Sensenbrenner abruptly shuts down hearing
UPDATE: One of the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, issues a press release and video clip, saying: “What happened today was not only an attempt to silence Democratic Members of Judiciary, it was a silencing of Democracy in America.” Link.
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This from BuzzFlash, one of those left-wing sources F. Jim Sensenbrenner wishes didn't exist. Read the whole story here.
GOP House Judiciary Chair Uses Pinochet Tactics to Abruptly and Unilaterally Shut Down Hearing Into Abuses of the (Un)Patriot Act, Because He Was Afraid the Truth Would Come Out.
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
This morning, House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI) unilaterally and arbitrarily shut down committee hearings on the reauthorization of the Patriot Act without comment or issuing a statement. Sensenbrenner gaveled the committee hearings in the middle of witnesses testifying about human and civil rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay, racial profiling of individuals of Middle Eastern descent, prolonged detentions of Americans after September 11th and other abuses.
The suppression of free speech and testimony in the congressional committee in charge of protecting our civil liberties shows the Republican’s power grab has no limits and no decency. The irony was not lost on anyone.
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Here's another report from Mark Williams at www.Dembloggers.com:
This morning Rep. Sensenbrenner, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee was leading a committee hearing looking into the renewal of Patriot Act.
Mr. Sensenbrenner decided that he didn't like the tone of the meeting and simply got up and left but not before he criticized the witnesses who came and gave their testimony to the committee.
After he left the microphones were switched on and off while the Democratic members of the committee continued to discuss the renewal of the Patriot Act. Video of Sensenbrenner's lecture, adjournment, and aftermath with criticism from Dem committee members.
posted by xoff @ 4:02 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Given all the respect that the esteemed chairperson of the House Judiciary Committee deserves, one wonders if our local media will allow Sensenbrenner's constituents to see him in action. The C-span2 clip is vintage.
Following President Bush's disingenuous photo opportunity before Ohio law enforcement personnel yesterday, I'd like to think that some of those opposed to the sunsets on the USA Patriot Act are worried -- but it's probably just their disdain for civil liberties and dissent showing.
Several of Sensenbrenner's conservative Congressional colleagues are working to reform the USA Patriot Act. After today's aborted hearing we've got to be steadfast.
I only occasionally look at C-SPAN, but just happened to surf by during the Patriot Act hearing on C-SPAN yesterday (June 10, 2005). Before I saw it, I had thought that Amnesty International's remarks comparing Guantanamo to a "gulag" might be just a little bit over the top. But I changed my mind when I saw Sensenbrenner bluster, bang the gavel without a motion for adjournment (a violation of House rules), storm out, and cut the microphones. (Video of the incident can be found on many sites around the Web; try http://216.55.181.228/audio/061005a.mp3 for one source.)
I was awestruck at the irony of the situation. Here is a man who, rankled at Amnesty International's characterization of Guantanamo as a "gulag," immediately resorted to the Soviet tactic of turning off the microphones of speakers with whom he disagreed! By doing so, he lent credibility to Amnesty International's arguments and presented a chilling picture of the US as a country now subject to tyrannical, one party rule. (And, under the provisions of the Patriot Act, one that can silence dissent in secret and "disappear" those who disagree with it.) I am not a fan of either political party, but am especially alarmed when it appears that one of them is becoming so powerful that it can quell not only dissent but intelligent discussions of views with which it disagrees.
I've seen outrageous actions in government before, but none that shook my faith to the core quite like this. We simply have to do something, folks. This is utterly beyond the pale. If such practices continue democracy in the US is quite literally dead and has been replaced by gang rule very much akin to what we saw in the Soviet Union. And, amazingly, it's not Amnesty International but the Republicans who are acting like the Soviet Communists of old.
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