The Kerry Line: Kerry Attacks and Seeks to Replace the PATRIOT Act

George W. Bush ^ | April 19, 2004

[RWR8189]

 

"The Patriot Act has been vital to the War on Terror, giving law enforcement the same tools to fight terrorism that it has long had to fight drug dealers and organized crime. John Kerry is now attacking the Patriot Act on the campaign trail, and his opposition would bring us back to the days when intelligence and law enforcement were prevented from sharing information."
- Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman

Kerry Attacks And Seeks To Replace The PATRIOT Act

Kerry Wants To Replace The PATRIOT Act. "So it is time to end the era of John Ashcroft. That starts with replacing the Patriot Act with a new law that protects our people and our liberties at the same time." (Remarks By Senator John Kerry, Iowa State University, http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_1201.html, Accessed 3/11/04)

Kerry Says "We Are A Nation Of Laws And Liberties, Not Of A Knock In The Night." (Patrick Healy, "Kerry Pledges To End 'Era Of Ashcroft,'" The Boston Globe, 12/2/03)

Kerry Attacks PATRIOT Act As Creating "Blind Spot In The American Justice System." SEN. JOHN KERRY: "If you are sensitive to and care about civil liberties, you can make provisions to guarantee that there is not this blind spot in the American justice system that there is today under the Patriot Act." (NPR's "Morning Edition," 8/18/03)

But Kerry Voted For And Praised The PATRIOT Act

Kerry Went On Senate Floor, And Said He Was "Pleased" With PATRIOT Act. "I am pleased at the compromise we have reached on the antiterrorism legislation, as a whole, which includes the sunset provision on the wiretapping and electronic surveillance component." (Sen. John Kerry, Congressional Record, 10/25/01, p. S11027)

Kerry Said PATRIOT Act Modernized Our Ability To Fight Crime. FOX NEWS' JOHN GIBSON: "Senator Kerry, today, Attorney General Ashcroft said that terrorists have reason to be afraid, very afraid of this new terror legislation. Why? What's in it that got so much sharper teeth?" SEN. JOHN KERRY: "It streamlines the ability of law enforcement to do its job. It modernizes our ability to fight crime." (Fox News Channel's "Live Event," 10/25/01)

The PATRIOT Act Strengthens Law Enforcement, And Has Never Violated Civil Liberties

The PATRIOT Act Is Putting Terrorists Behind Bars. Since the Patriot Act was passed, 3 terrorist sleeper cells have been broken up in the United States – in Buffalo, Portland, and Seattle – and 176 individual terrorist agents have been convicted or pled guilty. (Department of Justice, http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/subs/a_terr.htm)

Reno Says Sharing Issues Resolved By PATRIOT Act. RENO: "With respect to sharing, one of the frustrations is that the bureau even when it finds that it has something doesn’t share, and it says it doesn’t share because the legal authorities prohibit it from sharing. But I haven’t been able to find with respect to the one instance of the two who came into this country and how we just missed them, what prevented anybody from sharing. Much of these issues -- many of these issues will or have been resolved by the passage of the PATRIOT Act or other statements." (Testimony Before 9/11 Commission, Washington, DC, 4/13/04)

Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) Noted During Debate On PATRIOT Act, "The FBI Could Get A Wiretap To Investigate The Mafia, But They Could Not Get One To Investigate Terrorists. To Put It Bluntly, That Was Crazy! What's Good For The Mob Should Be Good For Terrorists." (Sen. Joe Biden, Congressional Record, 10/25/01, p. S11048)

Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein Says ACLU Has No Instances Of Actual Abuse By PATRIOT Act. FEINSTEIN: "I have never had a single abuse of the Patriot Act reported to me. My staff e-mailed the ACLU and asked them for instances of actual abuses. They e-mailed back and said they had none." (Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Hearing Of The Senate Committee On The Judiciary, 10/21/03)

[Dog]

What is amazing is the Democrat party lost in 2002.....for getting on the wrong side of this issue.....and here is their party nominee.....embracing that same failed approach two years later.

[Stentor]

What is amazing is the Democrat party lost in 2002.....for getting on the wrong side of this issue.....and here is their party nominee.....embracing that same failed approach two years later.

Amazing and wonderful. They are frozen in amber.

[Young Rhino]

If there is truth in advertising, Kerry should name the proposed replacement "The Vichy French Act."

[proxy_user]

"The PATRIOT Act Strengthens Law Enforcement, And Has Never Violated Civil Liberties

This is because we have a Republican administration that obeys the law, and works within the intent of the law. Under Hillary, it would be a different story.

[PsyOp]

His version will be called the "Refuge for Scoundrels Act."

Giving Aid & Comfort.

[trebb]

The President was on TV today explaining the Patriot Act and trying to bolster some pressure on Congress to keep it alive and kicking without turning it into another useless, compartmented bollux like our old intelligence situation. He was very clear and straight-forward. He said he thought is was not too bright to allow more investigative freedom to stop doctors from bilking the medicare system than was allowed to investigate terror suspects. He is going on the offensive and letting the Congress, and the libs know that he will not be shy about pointing out their shortcomings in the war on terror. I would guess that they are going to sweat bullets when he decides to make speeches during his second term...

[CyberAnt]

The pattern is simple - if GW is for it - they're against it. It's going to bite them badly.

[BrucefromMtVernon]

There is nothing patriotic about the Patriot Act. Neither Kerry nor Bush is a true patriot. BOTH are members of the Order of Skull and Bones (Yale University secret society). The public has a right to know about all of this, because there is a need to know.

[AnimalLover]

Bump

[CyberAnt]

Well .. if "the public has the right to know" - why aren't you telling what you know ..?? That's because YOU DON'T KNOW. All you're doing is spreading rumors which have been nuked over and over and over. Still you people refuse to believe it - it's your problem.

And .. obviously, you've never read any part of the Patriot Act or you wouldn't make such an ignorant statement.