JK Demands Full Explanation of Bush's Contradictory Wiretapping Statements

John Kerry Demands Full Explanation of Bush's Contradictory Wiretapping Statements
December 20th, 2005

John Kerry called Bush on his contradictory statements regarding wiretaps and demands a full explanation. As I reported earlier, Diane Feinstein and a bipartisan group of Senators are seeking a joint Judiciary-Intelligence inquiry into domestic spying. Kerry slammed Bush earlier today, calling his excuses “lame“, in an interview with reporters after addressing ironworkers at a local labor hall.

Kerry released the following statement a short time ago, regarding Bush’s blatant contradictions on wiretapping:

“Repeated statements by the President and the Vice President that wiretapping required a court order no doubt were designed to leave the impression with Americans that the government wasn’t authorizing the wiretapping of our own citizens without any warrant or oversight by a court. Now Americans know the truth, and they are owed a full explanation. Congress needs a full accounting and real oversight, not executive power run amok without checks and balances and Congress kept in the dark. Americans deserve an honest debate, not more misleading talk, not another public relations offensive when our security and our constitutional rights hang in the balance.”

Bush Then
Bush: Wiretaps “Require a Court Order.” “Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires — a wiretap requires a court order. Nothing has changed, by the way. When we’re talking about chasing down terrorists, we’re talking about getting a court order before we do so. It’s important for our fellow citizens to understand, when you think Patriot Act, constitutional guarantees are in place when it comes to doing what is necessary to protect our homeland, because we value the Constitution.”

Bush Yesterday
Bush: I Authorized Secret Wiretap Program Without Going Through the Courts. “To save American lives, we must be able to act fast and to detect these conversations so we can prevent new attacks. So, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, I authorized the interception of international communications of people with known links to al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations. … This program has targeted those with known links to al Qaeda. I’ve reauthorized this program more than 30 times since the September the 11th attacks, and I intend to do so for so long as our nation is — for so long as the nation faces the continuing threat of an enemy that wants to kill American citizens.”

LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=1471