House Panel Defies Obama on PATRIOT Act
Bill to Remove 'Lone Wolf' Provision Over Justice Dept. Objections
In an act of uncharacteristic defiance of President Obama, the House Judiciary Committee voted today 16-10 to remove the “lone wolf” section of the USA PATRIOT Act.
The Justice Department had opposed the move, though it insists that it has never once used the provision. It has been criticized considerably for granting broad surveillance power against people with no ties to terror groups or even criminal activity.
The Obama Administration has argued that all three expiring provisions of the act needed to be extended, and said they were only willing to consider revisions to allow limited civil rights protections.
Today’s vote suggests they may face an uphill battle in getting their wish, as while the Republicans on the committee opposed the provision’s removal, every single member of Obama’s own party voted against him.
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Joseph Conrad
November 6th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Obama will learn nohing from this event because he's merely a stooge for Wealthy Old White Men of the Trilateral Commission and CFR. More pointedly, he's more interested in trying to stay alive than in doing what's right and clsing down America's racist, white Right Wing. But alas, he's neither courageous, pariotic or strong. He's riding america righ into Hell and could care less.
Sadly, though, his DAUGHTERS will pay the price of his persistent cowardice and cupidity…
Matthew
November 6th, 2009 at 11:27 am
President Obama is a massive disappointment. He seems content with erecting a Police State, while at the same time destroying what is left of the US economy. Wasn't this the communist's plan?
jac
November 6th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Good for them–didn't we know that a Democratic administration would never voluntarily give up the executive privileges that Bush grabbed.
Mike
November 6th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Lets read that again — ONLY WILLING TO ALLOW LIMITED CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS —- If that kind of attitude and rhetoric from an American president and administration doesn't send a chill up the spine of every one in this country then we are dead from the neck up.
Eddie T.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:03 am
As a WW2 combat veteran I request that the PATRIOT ACT be repealed, in total.
Henry_Clemens
November 7th, 2009 at 1:58 am
The so-called Patriot Act has absolutely nothing to do with patriotism. True patriotism is love of the ideals of the American Revolution (i.e. individual rights to life, liberty, property and the honest pursuit of happiness). And true patriotism is loyalty to the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the Constitution) which includes the right to a fair trial in which an individual is judged by a jury of the people, not a military kangaroo court. Equating the so-called Patriot Act to an act of "patriotism" is nothing but pure propaganda to say the very least. The Patriot Act is one of the most un-American pieces of legislation to ever be enacted. Recall that the “Enabling Act” was passed into law by Nazi Germany. That was the Nazi's first step toward establishing a total dictatorship over the German people. The rest, of course, followed soon thereafter. This is what the so-called Patriot Act should have been named: The American Ruling Establishment's Police State Enabling Act. Stay alert for further despicable acts of tyranny. Our fascist ruling class isn’t finished yet. They're just getting started.