The formulation of this story’s opening paragraph implies that something unconstitutional can be made constitutional by wishing it so, but I’ll present it for context:
The House approved a bill Thursday that would grant legal status to President Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program with new restrictions. Republicans called it a test before the election of whether Democrats want to fight or coddle terrorists.
“The Democrats’ irrational opposition to strong national security policies that help keep our nation secure should be of great concern to the American people,” Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said in a statement after the bill passed 232-191.
“To always have reasons why you just can’t vote ‘yes,’ I think speaks volumes when it comes to which party is better able and more willing to take on the terrorists and defeat them,” Boehner said.
How many different ways is Rep. Boehner mistaken?
- Upholding the Constitution is not irrational. It’s what Representatives (and Senators and Presidents) are sworn to do.
- Violating the Fourth Amendment is not a “strong national security policy.”
- Our nation is secure because Republicans are on the job. Our nation is not secure, which is why we still need Republicans in charge. Make up your mind.
- Better able to take on terrorists? Worthy of debate. More willing? Conceded. But I’m stuck on the defeat part. It’s been five years and they’re still around. The desired permanence of warrantless wiretapping suggests that defeating terrorists isn’t the sole objective. Might there be better tools designed specifically to the task?
But Rep. Boehner knows how to disregard the Constitution for election year politics. Like I said, he’s a badass. God help us all.