2014
#318
The reason he's not prosecuting those "patriots" is because a lot of Dems signed off on torture.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Aug 2014
#82
Good one! Didn't Rham Emanual use both of those terms to describe liberals? Thought so. n/t
truth2power
Aug 2014
#333
TAKE ACTION: Here's what whistleblowers want the public to do/Hint: it isn't piling on the president
proverbialwisdom
Aug 2014
#96
Hannah Arendt called it 'banal' back when matters like torture and crimes against humanity actually
VanGoghRocks
Aug 2014
#362
Did I hear correctly that you are good friends with Glenn Beck? I'm just asking.... n/t
xocet
Aug 2014
#188
He looked and sounded like a bored restaurant manager who already has his orders from the owner.
pa28
Aug 2014
#123
Sometimes, DUers play as though torture began and ended during the Bush administration, and
merrily
Aug 2014
#163
You are obviously doing it wrong. Post in ATA and the admins can teach you how to use ignore.
Autumn
Aug 2014
#211
Obama's soft peddling on torture reveals who Obama is. No more campaign lies to get in his way,
blkmusclmachine
Aug 2014
#194
Mr. Obama's torturing us with his logic defending torture. There isn't enough alcohol
whereisjustice
Aug 2014
#237
They tortured children in front of their parents to get their parents to talk.
Spitfire of ATJ
Aug 2014
#250
Prosecuting torturers is off the table. Or, to put it the proper way, prosecuting the 1% is off the
WinkyDink
Aug 2014
#260
Do be sanctimonious. Look down your noses with a mix of disdain and pity at those so lacking in
Ed Suspicious
Aug 2014
#286