Organizing for America | Paradigm Shift: Statement on H.R. 3773

Statement on H.R. 3773

By Paradigm Shift - Jul 6th, 2008 at 3:44 pm EDT

Also listed in: Campaign for Liberty

Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content

Tags: FISA

FISA Amendments Act of 2008

14 March 2008

Rep. Ron Paul, M.D.

Mr Speaker, I rise in opposition to this latest attempt to undermine our personal liberties and violate the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. This bill will allow the federal government to engage in the bulk collection of American citizens' communications. In effect, it means that any American may have his electronic communications monitored without a search warrant.

As such, the bill clearly violates the Fourth Amendment, which states:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

The assurances in this bill that Americans will not have their communications monitored without warrant are unconvincing. The bill merely states that the government should do its best to avoid monitoring Americans if possible. We have seen how meaningless such qualified prohibitions have been as we recount the abuses over the past several years.

Just today, we read in the news that the federal government has massively abused its ability to monitor us by improperly targeting Americans through the use of "national security letters." Apparently some 60 percent of the more than 50,000 national security letters targeted Americans, rather than foreign terrorists, for surveillance.

This is what happens when we begin down the slippery slope of giving up our constitutional rights for the promise of more security. When we come to accept that the government can spy on us without a court order we have come to accept tyranny.

I urge my colleagues to reject this and all legislation that allows Americans to be spied on without a properly issued warrant.

Statement on HR 6304, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments

20 June 2008

Rep. Ron Paul, M.D.

Madam Speaker, I regret that due to the unexpected last-minute appearance of this measure on the legislative calendar this week, a prior commitment has prevented me from voting on the FISA amendments. I have strongly opposed every previous FISA overhaul attempt and I certainly would have voted against this one as well.

The main reason I oppose this latest version is that it still clearly violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution by allowing the federal government to engage in the bulk collection of American citizens' communications without a search warrant. That US citizens can have their private communication intercepted by the government without a search warrant is anti-American, deeply disturbing, and completely unacceptable.

In addition to gutting the fourth amendment, this measure will deprive Americans who have had their rights violated by telecommunication companies involved in the Administration's illegal wiretapping program the right to seek redress in the courts for the wrongs committed against them. Worse, this measure provides for retroactive immunity, whereby individuals or organizations that broke the law as it existed are granted immunity for prior illegal actions once the law has been changed. Ex post facto laws have long been considered anathema in free societies under rule of law. Our Founding Fathers recognized this, including in Article I section 9 of the Constitution that "No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed." How is this FISA bill not a variation of ex post facto? That alone should give pause to supporters of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, we should understand that decimating the protections that our Constitution provides us against the government is far more dangerous to the future of this country than whatever external threats may exist. We can protect this country without violating the Constitution and I urge my colleagues to reconsider their support for this measure.

Reader Comments	Comments RSS
Comments are closed for this post.

Violation of our rights | Report to Admin

By Silentboom Jul 11th 2008 at 10:43 am EDT

This is the straw that must break the camel's back. This administration has done more to destroy the freedoms of America than any in past history and now they have been excused of this abuse. They engaged in bulk collection of data streams with no ability to filter innocent information from the tiny amount of "possible" dangerous information that may not even exist. This is a gross destruction of our 4th amendment rights like non before in history. Folks we are losing the battle and must step up the fight or be washed away by this tide of Orwellian rule. Now is the time, we will never ever gain these rights back without fighting like hell! Where on earth will we be free again if not here right now? Where will it be?

HERE,HERE,HERE,HERE | Report to Admin

By Jon from Broken Arrow, OK Jul 11th 2008 at 1:27 pm EDT

HERE,HERE,HERE,HERE

Ron paul | Report to Admin

By Jon from Broken Arrow, OK Jul 11th 2008 at 1:32 pm EDT

Ron Paul does not separate people into groups,We are
all Americans.

Another in an endless list | Report to Admin

By Greg Jul 11th 2008 at 2:01 pm EDT

Here's a friendly, non-collectivist post from the Dailypaul.com:

"Jews & The American Federal Reserve: What's The Deal?" One of a thouseand. Check it out here:

Link

Re: Another in an endless list | Report to Admin

By Rob from Schenectady, NY Jul 12th 2008 at 2:23 am EDT

Actually, people at both the Obama sites and Clinton sites might be quite interested in this topic, and probably realize what has been going on in the Federal Reserve is a problem they can identify with more than anyone else!

The Fed represents an extremely small fraction of Americans, the elite few, which are not even elected, controlling the entire American money supply, in secrecy.

Content on blogs in My.BarackObama represents the opinions of community members and in no way should be interpreted as endorsed or approved by the campaign.