While we as Republicans are trying to decide whether to give the outgoing President credit for his accomplishments or completely disassociate ourselves from what has been a thoroughly disappointing lack of leadership, the administration is trying to put a positive spin on the Bush Legacy. Something we cannot accept, however, is Vice President Dick Cheney defending the indefensible: torture. Cheney was the chief force behind the Neo-Conservative movement that morphed our party from the party that defended small government and personal liberty to the party that defended big government spying on Americans and water-boarding.

Cheney wants us to believe it was the right thing to do. Forget Franklin’s contention that “those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither,” forget Jefferson’s assertion of “inalienable rights,” and forget Madison’s masterful architecture of a divided government that protects our rights. President Bush and Vice President Cheney kept us safe after 9/11 and as loyal Republicans we shouldn’t second guess their methods in doing so, right? Wrong. Am I grateful they kept me safe? Of course. Am I absolutely ashamed and disgraced that they tortured others in doing so? Of course.

Cheney admits he was directly involved in approving “severe interrogation methods” at Guantanamo and wants to keep that black eye on America’s conscience open, despite calls from members of both parties to close it and the willingness of European governments to take in the enemy combatants. He says water-boarding is okay by him. While our Navy Seals have gone through it in training, I highly doubt Cheney would have the same opinion if he were ever subjected to it. Why is the stance on torture important to Republicans once Cheney leaves office? Because we can no longer think like Cheney. We can’t be the party that thinks torture is okay and still expect to win the trust of the American people in securing individual liberties. Torture is not okay, torture is not American, and we need to stop defending its use.

There is absolutely no evidence that physical torture is a more effective form of intelligence gathering than the methods that can pass for humane. No one can cite an example of a case where torture would have saved lives and following the law would have cost lives.

But beyond the debate on effectiveness lies an equally important question: if we are a country that tortures, what exactly are we defending? We’re not defending the country our forefathers created and so many died to save. When we as Republicans talk about our love for America, what exactly are we talking about? My understanding has always been that America’s freedom and America’s values make it the best nation the world has ever known, a country to love and fight for, but never to torture for.

Decades ago, many of my family members were tortured just a few hours from Guantanamo Bay. One was killed, at least four were beaten, starved, and psychologically tortured. Three were lucky enough to survive and move to the United States. One voted in November for the first time and he voted Republican because despite Cheney’s “ends justify the means” philosophy, he believed, as I do, that Republicans still are the party of individual liberty.

Republicans know the difference between right and wrong. We know our Vice President is wrong on torture. Let’s make sure we are on the right side of the issue.

Last 5 posts by Abel S. Delgado

• Let’s Support the Cantwell-McCain Bill - January 6th, 2010
• Deeds Gets Dirty, Doesn’t Win Anyway - November 2nd, 2009
• Obama & The Berlin Wall - October 25th, 2009
• The Nobel Prom King - October 11th, 2009
• Bureaucratizing Interrogations a Horrible Idea - August 28th, 2009