Friday, December 17, 2004

Oppose Alberto Gonzales's nomination for Attorney General!

If you'd like to do something about this, It's easy to send a letter to your senators on this topic by using the following link and entering your zip code.

http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=6757941

You can then send the letter to various media - fairly easily here:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

Here's the letter I sent. It's easy to cut and paste at the link above to create your own. Feel free to use whatever portions of mine you would like. I used most of theirs. I've also posted some talking points at the end of this letter if you'd like more information. I hope to write letters to the media this weekend.


Peter McGovern 65-67

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Dear ________________

I’m concerned about reports that Alberto Gonzales approved the use of torture by U.S. forces. As leaders of the free world I believe we have a moral obligation to lead by example. Approving an Attorney General who has sanctioned torture would not set any kind of example that I could ever feel good about.

I’m also concerned that Alberto Gonzales is reported to have advised the President that the Geneva Conventions are outdated and don’t have to be obeyed.

The Geneva conventions, in my opinion, preserve at least a minimum of protection for all sides involved in an armed conflict. While I do not support this war, I do support the Geneva conventions. If Alberto Gonzales does not, then he is not of the moral caliber I believe he needs to be to hold the position of the top cop of our country.

I’m also worried about Alberto Gonzales’ ability to be objective and independent as the head law enforcement officer in the U.S., given his close, loyal relationship with the President.

The attorney general should have the best interests of the nation in mind, not the best interests of the president.

I’m counting on you to ask Alberto Gonzales hard questions about these issues before you vote on his nomination to be attorney general. And if he does not answer these questions to your satisfaction, I urge you to oppose his appointment.

Sincerely,

Peter McGovern


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talking points
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Alberto Gonzales: A Poor Choice for Attorney General

On Nov. 10, 2004, President Bush announced his nomination of Alberto Gonzales to replace John Ashcroft as Attorney General for the President’s second term in office.

As Counsel to the President and head of the White House Office of Legal Counsel during George Bush’s first term as President, Alberto Gonzales:

• Advised the President that “enemy combatants” named by the President in the “war on terror,” once captured, could be held in indefinite detention without a hearing.

• Advised the President that the Geneva Conventions, to which the U.S. is a signatory, are “obsolete” and “quaint” in the context of the modern “war on terror” and could be disregarded at the will of the President of the United States.

• Advised the President that it is appropriate to adopt a definition of torture so narrow as to approve use of violent, cruel interrogation techniques outlawed by the U.S. Constitution, U.S. military regulations and standards of conduct, the international Convention Against the Use of Torture (to which the U.S. is a signatory), and international customary law.

As Counsel to the Governor of Texas during President Bush’s tenure as governor, Alberto Gonzales:

• Advised then-Gov. Bush that the state of Texas was not bound by the Vienna Conventions (to which the U.S. is a signatory), and thus that Texas was not required to give foreign nationals accused of a crime access to legal counsel by a representative from the accused’s home country.

Alberto Gonzales’s legal advice has supported policies of this administration which have undermined the rule of law. Arguably these policies have placed captured U.S. military at risk of torture, sullied the U.S. international reputation for justice and fair-dealing, led to the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and other U.S. interrogation cells, and granted license for the indefinite imprisonment of human beings at the administration’s discretion, without a hearing. Alberto Gonzales’ record is one of casting aside the rule of law in favor of creation of law-free zones, where conduct of our government is judged by a man, the President, rather than by the rule of law.

Has Alberto Gonzales disqualified himself for the position of Attorney General? Does he reflect the qualities our country wants in the chief law enforcement officer of the land?