Jindal blasts Obama administration, calls TSA searches excessive

[ProSense]

Source: The Hill

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) blasted the Obama administration's handling suspected terrorist and called the Transportation Security Administration's controversial search procedures excessive during NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.

"I think the American people are worried when they see an administration worried about reading Miranda rights to the underwear bomber," Jindal said. "(They're) so worried about rights of the terrorists, what about the rights of innocent American travelers?"

Jindal said he understands the need to safeguard the country but is concerned the administration is not employing common sense or intelligence when it allows TSA to deploy full-body scanners and implement aggressive pat-downs as part of airport security. He said there is no reason to search young girls or grandmothers en route to visit family members.

"I'm concerned out of political correctness we're screening people that don't need it," Jindal said, adding that TSA should look at passengers' travel patterns, how they purchased their ticket and other information to screen which passengers pose a threat.



Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/130265-jindal-blasts-obama-administration-calls-tsa-searches-excessive

[sabrina 1]

1. Good for him, glad to see that people across all lines have finally

found common ground on an issue as important as protecting our rights. That makes at least five Republicans joining Democrats to fight these government excesses. I am beginning to have hope we will prevail on this very important issue.

[notesdev]

4. hear hear

anyone on the wrong side of this one is going to get steamrolled... the breaking point with the insanity coming out of Washington DC has been reached

[saigon68]

6. going to get steamrolled

You have that right

Groping a child is unforgivable

[sallyseven]

10. Never expect a republican to protect

your rights. Jindal is a big jerk and irresponsible governor.

[sabrina 1]

16. We can use him, I expect nothing from any politician,

none of them are protecting our rights right now, so how is he different? In the end it's up to us, the people, it always was and if he can be used to protect our rights right now, then let's use him. Time to start turning the tables on these people who pretend to care about us. Just accept that they don't and find ways to put them to good use on our behalf. I no longer expect or trust any politician to work for our interests, we are not rich enough to pay them to do so. However now that I have sadly accepted that fact, I feel free. Free to see how they can be manipulated politically to get us what we want. Turning the tables on them, seems like the right thing to do right now.

[jancantor]

37. Ridiculous

Common ground is common ground. And the fact is that sometimes repubs are ahead on rights (rarely, but sometimes)... the 2nd amendment is an obvious example, and fortunately Dems are beginning to catch on and embrance 2nd amendment rights. Discounting a person because of their party is silly. Let's judge people on what they say and do. USUALLY, Jindal is a putz and wrong. In this case, he is RIGHT. Regardless of his party. We don't have to buy into the US vs. Them dichotomy to always oppose people just because of their party. This is a NON-PARTISAN issue. The rightwing blogs are just as aghast about this crap as we are.

[awoke_in_2003]

43. Seems we cannot depend...

on the democrats, either.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. i think jindal is trying to say that we should not have to screen real americans

just those unreal ones.

[Ruperto31]

12. Jindal would get screened based on racial profiling. Right? n/t

[La Lioness Priyanka]

58. Do you think he thinks of himself as a person of color? I don't.

[JI7]

57. yup, that's exactly it

[Jansen]

59. Absolutely that is what he is saying.

What an interesting choice of words he used too. Wink and a nod to the base isn't it?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

64. indeed. these people are getting really good at subtle racism

[de novo]

3. He's an idiot, but only half wrong on this.

Civil liberties and human rights should be for all people, even 'the underwear bomber' (who was actually a bigger idiot).

He is right, though, that we should not sacrifice the rights of American travelers. We don't gain in security, anyway. I hate when an idiot repub agrees with me, even if only in part, but sun shines on a dog's butt occasionally.

[jancantor]

38. That's a big problem imo

When you hate that somebody agrees with you, because of their party. It evidences an inability to deal with issues objectively vs. just reflexively wanting to disagree with "the other side". Repubs are, imo, wrong on most issues of conflict. That's why I choose Democratic party. But I WANT to find common ground where we can find it. Otherwise, you ignore the issues for sake of the parties, and that's always a bad idea. My party, right or wrong, is just as bad as my country right or wrong.

[de novo]

42. I am far from my party right or wrong.

When the Dems are hold the correct position, I support them. When wrong, I have no problem calling them out and criticizing them.

The reason I don't like when repubs agree with me, is that in a small way, it validates them. I loathe the republican party. I really really hate them. I would much rather bury them than agree with them. But, if they happen to take a correct position, once out of a thousand, I will learn to live with it. I still hate them. And get the jeebies being near them.

