Gonzales Must Be Opposed

When a nominee for Attorney General of the United States of America cannot discern that there is no difference between torture and "cruel, inhuman or degrading" interrogation tactics, that nominee has no business being confirmed for the job of the nation's top prosecutor.

Alberto Gonzales is such a nominee.

The Senate Judiciary Committee sent a message when eight of the eighteen members voted against Mr. Gonzales' confirmation. Next week the full U.S. Senate has the opportunity to debate the demerits of this nominee, and while Republicans make up enough votes to anoint him, they would be casting "Yes" votes despite evidence that the man is one of the key architects of the administration's policies that have lead to worldwide outrage regarding the treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay.

While the Republicans would be simply casting a blindly partisan vote, the Democrats have no Presidential allegiance that should cloud their moral judgement. They must vote "No" on Gonzales. "No" on accepting torture, or the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners. They must vote to ask for the President to submit a better, more suitable candidate, as surely one exists somewhere in this nation.

This is not about denying a man who has ridden George Bush's coattails to this level of authority in government. This is not about denying an Hispanic man a symbolic position of power. Alberto Gonzales could be Joe Smith from Middletown, Montana- it would make no difference. Our nation's moral and principled standing is color blind, just as it should be. It should also be a bipartisan concern. Running roughshod over the values we hold as a people in the name of politics only shows how hypocritical the Republicans are about "values".

Democrats may not have the numbers to stop this from happening, but they have the power to send a clear message that they will have no part in its making. They must vote "No"!