BIDEN Issues Statement After Senate Fails to Restore Habeas Corpus Rights of Detainees

[Lobster Martini]

(LM: Here’s a bit of Sen. Joe Biden’s statement regarding the rights of detainees. I will call attention to one cool sentence: “Our strength as a nation, and our status as a world leader, is based in part on the fact that Americans do not choose between national security and liberty; we demand both…”

Wish that were true, Joe, but far too many are far too willing to choose between one or the other rather than insisting on both. Enough. Here's Joe:)

Washington, DC – Former Chairman and senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE), voted in favor of an amendment (#2022) to the Defense Authorization Bill to restore habeas corpus rights to those detained by the United States. The writ of habeas corpus, a judicial safeguard which finds it roots in the Magna Carta, grants those being held the right to contest their imprisonment in a court of law. Habeas corpus ensures that if the United States detains an individual, it does so with full respect for the Constitution and the rule of law. The Senate failed to adopt the amendment.

“Habeas corpus was conceived to prevent someone from being locked up illegally, with no chance to contest his/her imprisonment. It is not a get out of jail free card. And it will not result in the release of dangerous terrorists,” said Senator Biden. “As I’ve said before, the terrorists win when we abandon our civil liberties. The way we win is to show them that we can fight this war without changing our character as a nation. I hope the Senate reconsiders this issue once again”

<snip>

“The position urged by the Administration, that we must choose between Constitutional rights and fighting terrorism effectively, is simply wrong. Our strength as a nation, and our status as a world leader, is based in part on the fact that Americans do not choose between national security and liberty; we demand both,” said Sen. Biden.

(Link: http://biden.senate.gov/newsroom/details.cfm?id=283631&)

[OwnedByFerrets]

1. Joe, MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER!!

You bend over and let the repugs fuck you and US when you dont MAKE THEM FILIBUSTER and not just threaten it.

[jillan]

2. He had legislation earlier this year to bring back Habeaus Corpeus,

end torture, and close secret prisons.

Wonder what happened to it???