September 02, 2004
Watch This GOP Wedge Issue!
Posted by The Editors | 08:26 AM
The newsiest event at the GOP convention this week may well have been a panel discussion about civil liberties and the PATRIOT Act Wednesday, sponsored by the Arab-American Institute. The lively conversation showcased the real and growing fissures inside the Republican Party over the future of the anti-terrorism law, which was overwhelmingly supported in Congress in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
Former Republican congressman Bob Barr of Georgia publicly suggested he may vote against President Bush in November because of what he called abusive interpretations of the PATRIOT Act. Barr, who was among 358 House members who voted for the law, said he now regrets his support. Because of the importance of the civil liberties questions that have emerged since the law's enactment, Barr said, he "would consider voting for any candidate, on this issue alone" in November. Barr would not say who would get his vote, suggesting some solidarity with the Libertarian ticket this fall.
Lining up with Barr to poke holes in the administration's applications of the Act (as outlined on the panel by former officials of the Justice and Treasury departments) were Grover Norquist, ultra-conservative president of Americans for Tax Reform (he wants the law to sunset now or in a year to force congressional review), and John Sununu, the former governor of New Hampshire and former chief of staff to George H.W. Bush.
"When my dear friends in this administration forget to look around for alternatives, then I begin to worry about the system," said Sununu, who arose from the back of the audience to denounce the law, calling it "a real problem." -- From Alexis Simendinger, Convention Daily
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