Terrorist Lawyers

This political ad is the most un-American screed I've ever seen. Apparently, Attorney General Eric Holder's Justice Department hired nine lawyers who formerly represented Guantanamo Bay detainees. Holder revealed the names of two of these attorneys, but refuses to name the other seven.

The ad labels these lawyers "The Al Qaeda Seven," as if they were criminals or traitors. It describes them as "Advocates for Terrorist Detainees" and asks, "Whose values do they share? It then demands that Holder reveal the identities of the "Al Qaeda Seven."

Honestly folks, does anyone not understand the distinction between "accused terrorism suspect" and "convicted terrorist? Does anyone not realize that governments make mistakes, or that certain government officials are wont to abuse their powers? Does anyone not understand that, in contemplation of these intractable realities, our AMERICAN constitution protects all persons from deprivations of life, liberty or property without "due process of law?" Does anyone not understand that our constitution prescribes certain fundamental aspects of due process, such as the right to be represented by counsel?

DOES ANYONE NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT MAKES US AMERICAN, AND WHAT MAKES AMERICA SPECIAL AND EXEMPLARY, IS OUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO THESE AND SIMILAR PRINCIPALS AND OUR INSISTANCE THAT WE ADHERE TO THEM AND APPLY THEM TO EVEN THE MOST DESPISED PERSONS AMONG US?

Smearing attorneys who represented accused terrorism suspects as being un-American is itself un-American. It is a betrayal of the very idea of America. It is quintessentially American for an attorney to represent an accused person who is despised, regardless of what he or she is accused of doing. Americans should celebrate these lawyer's willingness to do so - it is what makes America possible.

Implying otherwise, particularly for political gain, is reprehensible. But even more infuriating is the fact that the people who peddle this crap (ahem, Bill Kristol and Liz Cheney) genuinely believe that they are patriots serving "America."

Being American is compatible with being conservative or liberal, hawkish or dovish. Authoritarians like Kristol and Cheney may love "America," but they are, at best, seriously confused about what America is.

Joe H.