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Obama on the Need for Habeas Corpus: Distinguishing Between 'Barack, the Bomb-Thrower' and 'Barack, the Guy Running for President'

September 08, 2008 7:30 PM

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- A fired-up Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., took on his opponents -- "these people," he said incredulously, in a familiar refrain -- for shamelessness and dishonesty.

"I have said repeatedly that there should be no contradiction between keeping America safe and secure and respecting our Constitution," Obama said. "During the Republican convention, you remember during the Republican convention, one of them, I don’t know if it was Rudy or Palin ... they said, ‘Well, ya know, Sen. Obama is less interested in protecting you from terrorists than ... reading them their rights.’"

(It was Palin, who said "Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America -- he's worried that someone won't read them their rights?")

"Now, let me say this," Obama continued, "first of all, you don’t even get to read them their rights until you catch them. So, I don’t know what, they should spend more time trying to catch Osama bin Laden and we can worry about the next steps later. Hah!  I mean, seriously! These folks.

"Catch ‘em first!"

Obama said his position on this "has always been clear.  It has always been clear. If you’ve got a terrorist, take ‘em out. Take ‘em out. Anybody who was involved in 9/11 –- take ‘em out."

But, the former constitutional law professor argued, "What I have also said is this: that when you suspend habeas corpus -- which has been a principle, dating before even our country, it’s the foundation of Anglo-American law -- which says, very simply, if the government grabs you, then you have the right to at least ask, 'Why was I grabbed?' and say, 'Maybe you’ve got the wrong person.'

"The reason you have that safeguard," he said, "is because we don't always have the right person. We don’t always catch the right person. We may think this is Mohammed the terrorist, it might be Mohammed the cab driver. You may think it’s Barack the bomb thrower, but it might be Barack the guy running for president.

"The reason that you have this principle is not to be soft on terrorism, it’s because that’s who we are," Obama said as the crowd rose to its feet, applauding. "That’s what we’re protecting. Don’t mock the Constitution! Don’t make fun of it! Don’t suggest that it’s un-American to abide by what the founding fathers set up! It’s worked pretty well for over 200 years!

"These people!" Obama said.

Obama also mocked the new TV ad put out by the McCain campaign claiming that Gov. Sarah Palin "stopped the Bridge to Nowhere."

"I gotta admit these folks are shameless," Obama said, "because the record is indisputable," he said, describing how Palin had originally supported the project.

"I wouldn’t do that," Obama said. "I mean, I'm not perfect --"

"Yes, you are!" shouted a woman in the crowd.

"No, no, no, no," Obama said. "Talk to Michelle, she’ll tell you. But what I'm not going to do, I'm not going to describe in an ad that I did something that is opposite of what I did."

-- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller

September 8, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (962)

User Comments

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The woman who said he was perfect? Okay, okay, okay. . . was she drunk? Do you think? Or maybe she was a carefully planted operative? Or a little too crisped mentally? Or his secret lover. Thats it! Run with it, Press run with it! She's his mistress!
Yeah!!! Blog it! Blog it . . . . oh, no. I forgot. He's Obama. Press won't touch that one. He's immune to nasty blog. Hey guys! Yeah you. Try to photoshop a shot of Palin fondling the moose while she's banning books in the library! We can go with that one!

Posted by: Drake Eight | Sep 9, 2008 6:18:10 PM

I'm glad to see a few of these posts mention Obama's wanting to turn us into a Socialist Society. That, to me, is the scariest thing about him. Why do Dems want the US to be Socialists? What Socialist country any place in the world has had the successes, the freedoms and the opportunities we have enjoyed in the United States? NONE. Is that what we really want? It may sound great but it won't be. There is nothing in history to prove it works and it won't work here, especially because we've had better.
Get a life, you Dems. If your guy wins, you won't have much of one.

Posted by: sickofliberalsbs2 | Sep 9, 2008 6:15:39 PM

Oh the shamelessness!!

"For the first time in my adult life I'm proud of America" wife

"God D*** America" pastor

Hypocrite who speaks one way to people in the middle America and then talk about them behind their back in San Francisco

Tony Rezko

Bill Ayers.

Mr. Obama, you want to talk about shamelessness? YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF SUCH!

Posted by: Mark | Sep 9, 2008 6:07:31 PM

Lies, Scandals and Republicans - and you people keep falling for it over and over and over. I love watching conservatives get excited about a politician that shortly after getting elected screws them over. Now that is satisfying in so many ways.