[HipChick]

5. I wonder if he feels the same on racially profiling instead?

[sabrina 1]

7. I'll take his support on this, we will need every voice we can get

to stop this insanity. He's an idiot but even idiots have some lines they won't cross. Maybe he has children. As for racial profiling, I do not know his position on that, but being that to some ignorami in this country, he 'looks like a terrorist', I would think if he has any brains at all, he would understand the dangers of that. But, there is no accounting for Republican idiocy, so I don't know. However every once in a while they get something right and we should encourage them when they do.

[skepticscott]

19. Well, don't take too much heart

This is pure grandstanding and political opportunism. He had absolutely nothing to say about egregious violations of civil rights in the name of fighting "terrah" during the Bush administration, and it was his party that was quick to apply the label of traitor to anyone who argued that constitutional rights apply to everyone, even those suspected of terrorist activities. He counts on the public having a very short attention span about such things and reacting only to what's in the news this week.

[sabrina 1]

23. So what? For once it is in our favor. Don't lose sight of the importance

of the fight we are in by succumbing to this clear attempt to divide people on the issue by so transparently introducing politics into it.

Not one of the politicians we placed our faith in is fighting for us. If they were, those machines and the other abuses being rained down on the people, would never, ever be happening. Point me to a Democrat who is fight to preserve our rights against these insane, and unnecessary government intrusions? Even those who are, are probably grandstanding also. That's what politicians do. All of them.

So, let's use their grandstanding or whatever, and USE it to get what WE want for a change. You don't have to have faith in them, you just have to start using them when they give us an opening, as Jindal has here. It's chess, only played fairly.

The last thing the PTBs want is to see people united. And this issue has done that, that is why politicians are responding the way they are. People are outraged across party lines, as they should be.

And that is why we have this OP, to get precisely the reaction you just gave, 'look over there, it's a Republican' so that we will be distracted from the far more important issue of our rights as U.S. citizens. This time, I will not allow them to do that.

[skepticscott]

50. Well, I don't consider Jindahl an ally in this fight

not in any way, shape or form. He's not saying these things because he believes them, he's saying them to damage Barack Obama politically...period. He will turn 180 degrees on the issue as soon as it suits him or as soon as Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck takes him to task.

[sabrina 1]

51. I didn't say to consider him an ally. I said use him. He deserves

to be used. Is Obama an ally on this issue? Where are the allies? We are on our own, or haven't you noticed and that requires new strategy. Jindal has inadvertently presented us with an opportunity to fight the very abuses he supported. I find that karmic.

[jancantor]

39. Being a minority does not necessarily mean one is against racial profiling

I recall a poll shortly after 9/11 when a greater percentage of african americans supported racially profiling terrorists vs. white americans. That said, I have no idea what Jindal thinks about racial profiling.

[sabrina 1]

53. Well, none of that really matters, we KNOW how hypocritical

they are. They, none of them it seems, are on our side. So it's time for some strategy now that we know where we stand. The President we have just learned, took the manufacturer of those vile machines to India with him. Is he an ally? What I am saying is the game is up, people are waking up to the fact that all these career politicians are NOT there for the people. But as long as we, and the right, thought at least our team was, the people remained divided. Now we know.

So, I am saying, forget the trivia, focus on the main issue, the abuse of the rights of the American people using fear and terror to force compliance in the loss of those rights. Both parties are doing it. They are all culpable, but it seems they are hoping to divide the people, to distract them from the main issue. If we let them do that again we will not restore any of the rights we lost. So, use them, let them fight among themselves to try to please their overlords who are NOT us. But if the people unite around this one issue, we can win. If we allow the same old 'left/right' our team/their team' to rule again, we may as well quit and they will happily continue to remove our rights. Each party will do it until it is way too late to turn things around.

[jancantor]

54. I agree

And if somebody's on my side on an issue, I thank them for it. On this issue, Jindal is on the right side!

[catgirl]

8. Jindal protects diaper boy Vitter

I have no respect for him and wish him to shut up. This is his second blast in the last week. STFU Jindal.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. when Vitter gets patted down

they find diapers?

[catgirl]

36. They just may

:-)

[GoCubsGo]

9. Funny how he had no issues with this sort of thing when Bush was President

The same goes for everyone else of his ilk that is suddenly unhappy about the TSA.

[alp227]

13. +1

Seriously. Bush was the one who came up with the PATRIOT Act, which expanded wiretapping powers and provided the base for all this non-stop invasion of privacy.

