This endorsement means something to me: Lawyers for Gitmo detainees endorse Obama

[cali]

<By Charlie Savage

More than 80 volunteer lawyers for Guantanamo Bay detainees today endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama's presidential bid.

The attorneys said in a joint statement that they believed Obama was the best choice to roll back the Bush-Cheney administration's detention policies in the war on terrorism and thereby to "restore the rule of law, demonstrate our commitment to human rights, and repair our reputation in the world community." The attorneys are representing the detainees in habeas corpus lawsuits, which are efforts to get individual hearings before federal judges in order to challenge the basis for their indefinite imprisonment without trial.

The attorneys praised Obama for being a leader in an unsuccessful fight in the fall of 2006 to block Congress from enacting a law stripping courts of jurisdiction to hear Guantanamo detainee lawsuits. The constitutionality of that law, which was part of the Military Commissions Act, is now being challenged before the Supreme Court in one of the most closely-watched cases this term.

"When we were walking the halls of the Capitol trying to win over enough Senators to beat back the Administration's bill, Senator Obama made his key staffers and even his offices available to help us," they wrote. "Senator Obama worked with us to count the votes, and he personally lobbied colleagues who worried about the political ramifications of voting to preserve habeas corpus for the men held at Guantanamo. He has understood that our strength as a nation stems from our commitment to our core values, and that we are strong enough to protect both our security and those values. Senator Obama demonstrated real leadership then and since, continuing to raise Guantanamo and habeas corpus in his speeches and in the debates."

<snip>
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/01/lawyers_for_git.html

[cali]

1. Some of the signatories

Several Boston lawyers were among the signatories to the endorsement statement, including P. Sabin Willett, Stephen H. Oleskey, Jason Pinney, and Neil McGaraghan. Other names on the list included Washington lawyer Thomas Wilner, retired federal appeals court judge John Gibbons, Center for Constitutional Rights president Michael Ratner, and retired Rear Admiral Donald Guter, who was the Navy's top JAG officer from 2000 to 2002 and who is now the dean of the Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh.

[Divernan]

8. Rear Admiral Guter is one fine and brave man, and a force for good in his community..

I have heard him speak out several times in the Pittsburgh area against the Bush administration's actions in pulling troops out of Afghanistan to invade Iraq; and particularly against the horrors being perpetrated in Guantanamo against individual prisoners and the whole concept of habeas corpus.

Most recently he was the guest speaker on that topic for two coffee house gatherings sponsored by the ACLU. He is low key, relaxed and calm, but his words are forceful and his logic and reasoning are powerful. I am proud that he is dean of my old law school - and I am amazed he was hired for that job because Duquesne law alumni are largely a bunch of first generation Republican conservatives who think walking away from their union/working class backgrounds is requisite to "movin on up" the social/professional ladder. One excellent thing Dean Guter has done is start a law clinic to provide free legal services for veterans in the Pittsburgh area. He has also encouraged the recent start up of an Animal Law student group and sponsored a continuing legal ed program promoting the No Kill approach to animal control. That CLE program was opened up to city councilpersons and the chief animal control officer, as well as staff/volunteers at animal shelters, and has started some ongoing dialogues in the community.

I'm an Edwards supporter, but I feel much more comfortable with the prospect of an Obama candidacy after learning that Don Guter endorses Obama.

[cali]

11. That's good to know

the only name I was familiar with is Ratner. And I know one of the more obscure people who signed the endorsement.

[babylonsister]

2. Rec'd. I'm really glad Obama tried to help detainees get hearings.

He did recently say he'd like to see Gitmo closed and habeas corpus restored. Sen. Obama continues to impress!

[Bodhi BloodWave]

3. Happy to be number 5

and i agree, this one actually has some value(even for me who is outside the US :P )

[Kittycat]

4. K&R

[RandomKoolzip]

5. Great story.

rec'd.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

6. K&R

[Bread and Circus]

7. The more I read about what Obama has fought for the more

I like him. He has an amazing record in the US And IL senate.

[rox63]

9. This is a great endorsement!

These guys believe that Obama would do everything he can to restore our constitution, just as they are doing in court.