Posted by: Craig | Sep 9, 2008 6:06:09 PM

Obama sounds like one of those "lounge lizards" from a supper club, creepy! What a bunch of morons swooning at his feet.

Posted by: hbell | Sep 9, 2008 6:01:15 PM

does anybody notice how this liberal writer roots for the Obama canidate. the way he phrases stuff. Obama fired up. ibidi ibidi ibidi . Thats all folks. The stuterer Obama

Posted by: john | Sep 9, 2008 5:57:47 PM

After living in Alaska most of my life 29 years and now living in AZ I will tell all of you Progressive Liberal lower 48ers a little something if you think Sarah Palin is a push over keep your heads in the sand it wont hurt as much if you don’t see it coming. LOL

This is so funny watching Commie’s poop there diapers and talk all high and mighty about giving Terrorist the same rights as an American in court PLEASE LOL then in the same lame breath try and take our 2nd amendment rights away.

Yea I see how you lefties think, your all for the First Amendment if everyone thinks like You and if not we are all racist homophobes that want to steel Grandma’s SSI check then kick her down the stairs. What kind of Drugs did your Liberal Marxist commune tree hugging mommy and daddy take in the 60s???

Progressive Liberals think Terrorist should have Constitutional rights and access to our court system but when it comes down to American’s having the right to keep and bear arms well that’s just an out dated section in the Bill of Rights so the 2nd Amendment should be abolished.

Only backward thinking savage NRA types think it’s an individual right that should be preserved at any cost.

Well let me tell you a little secret comrades Millions of us are the NRA and your Messiah’s Obama and Obiden are about to really get SAVAGED by one NRA member and her name is Sarah-Barracuda Palin.

Can’t wait until the Debate in October LOL

Posted by: AlaskanInAZ | Sep 9, 2008 5:53:44 PM

takes time to think through a thought. hmmm. Obama does that include putting your hand over your heart when you say the pledge, or wearing the flagpin in the morning. or calling your terrorist friends for advice. or saying Americans are bitter and kling to guns and bibles. I sure would not want to play chess with this guy. It would take day's for a move.

Posted by: john | Sep 9, 2008 5:52:41 PM

To have an 80% approval rating in Alaska Governor Palin has to have a lot on the ball. I have lived in 4 distinctively different areas in the USA in my life,in Alaska at present, and Alaska is by far the most diverse I have seen, and I did live in CA at one time. My guess would be that Alaska is one of the 5 most diverse states in the union. So, Governor Palin has not gained an 80% approval rating from just a bunch of small town rednecks but rather from a wide variety of races and ethnic backgrounds. As to the statement about 80% of 200,00 the number is actually over 600,00 but it doesn't really matter what the total is - it is what the percentage indicates. 80% of a very diverse population speaks volumes on Governor Palin's ability to perform for her constituents. I would say that John McCain and Sarah Palin truly do have the socialist democratic party scared and on the run for ways to try and devalue them as viable leaders of the free world. So, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat or Independent you should look at the whole person in evaluating your choice on November 4th. The choices one makes in the little things in life will assuredly be reflected in the choices they make in the big things.

Posted by: Mark Knickerbocker | Sep 9, 2008 5:52:24 PM

Everyone keeps asking the question is Sarah Palan ready to be president?
The truth is she will learn a lot from John Mc Cain just like Obama would learn something from Biden.

Obama has been a senator for a few more months than Palin been governor, but Obama has never run anything but for an office, trying to get a job, doesn’t qualify you for the job. But the REAL larger question and the question that no one seems to be addressing, why does anyone think that Obama is more qualified than Palan to be President?

His resume for the last 20 years of his life just doesn’t stack up to Sarah's

Palan’s got experience, she’s made decisions, she’s managed people and money, she’s put herself out there, Obama, has been an attorney for his whole life, ducking responsibility and decisions.

We don’t need someone who shifts decisions based on wind direction.

We need a leader who can standup for their convictions; we need someone with a backbone, who understands us; our fears, joys and pains.

We need someone who can take a punch and come back; John MCCain has shown that,

But there’s the focus on age…. (A bogus point) 71 isn’t old anymore, and I dont want to think that when I hit 71, my life is over, Im not productive, hell Jack Lanne is over 90 and in better physical shape than most 30 years olds, we have to get rid of the concept of too old, it should be about the person, not the number, it should be about the person not the SEX or Color.

Also think about it, McCain is tough physically, mentally and spiritually, knock him down he bounces back,

His mother is not only sharp but physically active at 96.

That being said, AGAIN why the belief that Obama is more qualified than Palan?

