|
Recent heated
communications from each of the 11th District congressional campaigns have
illuminated a key policy difference among Republicans vying for that seat,
finding both John Armor and Spence Campbell in support of legislation that
would, in effect, cover-up illegal wiretapping.
Carl Mumpower, a self-proclaimed "independent Republican," opposes
a controversial component of the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)
which would grant additional retroactive immunity to large telecommunications
companies (such as Verizon and AT&T). It has been recently revealed that
- without warrants or legal authority - these "telecoms" bugged
phone calls, intercepted e-mails, and monitored the internet traffic of
untold numbers of American citizens.
"The Democrats - with the exception of Heath and a few others - are
right on this one, plain and simple," commented Mumpower. Incumbent
Heath Shuler (D-11) is one of only a handful of Democrats to agree with Armor
and Campbell in his support of the additional immunity.
Mumpower has held firm in his stand that providing additional immunity to big
companies for spying on Americans "dangerously sidesteps the
Constitution," even the face of his opponents' various characterizations
of his position as "garbage," "irresponsible," and
"foolhardy".
"If Congress wants to do something real, they should start by doing
financial and performance audits on our intelligence agenies and by securing
our porous borders," said Mumpower. "The greatest problem the
intelligence community faces is effectively processing and acting on the
information they already have. Any additional telecom immunity beyond
what they enjoy already is not only a blank check, but a decoy issue that
lock-step politicians use to pander to voters' fears."
An excerpt from testimony before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee
on October 31, 2007 by Edward Black, President of the Computer &
Communications Industry Association, offers information in support of
Mumpower's position:
"...Retroactive
immunity for participation in the recent secret government surveillance
program is premature at best, since this Congress has yet to become
well-informed enough to determine whether in fact the NSA surveillance
program exceeded legal boundaries established under FISA. If immunity for
past activities is granted prior to full disclosure and accountability from
the Executive Branch, Congress and the public may never understand the nature
of the NSA warrantless wiretapping program."
"If the rule-of-law, limited government, and the truth are not your
priorities, then I'm not the guy to vote for," cautioned Mumpower.
"I try hard to land on the right thing and hold the line...until the
right thing wins or new information helps me to reconsider. This is not a
time to surrender to pressure...from my own party or my own supporters."
He continued: "Armchair patriots" who support these new FISA
immunities and who are willing to sacrifice the Constitution for illusionary
security initiatives are, in fact, enabling our enemies. I will not join the
herd just for the sake of doing so, no matter what the personal price."
(For the full transcript of Edward Black's
testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, click here.)
#69
|
