As you all know, I am a long-time supporter of Laura Roslin. She has made mistakes and poor decisions, but up until this point in the re-watch (Exodus, Part I), I still stand by her. So, in the spirit of civil discourse, I will attempt to explain why.
The most frequent criticism of Roslin is that she’s never been elected. This is true. But she did take her place as president through the democratic system in place on the colonies at the time of the attacks. Obviously, one would hope that no disaster would strike that would leave the thirty top people in charge dead or incapacitated. But it did, and Roslin stepped up in earnest when the job of president was arguably the least desirable one in the universe.
When Zarek and others pushed for the customary presidential election in which Roslin would have to face the voters, there’s no evidence that Roslin fought against this system. Certainly she was unhappy and anxious about the prospect of a guy like Zarek winning the election, but Roslin followed the rules and retained her position democratically. (Doesn’t this mean that after Colonial Day, or around that time, that she has been elected?)
In regards to Roslin’s allowing some civilian ships to be destroyed by the Cylons - if we remember, at the time Roslin was forced to make a quick, necessary decision about how to save humanity. The only option that did so was getting out of dodge on all the ships with FTL drives and leaving behind the ones that didn’t. Cylons were bearing down on the fleet, still in shock from the attacks, and they either stayed there and got killed or saved the ones that could be saved. A horrible choice, but Roslin made the only choice that didn’t end in the extinction of humanity. And morally equivocating this to Baltar’s giving a known enemy combatant a nuclear weapon that destroyed Cloud Nine, several other ships, and a few thousand civilians - so he could get laid - is unthinkable.
Regarding Roslin’s plan with Adama to put the hit out on Cain - this is almost definitely an illegal act in that universe, and subject to criminal prosecution. And I can’t truthfully say that ordering the assassination of any leader is acceptable. However, in the context of their situation, Roslin made an awful decision that they eliminate a tyrant - Cain, who had abandoned the colonial fleet under her charge and might just as well do it again - was a clear threat to the survival of the human race. Cain executed people ruthlessly and without sufficient reason, impressed civilians into military service, abandoned nearly all the human population (as she was aware of) to their certain deaths, overthrew the justice system, and refused to work with democratic law when she encountered the RTF. Having Cain killed was morally wrong, but it may have been the only option for saving the race.
As for Roslin’s trying to steal the election - we know it was wrong, and she knows it was wrong, which is why she came clean in the end and let democracy have its due. She did not have to come clean - that is, she didn’t give in simply because she got caught. She gave in because she knew Adama was correct; neither he nor she could live with that on their conscience. The important point here is that Roslin has a conscience that extends beyond maintaining her own physical and/or political survival. So yes, what she did was wrong, but she had the courage to stop digging that hole and try to make things right.
On the issue of outlawing abortion, again I would point to Roslin’s inner struggle. She said that she spent her whole career fighting to protect a woman’s right to choose, and making this decree was very difficult for her. (And wasn’t it Baltar who extrapolated that the human race would be extinct in less than a generation?) Roslin cares deeply about individual liberty, but the survival of the human race was at stake, and she struggled to do what she thought was best for the fleet/race as a whole.
Some have suggested that Roslin is equally responsible for Baltar’s actions as president since she asked him to become Vice President, enabling him to run for the top position. (In fact, I think I have also expressed frustration in Roslin’s decision because of the outcome.) But to suggest that Roslin is responsible for Baltar’s actions (and crimes, moral or legal) is leading down a dangerous slippery slope. If we lay blame for an individual’s actions on everyone who may have indirectly enabled him to do so - no matter how unknowingly - we’ve got an even bigger problem.
Ultimately, what distinguishes Roslin from Baltar is her desire to do what she believes is best for the people, even if she’s wrong about what that is. Baltar’s desire is to do what’s best for himself, and the chances of such a selfish agenda coinciding with what’s good for the people are slim.
) thrust upon her.