The Future of the DPP: Supporting A Bian and Abetting Corruption

The Future of the DPP: Supporting A Bian and Abetting Corruption
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
August 12, 2008

President Ma Ying-jeou has declassified the State Confidential Expenses case files. DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen referred to Ma's action as "political calculation," setting the tone for any future disputes. DPP legislators have accused President Ma of "treason." Taiwan independence oriented organizations are calling for a large scale, 250,000 person "100 Days Angry Roar" protest march.

The Green Camp and the DPP may be returning Taiwan's political atmosphere back to where it was before the March Presidential Election, i.e., back to "supporting A Bian, supporting corruption, and supporting independence" vs. "opposing A Bian, opposing corruption, and opposing independence."

The March Presidential Election was a showdown between those who supported A Bian and those who opposed A Bian. Supporting or opposing Chen Shui-bian was tantamount to making diametrically opposed declarations about ones' fundamental values. Supporting A Bian meant supporting corruption and supporting independence. Opposing A Bian meant opposing corruption and opposing independence.

The Green Camp suffered a major defeat in March because it supported A Bian, supported corruption, and supported independence. Now, five months later, to everyones' surprise, it is again supporting A Bian, supporting corruption, and supporting independence. The Green Camp is going all out to support suspect Chen Shui-bian, i.e., supporting A Bian and supporting corruption. Taiwan independence organizations are leading a 250,000 person demonstration march at the end of the month, i.e., supporting independence. Chen Shui-bian has again become the Green Camp political icon, and the beneficiary of unconditional Green Camp support. Taiwan independence organizations have again become the Green Camp's prime movers.

To see the Green Camp's call to arms as purely an attempt to "topple Ma" is simplistic. According to Tsai Ing-wen's own thinking, DPP attempts to "topple Ma" may not translate into support for A Bian and support for independence. They could well lead to rejection of A Bian and suppression of independence. The Green Camp hopes that a large-scale demonstration will restore Chen Shui-bian's legitimacy and polish the Taiwan independence movement's halo. Toppling Ma is merely a slogan. The Green Camp's real motive is to rehabilitate two political icons: Chen Shui-bian and Taiwan independence.

For the DPP to support A Bian before the election was understandable. But for the DPP to continue supporting A Bian and supporting corruption today is mind-boggling. What reason do Tsai Ing-wen, the DPP, and Taiwan independence organizations have to support A Bian? One. The files Chen Shui-bian belatedly classified as "top secret" were already in the public domain. Are the Democratic Progressive Party and Tsai Ing-wen truly unaware that these files are evidence in a criminal case rather than "state secrets?" Two. What exactly is the Democratic Progressive Party's position? That Chen Shui-bian is innocent of corruption? Or that even if Chen Shui-bian is guilty of corruption, he must remain exempt from prosecution? Three. Do Taiwan independence organizations consider trying Chen Shui-bian for corruption an unacceptable assault on Taiwan independence values?

This sudden resurgence in support for A Bian and for corruption, demonstrates the fundamental problem with Green Camp values and Green Camp thought. If even Tsai Ing-wen can not undo the bonds between A Bian, corruption, and independence, then the DPP can never be reborn, and politics on Taiwan will never change. Because the driving force behind support for Ma vs. attempts to topple Ma won't necessarily translate into public support for A Bian, support for corruption, and support for independence.

The DPP cannot possibly topple the KMT within the next four years. This is not news. The DPP KO'd the KMT in 2000. But the question is: Even assuming the DPP could overthrow the KMT, can it save Taiwan? The answer is "Not likely." The DPP's performance over the past eight years testifies to that.

Following its debacle on March 22, the first large-scale demonstration launched by the DPP ought to be about new values and new thinking. To everyones' surprise, it is still about supporting A Bian, supporting corruption, and supporting independence. Is this how the Democratic Progressive Party intends to save Taiwan? Is the DPP fated never to learn from its mistakes? Is it determined to tear Taiwan apart again?

Besides helping Chen Shui-bian get off scot-free, the DPP has much to answer for. The DPP has criticized Ma Ying-jeou's Modus Vivendi. But what does the DPP stand for? Its "Scorched Earth Diplomacy?" The DPP has criticized Cross-Strait Mutual Coexistence. But what does the DPP stand for? Its "Closed Door Policy?" The DPP opposes the 1992 Consensus. But what does the DPP stand for? Its "Rectification of Names and Authoring of a New Constitution?" Its "Nation of Taiwan?" The DPP opposes trying Chen Shui-bian in a court of law. But what does the DPP advocate? Allowing politicians guilty of corruption to get off scot-free?

The DPP is good at criticizing others. The public is well aware of that. But is the DPP any good at solving problems? That is a giant question mark. That has been the case for the past eight years. And that is the case today. The DPP has blasted Ma. But has the DPP offered any viable options for any of the major issues it has raised? Not one.

Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen has a tiny ROC flag on her desk. But the large-scale demonstration on August 30 will probably not display a single, solitary ROC flag. The DPP has been complaining that the ROC flag cannot be displayed at the Olympic Games. So why not hold high the red, white, and blue ROC flag during the August 30 protest march?

挺扁護貪：民進黨何去何從？
【聯合報╱社論】
2008.08.12 02:51 am

馬英九總統註銷國務費案系爭「機密」，蔡英文主席將之定調為「政治計算」，民進黨立委按鈴控告馬總統「外患罪」，台獨社團號召在月底舉行二十五萬人「百日怒吼」大遊行……。

不知不覺之間，綠營及民進黨可能又將台灣的政治氛圍，回復到三月大選以前的情勢，亦即：「挺扁／挺貪／挺獨」與「反扁／反貪／反獨」的對決。

三月大選，是一場「挺扁／反扁」的對決。當時，對陳水扁的支持與反對，不啻就是對整個「台灣價值體系」的兩種迥然而異的認知與抉擇：挺扁大略等於就是挺貪挺獨，反扁則是反貪反獨。

綠營在三月因「扁／貪／獨」而大敗，如今在五個月後竟又再度標舉「挺扁／挺貪／挺獨」的立場，令人大感意外。一方面，全力維護涉及貪汙案的陳水扁，這是「挺扁／挺貪」；另一方面，月底二十五萬人大遊行由台獨社團主導，這是「挺獨」。一時之間，陳水扁又成綠營所全力捍衛的政治符號，台獨社團則又成為綠營的動員引擎。

若將綠營如今的號召僅僅視為「倒馬」，那是皮相之見；因為，依蔡英文所標榜的政治思維，民進黨「倒馬」其實未必會導致「挺扁／挺獨」，反而可能導致「去扁／抑獨」；但現今綠營大遊行的企圖，卻是在「回復陳水扁的正當性／回復台獨的光榮感」。「倒馬」只是大遊行表面的口號，底下的暗潮則是：試圖修補及重建陳水扁與台獨的政治圖騰。

民進黨在大選前挺扁，尚可理解；但竟至今仍然挺扁護貪，卻是不可思議。蔡英文、民進黨及台獨社團今日有何理由挺扁？一、陳水扁所稱的「絕對機密」，在「補核定」為「絕對機密」前，早已公諸社會，那些究竟是犯罪證據，還是國家機密，難道蔡英文及民進黨不知？二、民進黨究竟是主張陳水扁根本不是貪汙犯，還是主張陳水扁即使犯了貪汙罪亦絕不應當受司法審判？三、台獨社團難道認為審判貪汙犯陳水扁，是台獨的政治價值所不能接受之事？

面對這一股突然回潮的「挺扁護貪」形勢，更可證明綠營的根本問題，是在其「價值思維體系」；如果連蔡英文也不能解開「扁／貪／獨」的「三合一死結」，則民進黨已無可能脫胎換骨，台灣政治也不可能出現新的選擇。因為，如前所述，「批馬／倒馬」的動力，未必能形成「挺扁／挺貪／挺獨／挺民進黨」的社會支持。

退一步說，今後四年，民進黨亦不無可能再度推倒國民黨；這不是新鮮事，因為民進黨在二○○○年就已擊倒國民黨。但接下來的問題卻是：民進黨即使再度推倒國民黨，它就能救得了台灣嗎？答案卻是未必，過去八年民進黨的表現即是血淚見證。

在三二二大敗後，民進黨首次參與發動的大遊行，理當標舉出新的價值與論述，不料卻居然仍是「挺扁／挺貪／挺獨」。這真是民進黨救台灣的政治宣示？抑是民進黨無法自拔的政治宿命？或只是要再次撕裂台灣？

除了為陳水扁脫罪，其實民進黨當為應為之事甚多。批評馬英九「活路外交」，但民進黨是否仍主張「烽火外交」？批評「兩岸共生」，但民進黨是否仍主張「閉關鎖國」？反對「九二共識」，但民進黨是否仍主張「正名制憲」、「台灣國」？反對審判陳水扁，但民進黨是否主張貪腐無罪？

民進黨擅於批評，國人盡知；但民進黨能否解決問題，卻是一個大問號，過去八年即是如此；如今民進黨批馬亦是批得淋漓盡致，但民進黨豈曾對前述重大問題提出過任何一個可行的另一選項？沒有，連一個也沒有。

蔡英文主席的辦公桌上有一面小國旗，但八三○大遊行的隊伍中大概還是不會見到任何一面國旗。民進黨正為奧運會場不能出現國旗而言詞尖酸，何不先在八三○大遊行中高舉青天白日滿地紅的國旗？