Whatever happens in this election I expect to see Palan running for President one day, and she'll have my vote. Our country is indeed ready for a woman and a Black man for president. But Obama is not that Black Man, Obama is a socialist, he was raided as a socialist, look at the influences in his life. Obama believes in a different form of government, and we should be afraid of that.

The cultural wars are getting hotter, America is at a crossroad. Does the US stand on its on feet where each person solves their own problems with some assistance, or do we create a whole new society where Government does everything for us?

Obama has answered that question with a resounding yell of… Big Brother CAN.

Posted by: sickofliberalBS | Sep 9, 2008 5:49:43 PM

The audacity of Obama is what he book should have been called. I am a minority, black and female and in this case i will vote for female not for the audacity of the man!

Posted by: Andrea | Sep 9, 2008 5:47:39 PM

Kathy said:"All we want is some relief: decent health care; affordable child care; sustainable energy (and the jobs that go with that); reasonable tax burdens. Not too much to ask"

It is when what you really want is for ME to pay higher taxes so you can live beyond your means.

Decent health care: what does that mean? Free?

Affordable child care: Why did you have children if you couldnt afford them? To foist them on society? Not the sign of a good parent, is it?

Sustainable energy: Ok. I guess you agree we should drill more.

Reasonable tax burdens: For thee, but not for me right?

Posted by: AntonioG | Sep 9, 2008 5:47:13 PM

it took Republicans to put a woman on the ticket.

Posted by: john | Sep 9, 2008 5:45:57 PM

I love the people bragging that Obama co-sponsored soooo many bill. Which, involves the sponsor asking if he would like to have his name on it and him saying ok. Not exactly and executive decision. Being one of 100 votes on any bill, not exactly executive experiece. Voting present repeatedly, not exactly executive experience. Executive experience is being the person who makes the final decision on EVERY issue. I wish I could just go to work and say "present" and go home then claim experience, but real life doesn't work like that. How about getting a bill in the mail and instead of paying it just writing "present" on it, wow would life be easier like that. So I guess in a way I may envy Obama that he hasn't ever done anything in his life with any responsibilities, but may become president. Isn't it great, but I'm still not voting for the blank slate.

Posted by: Brenda | Sep 9, 2008 5:23:13 PM

The Democrats showed their true colors with their lies and rumor-mongering about a 5 month old disabled child.

Stay classy you lowlife liberals. I'm joining the Republicans

Posted by: Joe Lieberman | Sep 9, 2008 5:16:24 PM

Oh, those of you thinking that the Obama media and campaign will actually care about facts is funny, cuz they won't. It is also funny how hard the libs have tried to trash Pailin and all they can come up with is a couple of lies and a pregnant 17 year old. I mean they are still saying that Trig is her daughter's son even though he is like four months old and her daughter is 5 months pregant, last I heard that wasn't possible unless you are a lib trying to win an election.

Posted by: Pete | Sep 9, 2008 5:13:29 PM


Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62 percent. She didn’t cut it at all. In fact, she tripled per-pupil funding over just three years.

She did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. The librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question, but the librarian continued in her job through most of Palin's first term.

She was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants Alaskans to vote on whether they wish to secede from the United States. She’s been registered as a Republican since May 1982.


Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesy" when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.


Palin has not pushed for teaching creationism in Alaska's schools. She has said that students should be allowed to "debate both sides" of the evolution question, but she also said creationism "doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."

Posted by: Gw | Sep 9, 2008 5:06:21 PM

"Democrats have airdropped a mini-army of 30 lawyers, investigators and opposition researchers into Anchorage, the state capital Juneau and Mrs. Palin's hometown of Wasilla to dig into her record and background." Quote from article in WSJ.

Yes, Obama I guess some politicians will do or say anything just to get elected!

Posted by: Rank | Sep 9, 2008 5:03:03 PM

Quote of the day!
"Yes, Barack Obama may be the great African-American hope, Joe Biden the reassuringly experienced eminence grise and John McCain the ultimate patriotic American hero. But as a super-mothering, feminist image-busting, glass-ceiling shattering, hunting-and-fishing so-con heroine, Palin out-symbolizes them all."

Terry O'Neill, National Post

Posted by: Al-in-Indy | Sep 9, 2008 5:02:13 PM

Cooday:
It is the 1st of many interviews she will have.

Why are you so skeptical? Does a woman being VP scare you? Joe Biden doesn't like women unless he is drunk and hitting on them. Palin scares Joe.

Posted by: Henry | Sep 9, 2008 4:59:27 PM

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