Restoring the Constitution
For too many years, the Bush administration and Chris Shays have used fear to convince us that our liberties and our privacy must be traded for security. That’s simply not true.
There was a time, not long ago, when the United States set the global standard for liberty and freedom. That reputation has been damaged over the past eight years by Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and a blatant disregard for the Bill of Rights here at home.
Our deep commitment to the rule of law and to the inalienable rights of every individual distinguishes us from the extremists who seek to attack us. Real security for the United States depends on reclaiming the mantle of world leadership by affirming America’s commitment to the rule of law.
As a member of Congress, Jim Himes will uphold his solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Jim will work to reestablish the proper place of Congress in the balance of power, in part through the restoration of Habeas Corpus, opposition to the use of Presidential signing statements to circumvent the intent of the legislative branch, and protection of the Constitutional principle that no one in government is above the law.
Opposing Warrantless Wiretapping
Jim will always stand up for the fundamental American belief that no person, and no corporation, is above the law. Jim was proud of the Democrats who opposed retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies who may have illegally spied on American citizens without a warrant at the Bush Administration’s request. Whether these companies broke the law is a matter for the courts to decide-not for Congress, and absolutely not for the same Bush Administration who may have violated the law in the first place. Chris Shays continued to stand with President Bush by refusing to defend this most fundamental of American principles. Congress needs real leaders who will protect Americans’ privacy and safeguard their civil liberties.
In Congress, Jim will focus on protecting our nation from the serious threats that exist by passing a modernized Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) law which will give our intelligence professionals all the tools they need to effectively fight terrorism. Members of both parties in the House must refuse to play along with the same tired politics of fear and false choices that are still being offered by this president and his allies like Chris Shays.
