When he campaigned for President in 2008, Barack Obama promised that he would respect the Constitution, and push for reforms of laws passed under George W. Bush that established abusive government powers of surveillance against the American people. Once Obama became President, Obama’s promises of reform quickly faded. What’s actually happening now is that Obama is using the power of the White House to push to make George W. Bush’s unconstitutional laws even worse.
A case in point is Obama’s recent activity on the Patriot Act, the foundation for the government’s system of surveillance against the American people. President Obama is sending representatives to Capitol Hill to urge for the expansion of the power to spy on American’s Internet use through National Security Letters that are not even approved by a court of law, but certified by the very law enforcement officers who are directing surveillance to take place. Obama’s effort to expand the spying powers of the Patriot Act are aimed at Americans’ use of the Internet, to go beyond simple communications to encompass practically everything we do online.
This summer, Barack Obama gave a speech to a Netroots Nation gathering, asking liberals to have patience with him, because he just needs more time to work on fulfilling his promises. Obama’s attempt to make expand unconstitutional spying powers, however, should serve as a reminder to liberals that Obama has been using much of the time he’s had in the White House so far to actually make things worse.
In the 2012 election, why should liberals work to help to give Barack Obama more time to take America in the wrong direction?
Yep, typical abuse of power. Some hope and change, eh?
There is a huge difference between protecting the country and an intrusive government spying on it’s people. This administration has shown a desire to control it’s people in ways never intended by the founders.
And so did George W. Bush’s administration. Don’t forget that, Terry. Let’s criticize the failure of the Democrats to enact constitutional reforms, but let’s not forget that the Republicans are also failing in this respect, and helped to create the problem in the first place.
The Act goes way beyond spying on the internet. Basically, they can do anything they want and not have to publically reveal it- as it may be a “risk to national security” (B.S.- not a risk, but an excuse they use to get away with it). Obama, I’m going to take the noise making devices that your military put in the walls of my house of which are used to terrorize me at night and I’m going to show them to the world for the world to judge you. I shall document the detection and removal of them well. At that time they will see the real Obama, the thug Obama, who just like Bush, has his own hit list of American citizens he hates and wants to get rid of. You made the mistake of leaving your toys behind and for me to find this time.