During today's White House Press Briefing, spokesperson Dana Perino was asked about the Bush administration stance on suspending constitutional rights in order to fight terrorism. Think Progress reports:
Q: Is it ever reasonable to restrict constitutional freedoms in the name of fighting terrorism?
MS. PERINO: In our opinion, no.
In this case, she was speaking about Pakistan and actions taken by General Musharaff to suspend his country's constitution by declaring emergency rule. Sadly, nothing of what we know about the Bush administration's actions over the last six years suggests they have taken their own advice.
From abandoning habeas corpus to domestic surveillance to torture to extraordinary rendition to data mining and on, the Bush administration has used the fear of terrorist attack to violate the most basic principles espoused in the Constitution. And those who questions the necessity of these actions were accused, either explicitly or implicitly, of being on the side of the enemy.
Ms. Perino is right. No government - not America, not Pakistan - should suspend its constitution in the face of a terrorist threat. But the Bush administration has consistently and persistently fought against the rule of law in the name of security. It's time President Bush to listen to his spokesperson and defend the Constitution as it is written, without exception for threats of any size or nature.
Original article
rate
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 2
The Bush White House says it wants to wage war to spread democracy around the world, but restricts democracy here in the USA. It's enough to give me double standard whiplash.
It's just so comforting to know that a president who was quoted as saying, "The Constitution is just a god-damned piece of paper" now has the power to declair martial law right over the heads of congress. Unfortunately, it's a given that these new dictatorial powers will probably be used sooner rather than later. Globalism and liberty are two completely incompatible concepts.
For more killer info concerning the new world order, check out my blog at:
www.totalenslavementusa.blogspot.com