'Policy Differences' or 'High Crimes?'

REAL NEWS VIDEO

This Real News segment presents two sides of the controversy embroiling the President who as a candidate invited his liberal grassroots base to hold his decisions to account. President Obama told the grassroots that he needs popular support to make change. David Swanson, former Dennis Kucinich aide is taking his duty to disagree with the President seriously on this controversial topic.

Swanson debates Real News moderator Paul Jay on President Obama's Closed-Door Decision Not to Investigate the Bush-Cheney Administration. President Obama has consistently said that dealing punitively with the Bush deceitful policies that began the Iraq war only prevents progress in the future and would be a distraction that would tie up his agenda to bring real change for the American people.

Many Americans agree. However Swanson argues that Attorney General Eric Holder should appoint a special prosecutor to conduct an inquiry into whether Bush administration violations of the rule of law were high crimes. He also says that Obama's decision allows Dick Cheney to go on the offense and that ruling out any prosecutions for misdeeds seems to legitimize them. It is Swanson's intent to lobby the President to reconsider. Editorial comment by 26Dems



David Swanson is the creator of ImpeachCheney.org, co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org and Washington Director of Democrats.com A writer and organizer, Swanson has worked for ACORN, the International Labor Communications Association, Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign and many others