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John Edwards on Civil Liberties and Domestic Security
Q: Would you revise or repeal the Patriot Act? EDWARDS: I supported the Patriot Act because it contained provisions needed to strengthen our security, but I also believe this administration has abused its powers in implementing the law. One key provision of the act requires Congress to revisit key provisions of the law. I opposed efforts to repeal that "sunset," and Congress must rigorously review the Patriot Act-as well as any new legislation-to see whether it advances our security and honors our values.
MoveOn.org interview Jun 17, 2003
Q: Do you support revision or repeal of the PATRIOT Act? EDWARDS: I support dramatic revision of the PATRIOT Act. The last thing we should be doing is turning over our privacy, our liberties, our freedom, our constitutional rights to John Ashcroft. First, the very notion that this administration can arrest American citizens on American soil, label them an enemy combatant, put them in prison, keep them there indefinitely-this runs contrary to everything we believe in this country. The notion that they are going to libraries to find out what books people are checking out, going to book stores to find out what books are being purchased. What we have to remember-and I will when I am president-is what it is we are supposed to be fighting for, what it is we are supposed to be protecting. These very liberties, this privacy, these constitutional rights-that's what's at stake in this fight. And we cannot let people like John Ashcroft take them away in an effort to protect ourselves.
Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate Sep 9, 2003
John Edwards believes we must stop the Bush administration's trampling of basic freedoms in the name of the war against terror. As president, Edwards will fix the Patriot Act, respect the FISA court process that requires quick and classified review by a special court of search warrants issued under the National Security Act, and say no to torture.
Q: Does the president have inherent powers under the Constitution to conduct surveillance for national security purposes without judicial warrants, regardless of federal statutes? EDWARDS: I strongly oppose George Bush's illegal spying on American citizens. Surveillance that takes place within the United States should be performed with judicial oversight, as the law provides.
"I support dramatic revision of the PATRIOT Act. The last thing we should be doing is turning over our privacy, our liberties, our freedom, our constitutional rights to John Ashcroft... What we have to remember - and I will when I am president - is what it is we are supposed to be fighting for, what it is we are supposed to be protecting. These very liberties, this privacy, these constitutional rights - that's what's at stake in this fight. And we cannot let people like John Ashcroft take them away in an effort to protect ourselves."
Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate Sep 9, 2003
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. Motion to table (kill) the amendment that would provide that in order to conduct roving surveillance, the person implementing the order must ascertain that the target of the surveillance is present in the house or is using the phone that has been tapped.
Bill S1510 ; vote number 2001-300 on Oct 11, 2001
"My view is that if America doesn't have the moral high-ground then we can't provide the stabilizing influence in the world, and that results in chaos, and I think we are all seeing that right now. And one of these areas where there's been great damage was in this area of protecting real liberty and freedom and standing up for the values that we promote."
As president, I will close Guantanamo Bay, restore habeas corpus, and ban torture. Measures like these will help America once again achieve its historic moral stature - and lead the world toward democracy and peace.
"It is hard to believe that the president and his supporters are engaged in a debate about how much torture we should have. The United States should never torture, for several reasons: because it is not the American way, because it undermines our moral authority in the world, because it places our troops at risk, and because it does not work. I strongly oppose George Bush's possible veto of the Congressional bill prohibiting torture."
"It is time for us to show the leadership that America and the world needs from us. And there is so much work to do. And it's not just ending the war in Iraq. You know, the first thing we have to do is we have to establish America as a force for good in the world again. You look at what's happened: the war in Iraq, Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, torture, the illegal spy on the American people, and by the way, on the first day that I'm sworn in as president of the United States, I will close Guantanamo. But it's about first stopping the damage, stopping the damage that this president and this administration have done, and we need to do those things. We need to make it absolutely clear that we're leaving Iraq, we need to close Guantanamo, we need the president of the United States to say to the world, America will neither condone or engage in torture, that we will comply with Geneva."
Take Back America 2007 Conference Jun 19, 2007
"As president, Edwards will fix the Patriot Act, respect the FISA court process that requires quick and classified review by a special court of search warrants issued under the National Security Act, and say no to torture."