Patriot Act and the primary

This is for those who can't find it in their hearts to support anyone who voted for the Patriot Act. Let's rewind to that time and see what was being said by the governor of Vermont.

Dean's comments on civil liberties cause alarm

http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/News/Story/33681.html

"...Dean said Wednesday he believed that the attacks and their aftermath would “require a re-evaluation of the importance of some of our specific civil liberties. I think there are going to be debates about what can be said where, what can be printed where, what kind of freedom of movement people have and whether it's OK for a policeman to ask for your ID just because you're walking down the street.”

Dean said he had not taken a position on these questions. Asked whether he meant that specific rights described in the Bill of Rights — the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution — would have to be trimmed, the governor said:
“I haven't gotten that far yet. I think that's unlikely, but I frankly haven't gotten that far. Again, I think that's a debate that we will have.”

Mello said Thursday, “the civil liberties Dean seems to be talking about so blithely, that's exactly what makes us different from the murderers who committed these acts.

“It's why they attacked us,” he continued. “I think our freedom is what they find so threatening, our freedom and the power that I think results directly from that freedom.” "
>>>>>

THEY ATTACKED US FOR OUR FREEDOMS. Sound familiar?

i will let the comment slide b/c it was an emotional time when he said it.

sept 14th 2001


at the time, i said we should "Nuke" iraq.
i no longer hold that view either.

on the Patriot Act. If Dean was SUGGESTING a Patriot Act a few days after 9-11, then it is 99.9% certain that he would have voted for it, too.

Fair is fair.

"suggesting a PA" and talking about a debate on the virtues of safety vs. civil liberties are 2 completely different things.

The point is that Dean sounded just like Bush in his statement. And his point is clear, no matter how "cute" the wording.

Yet, those who hold the Patriot Act up as a litmus test for the other candidates, give Dean a pass for sounding just like Bush.

would have voted on something he hadn't read and understood.

Why else would he have been so quick to jump on this after 9-11? Factor in all of his appalling statements about civil liberties over the years, and you have a DEFINITE Patriot Act voter.

btw....he also "tended to agree with the president" when asked about TIPS back in July 2002. None of the other candidates were close to agreeing with TIPS.

At the time it was said I a surprised he wasn't even more forceful, That was a traumatic experience for America.

And neither is blaming those who voted for the Patriot Act at that time.

it was rushed through congress in like 1 or 2 days,
the gov't said they "needed it to fight terrorism"

but, if they signed it, they should have read it.



this is why i really respect DK on this one.