On John Edwards and the Patriot Act

[JohnLocke]

Edwards has gotton a lot of flak on these boards for voting for the Patriot Act, and I think those who bash him for it should read this.
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Q: The PATRIOT Act is two years old. There has been criticism of John Ashcroft for enforcement of legislation you authored. Shouldn't those who wrote the legislation take responsibility?

EDWARDS: There are provisions, which get no attention, which did good things. The reason we need changes is because it gave too much discretion to an attorney general who does not deserve it. The attorney general told us that he would not abuse his discretion. He has abused his discretion. We know that now.
Source: Democratic Presidential 2004 Primary Debate in Detroit Oct 27, 2003

Q: Do you support revision or repeal of the PATRIOT Act?
EDWARDS: I support dramatic revision of the PATRIOT Act. The last thing we should be doing is turning over our privacy, our liberties, our freedom, our constitutional rights to John Ashcroft. First, the very notion that this administration can arrest American citizens on American soil, label them an enemy combatant, put them in prison, keep them there indefinitely-this runs contrary to everything we believe in this country. The notion that they are going to libraries to find out what books people are checking out, going to book stores to find out what books are being purchased. What we have to remember-and I will when I am president-is what it is we are supposed to be fighting for, what it is we are supposed to be protecting. These very liberties, this privacy, these constitutional rights-that's what's at stake in this fight. And we cannot let people like John Ashcroft take them away in an effort to protect ourselves.
Source: Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate Sep 9, 2003

Q: Would you revise or repeal the Patriot Act?
A: I supported the Patriot Act because it contained provisions needed to strengthen our security, but I also believe this administration has abused its powers in implementing the law. One key provision of the act requires Congress to revisit key provisions of the law. I opposed efforts to repeal that "sunset," and Congress must rigorously review the Patriot Act-as well as any new legislation-to see whether it advances our security and honors our values.

Read the rest here.

[H2O Man]

1. Interesting Post!

Thank you. I think Edwards should be considered by either Dean or Clark for the vp spot. (another person suggested for Attorney general a couple days back, an equally good idea) I have a real problem with anyone who supported the patriot act. It's okay to question it now ....but why didn't he ask those questions first? We are not going to get a perfect candidate, or platform, or administration ... but we need to stick together. Your putting this up is a good step in the direction of unity.

[JohnLocke]

2. Thank you.

[Hep]

3. Only one person voted against it

That has to be taken into account.

[grannylib]

4. Good clarification of an important issue, thanks! I like Edwards.

[JohnLocke]

5. Will you vote for him?

[Lady President]

6. Best understanding of Patriot Act

Thanks for posting this. I have long felt that Edwards is the candidate with the best understanding of the Patriot Act and its flaws. He has a brilliant legal mind and an ability to explain complex ideas in a user friendly manner.

He's my #2 candidate, but I really think we need him as AG. In many respects I think the AG office will be just as important as the presidency in 2004.

[revcarol]

7. Just one thing, Edwards.

Some of the most important and egregious parts of the Patriot Act do NOT have the "sunset" provisions. So we are stuck with them until hell freezes over or we repeal them. Just ask the ACLU.

Furthermore, OK, two things: the act itself only specifies that Congress has the power to review CERTAIN PROVISIONS, to determine if they have been EFFECTIVE in combatting terrorists and HOW they are being implemented. There is not a provision that Congress oversee ALL of it.

So we don't know two things about most of the provisions: 1) How well it is working and, 2) how much Ashcroft is getting away with.(He got away with reporting that he didn't know how many prisoners were in custody and how long they had been held.And this was on a provision that he had to report to Congress.)

I say, DUMP THE WHOLE THING, and get down to the nitty-gritty as to which provisions, IF ANY, are effective and do not deny civil liberties.THEN, design a new law, IF NECESSARY.

edit: It's not just about Ashcroft's implementation, but all of the Act itself.

And, yes, he would be a great AG in a Kucinich administration.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. Did Edwards actually READ the Patriot Act before he signed it?

Was the Patriot Act even written before Edwards signed it? I think he owes us an apology.

[ulysses]

9. "We know that now."

Was damn near every Democrat running for the nomination a starry-eyed, trusting simpleton where Bush was concerned until some point in the very recent past? "I was wrong to trust Bush on Iraq." "Ashcroft promised that he wouldn't abuse his new power, and damned if he didn't fool me again."

:argh:

[TexasSissy]

10. I am beginning to be willing to cut all these legislators some slack

for past votes.

Some of these votes were made not long after 9/11, when the whole of America was still in shock and desperate to take action, to DO something.

It doesn't wash away the sins or give the legislators more backbone than they have, but I haven't walked in their shoes. It was a different emotional environment, and America didn't know two years ago about all the lies the WH was spinning about different matters. As Edwards said, "We know now."