Democracy from a Distance
The ACLU is objecting to a new, little-discussed provision in the Patriot Act. The bill now contains a provision restricting people from willfully and knowingly entering a restricted area where the President or anyone else under Secret Service protection will be at.
The Secret Service clearly has a function to protect the President and other dignitaries from attacks and in one light, all this provision would do is put teeth into their existing mission. Senator Spector, one of the authors of the current Patriot Act compromise says that's all it's supposed to do.
Unfortunately a reasonable sounding provision like this can be twisted in the hands of those with malignant intent. The Bush administration has made good use out of every draconian law that they've been given by a well-meaning, but sometimes misguided Congress. There's no reason to believe that this one wouldn't be abused, too.
President Bush has been remarkably shy about being in the same room with detractors, or in fact anyone who isn't a complete rah-rah cheerleader for the administration and all of its policies. There's been several grumbling stories about Bushies keeping non-zealots out of private and even public meetings where the President will be speaking.
Might the Patriot Act be used to jail protesters at a Bush-Cheney event? Would they dare? Is the Pope Catholic? Is the President an Evangelical? Is Cheney the Prince of Darkness?
Posted on December 13, 2005
