| March 14, 2006 |
WASHINGTON, DC – This morning, Republican Members of Congress issued the following statements in response to Democrat Sen. Russ Feingold’s resolution to censure President Bush for ordering NSA Surveillance Wiretappings.
Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX): “Spending time censuring the President for implementing a legitimate program that works to protect Americans from another terrorist attack is alarming. Despite having two planes crash through the World Trade Center, killing thousands on American soil, and with terrorist attacks continuing around the world, and in Iraq, many Democrats appear to underestimate the threat against America. We cannot afford to forget the terrorist’s hatred of America and of the universal values of freedom and individual rights. Republicans in Congress are the ones responsible for enacting legislation that has made this country safer. We will continue to protect this country as we move forward.”
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA): “The fact that the Senate Democratic Leadership has failed to call this stunt what it is – political grandstanding – is outrageous. Senator Feingold’s actions reaffirm that the Democratic Party is more interested in playing politics than coming up with their own ideas.
“Do Democrats have another way to monitor surveillance on communications with al-Qaeda? Do Democrats have a better way to protect Americans from another terrorist attack?”
“Of course they don’t, that’s why Democrats are always willing to heckle the starting quarterback from the cheap seats but they are never willing to get in the game themselves.
“Not one Democrat has offered an amendment or a bill to repeal this important national security program. They like to harp about it at Democrat fund raisers and at red meat partisan clubs but when it comes to actually trying to stop it they don't have the guts. Once you get past their left wing rhetoric, even their own members know this is a vital program.”
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC): “Senator Feingold’s call to censure President Bush for implementing a legitimate and effective terrorist surveillance program demonstrates that Democrats continue to value their political ambitions more than our national security. From Nancy Pelosi’s fierce fight against the Patriot Act to Howard Dean’s defeatist remarks about our troop’s efforts to Senator Feingold’s careless call to censure our President, it’s obvious that Democrats still have no positive plan to protect American families,” said Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02). “As our enemies continue to issue threats daily against our country, Republicans will remain committed to pro-actively investigating, capturing, and detaining Al Qaeda operatives and any other terrorists who seek to attack our nation.”
Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO): “I thought the Democrats’ national security agenda couldn’t get any whackier, but they’ve outdone themselves once again. Russ Feingold and the Democrat base want an immediate troop withdrawal in Iraq and an end to monitoring terrorists’ calls into the U.S. What’s next, creating a Department of Radical Islamic Understanding? Feingold should at least be consistent and censure the Democrats who for months were briefed on the terrorist surveillance program and didn’t raise an objection.
FACT:
A Majority of Americans Support President Bush's Terrorist Surveillance Program
• An ABC News/Washington Post Poll, Found A Majority Of Americans Consider Wiretapping Telephone Calls And Emails Without Court Approval An Acceptable Way For The Federal Government To Investigate Terrorism. (ABC News/Washington Post Poll, 1,000 Adults Nationwide, Conducted March 2-5, 2006, Margin Of Error +/- 3%)
• The Same Poll Found That 62% Of Americans Believe The FBI Should Retain Additional Authority In Areas Like Surveillance, Wiretaps And Obtaining Records In Terrorism Investigations. (ABC News/Washington Post Poll, 1,000 Adults Nationwide, Conducted March 2-5, 2006, Margin Of Error +/- 3%)
• A CBS News Poll Found That A Majority Of Americans Approve Of The Use Of Wiretaps Without Court Warrants. (CBS News Poll, 1,018 Adults Nationwide, Conducted February 22-26, 2006, Margin Of Error +/- 3%) (Courtesy of the Republican National Committee)