"Contrived Indignation"

Watching back-to-back segments from Dick Cheney's speech and President Obama's speech on The Newshour with Jim Lehrer, I was struck by the different tones of the speeches. Cheney speaks with his characteristic sneer, like a grumpy and angry uncle, condescending to anyone who disagrees with him. Obama speaks as if we're all grown-ups; maybe we don't all agree, but we can treat one another with respect. Cheney seems to be addressing his words to the already-persuaded or those who don't keep up with the news and thus won't recognize statements that have been thoroughly discounted. Obama is still trying to speak to those who might not agree with him and to those who need to be more educated on whatever subject he is addressing. Cheney has to label all those who disagree with him as "other," as "enemies." Obama does not. I don't agree with all of Obama's decisions, but I'm willing to listen even to those views of his with which I disagree.

I was particularly annoyed with Cheney's claim that those who are against "enhanced interrogation" or "harsh questioning" (i. e., torture--"harsh questioning" is as sleazy a euphemism as I can think of) are guilty of "contrived indignation and faulty moralizing." Here is an example of that over-weaning condescension in the man. My indignation, I assure bilious Uncle Dick, is not "contrived"--it is strong and true indignation, based on deeply-held morals. Nor am I, and others like me, "blam[ing] America for the evil others do." I am thoroughly capable of recognizing the evil that others do. I want evil-doers held accountable. But I am blaming the American government for the evil it has done in my name: torturing prisoners of war. I want those held accountable who smeared my good name as an American citizen and who trampled on the values of my country. If you're gonna call fighting terror a "war," well, then, the prisoners you capture from that war are "prisoners of war." The United States has traditionally and lawfully denounced the use of torture against prisoners of war. Hence, the use of torture is un-American. Oh, and immoral.

I have loved and cherished the values this country stands for; any person who challenges those values challenges me, as an American citizen. Someone, please send Uncle Dick back to his bunker. Maybe there's room for some of those terrorists from Guantanamo Bay in there, too. Dick Cheney needs to look his real enemy--not the American people who disagree with him--in the eye and argue his values then.

Worth Reading

Updates Below

Over at Harper's No Comment, Scott Horton has posted two blogs recently that are worth reading. The first is a brief description of recent developments in the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal. In "Bush Justice for Sarah Palin and Jack Abramoff," Horton draws parallels between the way the McCain campaign and the way the U.S. Justice Department and the Bush administration have blocked inquiries into important investigations, exposing the lack of these leaders' commitment to public integrity. Oh, and honor.

Horton also links to Michael Isikoff's article in Newsweek, describing the attempts of former District Attorney, Edward O'Callaghan, to shut down the "Troopergate" investigation and of the McCain campaign to label the investigation "political" even though it began long before Sarah Palin was named his vice-presidential running mate.

Scott Horton's second post concerns Dick Cheney. Horton puts six questions to Bart Gellman, the author of Angler, a book about Cheney that was published in June. The book was preceded by a series of articles Gellman wrote for The Washington Post. In these six questions, Gellman gives a fascinating picture of the most powerful vice-president in American history. I had already read the series in The Washington Post but am now interested in reading the full-length book, which I might get around to after I've read the other books on my list, including Jane Mayer's The Dark Side.

So many books, so many scandals, so many cover-ups, so little time.

See also: Horton's update on "justice" meted out by the Department of Justice: "Public Integrity, Redefined."

Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008,Unbelievable Update about the Justice Department: Scott Horton has a post this morning about how the Justice Department, which complains of not having enough resources to do its job, is going after a woman who spilled Diet Coke on a counter at a Veteran's Administration cafeteria. The woman is facing federal charges.