ACLU Slams Spector Wiretap Bill
Posted on July 14, 2006
I’m still not sure of what to think about the administration’s compromise with Senator Specter yesterday. My initial reaction of shock and disappointment were later calmed somewhat as more facts became available. While I’m still unsure of what to think on this, the ACLU don’t have the same problem.
The American Civil Liberties Union Thursday slammed proposed new legislation to regulate U.S. electronic surveillance operations.
The ACLU said in a statement that it “strongly rebuked” the proposed new legislation offered by Sen. Arlen Specter, R-PA, chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Senate, that would give the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court “optional” review over the U.S. National Security Agency’s controversial program to conduct domestic electronic surveillance on the communications of Americans. The legislation was announced Thursday morning and was drafted in close consultation with the White House.
The ACLU and other organizations have filed challenges to the legality of the NSA program.
“This Specter-Cheney bill is nothing short of a capitulation by Chairman Specter to the White House,” said Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union. “The ‘review’ contained in the bill is nothing more than a sham. The president could still choose to ignore the optional court oversight on the program. This new bill would codify the notion that the president is not bound by the laws passed by Congress or the Constitution. It would reward his abuse of power.”
I still need to look into this more, and I won’t use the ACLU’s position as a barometer of where to stand, but I’m beginning to think my intial feelings might have been an overreaction and premature. I must give props to Macsmind who saw the smirk behind the scenes from the beginning.
» Filed Under ACLU, News, War On Terror
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4 Responses to “ACLU Slams Spector Wiretap Bill”
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The ACLU won’t be happy until the U.S comletely dismantles any and all surveillance programs.
I do not side with Bush on this one. He has not given a good enough excuse. If he believes the courts are compromised then he should come out and say it is so. His problem may be with activist judges. If so then he should say so. It should cause the judicial branch to be uncomfortable. Trying to sidestep the issue does not impress me.
I haven’t heard anyone argue that we shouldn’t be wiretapping conversations of suspected terrorists, not even the ACLU. The question is can the President order such wiretapping without court approval. Before you answer this question, ask yourself one other question. If John Kerry were President today would you feel the same way?
camamintx…..I dont care who our president is, or what party they hail from, I expcet them to do everything they can to protect the country and use any resource to destroy the enemies of the country.
I dont’ care if the government is listeneing in to me talk…I really don’t…..but I do dang well care if some terrorist scum is successful in attacking us again,