General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: An open letter to folks like myself who cannot in good conscience vote for Obama [View all]panzerfaust
(2,818 posts)"Torture is not used any more..." The evidence you have for this assertion is?
However if, in fact, America is no longer torturing people - why not? If it is because torture is immoral, illegal and despicable, then why have those who admittedly performed it been given immunity from prosecution by the current administration?
"Gitmo we be closed if not for Congress" the president's plan was, at root, simply a plan to move GITMO to the US. The prisoners would not be freed, they would not have their right of Habeas Corpus recognized. They would have remained the disappeared.
What counts as ending the wars - the eternal occupation as envisioned by the current administration?
One can go on and criticize Obama for his assertion of the right to murder people (even American citizens) anywhere in the world at the whim of the American president, the shredding of the Fourth Amendment, the lack of any meaningful action against those whole stole the economy ... etc etc
At least when the Republicans were in charge, the Democrats were willing to criticize these totalitarian abuses of power - now that we are in charge, our lips are sealed.
Truly, I do not know how I can ethically vote for Obama.
OP's thought - that one could consider it a proxy vote for those disenfranchised - is the best rationale which I have heard. I just do not know that I can do it.