[awoke_in_2003]

44. and the democrats have done...

ZERO to roll it back. Both parties are in this together- everything else they say is just useless fodder for the cameras.

[boppers]

47. "ZERO to roll it back"? Wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act#Reauthorizations

That's not "ZERO".

[sabrina 1]

29. He's a politician. It's funny how Democrats were about protecting

our rights when Bush was in power also. Now, they are suddenly happy about the TSA.

That's why it is the issue, not the politicians, who remain the focus of the American people. They will follow if we lead, but for so long we have taken sides, based on whose team was doing what, often against our own interersts.

We are about to be manipulated again on this issue, now that Democrats are in favor of giving away our rights, IF we allow it.

I really don't care who stands up against these abuses, or how hypocritical they are. All of them are hypocritical. But if they are responding to the backlash against these abuses, whether they are Repubicans or Democrats, that will benefit us. It's time to grow up, we've spent ten years playing political football, the right exusing every wrong decision made by their team, and we on the left, doing the same thing. Now, we need to fight for the ISSUES, not the politicians because as far as I can see, few of them care about us when it comes to their own interests.

Bottom line is these abuses need to be stopped, that must be the focus unless we are willing to lose all of our rights.

[NOLALady]

32. Absolutely right.

He's a grandstanding idiot.

[sarcasmo]

11. This should be the start of the backlash.

[jberryhill]

14. "screening people that don't need it"

Speaks volumes.

It's not a matter of the type of screening. It's about making sure it's only done to terrorist types.

[ProSense]

15. "It's about making sure it's only done to terrorist types. "

No question that the policies need to be addressed, but this outrage has taken on a life of its own with the RW noisemakers are likely to win.

[jberryhill]

21. Yep

Here on DU, there are calls for passenger interrogations and profiling.

It's very clever, really.

There is not a question in my mind that TSA policies will change through the mechanisms we have for that - congressional oversight and litigation.

But, you see, it's too cumbersome to let the system work. We need immediate feel good measures that go from bad to worse.

[dballance]

17. Jindal is a Terrorist Proponent and Sypathizer

It's obvious that Jindal doesn't value the security of American citizens. He is against the government's role to detect terrorists. How can we support a terrorist sympathizer like Jindal? He is a foreigner after all. Piyush Amrit Jindal is his REAL name. Obviously he's a terrorist. Where was he born? Was it in the US or some country that hates America.

Don't tread on me Piyush.

[Kennah]

65. TSA goons read Piyush Amrit Jindal on the ticket ...

... and he knows he's going to move to the top of the list for the body cavity search line once that is added.

[high density]

20. NBC loves this guy

We'd never hear his worthless opinion on anything if it wasn't for Meet the Press.

[sabrina 1]

22. And so it begins, the predicted attempt to divide people politically

on this issue, by using dreaded Republicans as the bait. I believe I predicted that yesterday, and here it is.

However, I doubt it will work this time. People care about things like strangers mauling their children and undressing them for profit in public.

Some things are not just politics.

We can use Jindal, who himself would be racially profiled if the were to arrive at an airport without stating who he was.

But none of that is important anyhow, what is is our rights, and this time they have apparently gone too far. I'll take every voice, Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, Independent, to add to what is increasingly becoming a last stand to protect some of our liberties.

I hope people will not allow themselves, on either side, to put politics before the fight to protect the Constitution, or what is left of it.

[Iowa]

33. Well said. I agree.

[MadMaddie]

24. Yawn....Where was Jindel when Junior inacted all of his

draconian laws? These machines were hatched during Juniors time in office, don't forget Chertoff is heavily invested in the machines. Why doesn't Jindel point out the conflict of interest here?

Where was Jindells thoughts about common sense when the terror alerts were like a yo-you scaring the American public.

Fuck Jindell!

Now having said that, Israel does not use this technology and the extreme pat downs and they have been successful.
The question is why the U.S is not using their methods? The U.S is 50 years behind Israel, why is this?

The question is who would lose money if we deployed the Israeli type of airport security? Chertoff and other conflict of interest bastards that's who....follow the money.

[awoke_in_2003]

45. And what have the democrats done...

to roll this shit back? Oh, but they don't need to worry, they get to skip procedures that the unwashed masses must endure.

[sabrina 1]

52. Exactly. I am waiting to hear the Democrats come out strongly

in defense of our rights, but so far, I have heard nothing. So, since we the people have no allies, we should simply use THEM the way they used us for so long. We need to stop these abuses, and if we can use a moron like Jindal to help, and he is fool enough to put himself in that position, then let's use him.

