By now, most Americans have heard about the Protect America Act. It’s the law that gives massive new spy powers to Alberto Gonzales, with votes shoved into late sessions around a weekend in the middle of the summer, in the hopes that most Americans would not notice. Specifically, the law gives Alberto Gonzales the ability to establish massive electronic spying operations that involve Americans’ private emails, web use, and telephone calls. We all have seen how little Alberto Gonzales merits that kind of trust.
There’s only one other person in the federal government who has influence over the Protect America Act spy programs. That’s the Director of National Intelligence, John Michael McConnell. McConnell just so happens to be one of the original architects of the Total Information Awareness program. He is also the man who ordered, along with Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, a new program to allow local, state and federal police in the United States to use spy satellites and U2-style spy airplanes to snoop on American citizens.
What kind of crazy nut would vote in favor of the Protect America Act? Unfortunately, one of Delaware’s Democratic Senators moved over to the Republican side and voted in favor of this terrible new law. Senator Tom Carper voted for the Protect America Act, provoking the anger of Delaware Democrats, and freedom-loving people all across America.
Thankfully, Senator Joe Biden did not follow in Tom Carper’s unwise path. Senator Biden voted against the Protect America Act.
If only the stand of Joseph Biden and other wise Democrats was enough. Tragically, because Democrats like Tom Carper worked with the Republicans to help George W. Bush give Alberto Gonzales new spy powers, the Protect America Act now has the force of law.
Will Delaware Democrats re-elect Tom Carper, with such a stain on his record?