[IndyOp]

10. It includes Center for Constitutional Rights president Michael Ratner. That is good. (n/t)

[cali]

12. Yep, that in itself is a powerful endorsement.

[Zensea]

14. Even more significant is John Gibbons imo

John Gibbons partial bio --

John J. Gibbons is the founder of the firm's John J. Gibbons Fellowship in Public Interest and Constitutional Law. Mr. Gibbons is the former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, he served on that Court from 1970-1990.

While serving on the Court of Appeals, Judge Gibbons authored over 800 published opinions. He formerly taught Constitutional Law and other subjects at Seton Hall University Law School, where he held the Richard J. Hughes Chair in Constitutional Law until June of 1997.

He was also the lead lawyer for the detainees at the Supreme Court in the Rasul v. Bush case (the one that gave the detainees back their right to a lawyer).

[IndyOp]

18. Wow. Thanks for letting me know about Judge Gibbons. Impressive. (n/t)

[Stephanie]

25. That's awesome!

I'm more and more impressed when I see who's backing Obama. When I saw Samantha Powers speaking for him the other day I was really pleased. This gives me real confidence in him.

[cooolandrew]

13. God bless you 80 lawyers. They know a candidate of justice when they see it.

[peacebaby3]

15. I know some of these lawyers and they are amazing people! They are giants in the

indigent defense community as they should be.

I am proud to K&R this thread. Let's try to keep this up above some of the gutter threads on the board.

[thevoiceofreason]

16. A remarkable endorsement

Spin-proof

[cali]

17. oh, I'm sure someone will manage that. n/t

[mrreowwr_kittty]

19. I'm honestly expecting some of the Clinton folks to be along any minute now

"Obama coddles terrorists! He's not fit to lead! This is PROOF!!1!"

[JuniperLea]

20. 7 eom

[sandnsea]

21. Here's more beef

Where are all the 'he's an empty suit' people now.

[Radical Activist]

28. This endorsement lacks substance!

And the lawyers used right wing talking points.
:)

[tammywammy]

22. An excellent endorsement

[Tom Strong]

23. Yeah, that IS a good one

Congrats, guys.

[jackson_dem]

24. This will be a great endorsement for the general election

:sarcasm:

[Rose Siding]

34. Actually, it will.......

��
Over eight in ten voters (81%) want the next president to “make it clear that the policy of the United States is to oppose torture and follow the Geneva Conventions.” Eighty percent of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 74% of Republicans agree.
��
Over seven in ten voters (73%) want the next president to “work with Congress to establish a legal definition of ‘enemy combatant’ rather than leaving it up to each president to decide.” Eighty percent of Democrats, 70% of Independents, and 69% of Republicans agree.
��
Seven in ten American voters (70%) support “restoring habeas corpus rights for people held at Guantanamo.” Eighty percent of Democrats, 77% of Independents, and 54% of Republicans agree. Forty-two percent of Republicans are opposed.
��
Nearly six in ten voters (58%) want the next president to “require the government to get a court warrant to listen to the telephone calls of people in the U.S.” Sixty-five percent of Democrats, 59% of Independents and 50% of Republicans agree. Thirty-eight percent of all voters, 35% of Independents, and 47% of Republicans are opposed.
��
Nearly six in ten voters (57%) support a proposal to “close the prison at Guantanamo and schedule trials in the U.S. courts for the terrorist suspects currently held there.” Sixty-nine percent of Democrats, 61% of Independents and 43% of Republicans agree. Thirty-seven percent of all voters and 52% of Republicans are opposed.

http://www.aclu.org/pdfs/national_polling_20071004.pdf

[LiberalHeart]

26. I guess they didn't hear Edwards say he'd close Gitmo on his first day in office.

[Radical Activist]

29. Actions speak louder than words.

[LiberalHeart]

30. I agree, so let's elect Edwards and see him act.

[Radical Activist]

31. Well, last time people did that

he wasn't exactly what I would call a progressive.

[JI7]

27. very nice, one of the best endorsements i think

[FrenchieCat]

32. Woah!

Excellent!

[milkyway]

33. This is great. Obama will be a more progressive president than some people think, and redrawing the

electoral map at the same time. He's aiming for a working progressive majority, not a 51-49 one.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

35. I have to say as far as endorsements go, this is pretty impressive. n/t

[bcoylepa]

36. great endosement

not surprised - my good friend Gita Gutierrez is among them
these are among the bravest most patriotic Americans in our midst

[KittyWampus]

37. very powerful.