- Top Features:
- War Room
- Glenn Greenwald
- Broadsheet
- Joan Walsh
- Camille Paglia
- Since You Asked
- Follow Salon:
Read other letters about this article
President Elect Obama with full force of the bully pulpit should quickly denounce Guantanamo, torture, and the de-regulatory attitudes that have prevailed for the last eight years.
Each time Obama seems to falter on moral topics such as torture or Guantanamo, he should realize that his rhetoric on change is diminished. Each time he falters on the value of restoring habeas corpus and the rule of law, he demoralizes American's hopes of change for a better future.
If president Obama cannot get clear in his mind what is morally sound and have full faith in the principles of the constitution such as rule of law and due process, where will he sit on such ambiguous topics like the direction of the economy, which every economists tells us is in dire need of confidence.
Change is what the American electorate voted for and change is what we expect. And President Obama must deliver on his promises and not be a friend to every member of Congress as he seems to want to be. He cannot be everything to everyone. He must choose sides and not fear a political fight.
Stand up Mr. President-Elect. Be the liberal voice and say 'No' to the policies of the last eight years. Say 'No' to torture, Guantanamo, and bad regulatory policies.
And most of all, start saying 'No' the voices that keep telling you not to change things too quickly.
