Guest Post: Obama and Civil Liberties
Another fresh cut from Anton. If this were the AWL, I would also post our gchats about Dwight Howard’s very deserving and totally overlooked MVP candidacy. And also how Mike D’Antoni can’t call a play that anticipates a double-team on Carmelo to save his life. Enjoy – MZ
OBAMA AND CIVIL LIBERTIES – Anton
Upon Obama’s election in 2008, liberals (and many independents) expected him to be a transformational president. We expected action on the economy, healthcare, energy policy, immigration and more. Were expectations too high? Absolutely, and anyone who knows how Washington works was not surprised that Obama signed a health care bill, but immigration and cap and trade never made it to his desk.
What I am surprised by is Obama’s lackluster record on civil liberties. While he is no Bush, who was a truly transformational president in terms of setting us back on civil liberties, Obama is much, much closer to Bush than we thought he would be, or that he ought to be. Did he end torture? Yes, by executive order in January 2009. But after this (albeit extremely important) step, he has consistently failed. The practice of rendition, the transfer of prisoners to other nations, has not been halted. New rules governing the treatment of domestic terror suspects allow them to be held longer than others without giving them a Miranda warning, even if they are American citizens. This rule flies in the face of decades old precedent.
Other expansions of executive power at the expense of civil liberties include Obama’s support for the successful extension of the Patriot Act, even though he was skeptical as a senator. Allowing the government to continue to survey individuals with no terrorist connections is plain and simple an abuse of our civil rights, as are roving wiretaps. Gitmo will remain open and indefinite detention will continue and recently the administration abandoned any attempt for a civilian trial. We have that little faith in our own justice system?
His policies have encountered very little opposition, which is the saddest part of it all. Where is the outrage? Where is the tea party? Don’t Republicans and the tea party champion limited government? What happened to all the democrats going crazy over Bush’s actions? It is a shame when a President enters us into a war intoLibyawithout a congressional vote or debate and only Rand Paul and Dennis Kucinich voice opposition. It’s sad how little outrage is sparked when the Obama administration says that the president is allowed to order the extra-judicial killing of any American citizen, regardless of location.
The erosion of civil liberties is one of the most important problems in our society that does not receive enough media attention. I don’t see Obama reversing course on many of these issues, so the onus falls elsewhere. The left and the right must come together to demand that our civil rights be respected and halt the progress of executive power. People must demand that their representatives work for their rights and not against them. Whether this happens remains to be seen.