[sabrina 1]

55. 'Who would lose money'? Well, several people.

Michael Chertoff for one. He represents the company that produces these vile machines, the aptly named 'Rapiscan'. The two companies who were just paid millions for these machines, by Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano.

The CEO of one of those companies just accompanied Obama to India. Now we know why both Napolitano and Obama, have both come out in favor of this abusive assault, both physically and metaphorically on the American people.

It really does work if you follow the money, to find out who is on OUR side, and who is on the side of Big Business.

For years these machines remained too controversial in this country for even Bush to be able to get them installed. But now, a Democratic administration, going right over the heads of all the people, including Civil Liberies organizations, who have fought against them, manages to do what Bush could not.

Chertoff and Napolitano, the CEO of Rapiscan and Obama, I guess a lot of people stand to lose if the people win this battle for their Constitutional rights. But we have some powerful opposition and the enemy is not who expected it to be.

[AsahinaKimi]

25. I don't care for Bobby Jindal however...

I agree that the TSA is out of control.

[LisaL]

26. At least some people are able to figure out where wind blows.

[Still a Democrat]

27. He's actually promoting racial and ethnic profiling

if you read his comments carefully. Pat downs are okay for the Arab and Muslim types, in his world.

[BumRushDaShow]

28. Interesting. This issue is forcing the far-right gasbags to move back to the center.

Reverse psychology.

Lunatics like Jindal like to talk a good game, but when their own self-professed tactics (helped along by the amen corner M$M that they own) are actually deployed and they are suddenly confronted with the reality of what they have demanded for the past 30 years, somehow they are finally forced to admit to how it hurts us all as a nation.

Very very dangerous high-risk strategy but it seems to have finally woken up the apathetic non-voting whiners and confirmed as phony, all those polls (and the right wing pollsters who generated this nonsense) that insisted that these (faux) "people" were more than willing to give up their rights (Constitutional in fact, as if the 4th amendment didn't exist anymore - Ed Meese was the purveyor of that).

So maybe now it will be on record for all to see, how going down this path (that repukes like Darth Vader salivated over), is and always will be wrong.

[herbm]

30. I never EVER thought I would agree with Bobby Jindal. This is going to be costly for the President

no matter which way he goes. "Conservatives" win either way. Intrusive of personal rights or soft on security/endangering American busin .... er .... lives. Not a great choice. I'd go with soft, fliers vote.

[NOLALady]

35. Jindal is taking this stance

only because he thinks it will hurt the President. He does not have an original thought in his pointy little head. Now the idiots who love him down here are pushing for this dumbbell to run for President in 2012. They know that he can be a good Republican puppet.

[awoke_in_2003]

46. This country is going down the shitter...

and we are worried about the president? He has the power to stop this, but will not do it.

[herbm]

61. You're right. He needs a plaque on his desk: The shit stops here.

[herbm]

60. I think he's doing it for both reasons, he can't lose, the President will.

[burning rain]

31. Evidently Jindal's against keeping us safe.

He must want to help terrorists kill more Americans.

[Odin2005]

34. What do they about broken clocks?

[mzmolly]

40. Republicans are crying out for privitization.

Just an FYI.

[savalez]

48. Exactly. Pubs want the TSA disbanded and Airport security privatized.

And IMO, this TSA story helps them move towards that goal.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

49. yes the GOP wants to privatize everything!

[sabrina 1]

56. No it won't, not if the people fight to eliminate all this fake security.

They are arguing right now what we are arguing, that this kind of security violates the Constitution. I am very glad they have joined us in that argument. If we win, they cannot then turn around and privatize the very thing they are now arguing against. We need to make use of them now to get to the goal of restoring our rights, after that it will be too late for them to privatize anything.

[goforit]

41. Obama is 0 for 2. First gulf oil and now molestations at the gate.

[Walk away]

62. If those are your only issues and if you actually believe it. nt

[joeybee12]

63. Jesus H Christ...Repukes are now the voice of reason on TSA as well as DADT...

What the fuck is wrong with the Democratic Party for fuck's sake?????

[avaistheone1]

67. That's what so many of us are wondering.

I say Dems get out in front on this issue: treating Americans as criminals when we go to airport is plain wrong. No porno scanners, no genital groping. PERIOD.

Democratic leadership where are you?

[ProudDad]

66. Even the stopped clock is right twice a day...

What's your point?