Open Letter to Senator Feingold

Senator Feingold:

I want to express my thanks to you for introducing a censure resolution against President Bush for illegally wiretapping American citizens without court warrants in violation of the Fourth Amendment and FISA laws. Alone among Senators, you have proven that your respect for the U.S. Constitution outweighs political calculations, and I heartily applaud you for it.

In a time of great fear and media manipulation, when simple political dissent is painted as treason, it is essential for the health of our democratic form of government that public servants act with the courage of their conventions, as you have.

Senator, you could not be more right when you say ...

This issue is not about whether the government should be wiretapping terrorists – of course it should, and it can under current law. But this President and this Administration decided to break the law and they have yet to give a convincing explanation of why their actions were necessary, appropriate, or legal. Passing more laws will not change the fact that the President broke the ones already in place and for that, Congress must hold him accountable.

Your fight could not be more important or timely. Just today, the American Civil Liberties Union has released documents showing that the FBI has investigated gatherings of the Thomas Merton Center for Peace & Justice in Pennsylvania just because the organization opposed the war in Iraq.

The Bush Administration, apparently, is equating pacifism with terrorism. Such violations of the Constitutional rights of ordinary Americans to 1) peaceably assemble and 2) exercise their freedom to speak should cast into serious doubt this Administration’s most basic respect for the rights of United States citizens.

Of course, the deafening silence of your Democratic counterparts in the Senate is very disappointing to all who care about civil liberties. Such political cowardice, which you rightly criticize, only makes your censure resolution more extraordinary. Should you decide to run for the presidency in 2008, you would have the support of millions of Americans who are hungry for a real fighter for their freedom, liberty, rights and security. Many of these Americans will be energized by your brave stance in this fight. I encourage you to run!

Along with millions of other Americans, I thank you Senator Feingold!

Sincerely,
redglare