Bush Calls Out Dems on Terrorist Surveillance
sfgate.com ^ | 3/21/06 |
QUESTION: Thank you, sir. On the subject of the terrorist surveillance program, not to change the bipartisanship, but there have been now three sponsors to a measure to censure you for the implementation of that program.
...
What, sir, do you think the impact of a discussion of impeachment and censure does to you and this office and to the nation during a time of war and in the context of the election?
BUSH: ...
I did notice that nobody from the Democratic Party has actually stood up and called for the getting rid of the terrorist surveillance program. You know, if that's what they believe, if people in the party believe that, then they ought to stand up and say it. They ought to stand up and say, the tools we're using to protect the American people shouldn't be used. They ought to take their message to the people and say, vote for me. I promise we're not going to have a terrorist surveillance program.
That's what they ought to be doing. That's part of what is an open and honest debate.
I did notice that, you know, at one point in time, they didn't think the Patriot Act ought to be reauthorized — they being at least the minority leader in the Senate. He openly said, as I understand — I don't want to misquote him — something along the lines that, we killed the Patriot Act.
Now, if that's what the party believes, they ought to go around the country saying, We shouldn't give the people on the front line, who are protecting us, the tools necessary to do so.
That's a debate I think the country ought to have.
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