By John Marciano Santa Monica
The U.S. Senate just renewed the Patriot Act: 89-10. One senator did not vote (Inouye), and nine Democrats along with one Independent opposed it: Akaka, Byrd, Bingaman, Feingold, Harkin, Leahy, Levin, Murray, Wyden and Jeffords. Leading liberals Kennedy, Kerry, Boxer, Feinstein, Clinton, Schumer and Biden voted for it. What phonies.
Hundreds of communities and a few states in the U.S. passed resolutions condemning the Patriot Act. Nonetheless, the Senate’s leading liberals have given their “aye” to legislation that buries beyond recognition the most democratic provisions of the U.S. Constitution.
How many such reactionary votes from Democrats will it take before their misled supporters finally say “enough?”
When Hillary Clinton runs for president, what Orwellian language and tortured logic will be used to explain away her vote on this Patriot Act renewal — and her support for the ill-conceived “War on Terrorism,” the immoral and illegal Iraq War, and the original pre-packaged Patriot Act?
What political contortions will emerge to convince Californians and other citizens that beneath all these rightist positions, she’s really a good progressive who merits their vote?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 6, 2006. Read the original PDF.