U.S. Senator: 'This is not Latin America!'

by Teo Ballvé

Feb 25, 2009


In a quixotic proposal, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy suggested Congress should convoke a national "Truth Commission" to investigate the crimes of the Bush White House. The proposed commision would look into warantless wiretapping, torture, and the handling of detainees.

In a speech at Georgetown University, Sen. Leahy explained, "I'm not doing this to humiliate people or punish people, but to get the truth out so we don't make the same mistakes again."

Some opposition Senators accused Leahy of strident partisan showmanship. But Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, a Republican, had this to say: "If every administration started to reexamine what every prior administration did, there would be no end to it."

"This is not Latin America!" added Specter.

No, Mr. Specter, not every administration would be investigated; only those that flagrantly violate international law and the U.S. Constitution. He should know this since he's a ranking member of the Senate's Judiciary Committee, which among other things has the "Constitution" and "civil liberties" within its mandate – presumably, to protect them, not help those that violate them.

The "Latin America" comment can be taken in so many ways – none of them good.

(Thanks to BoRev for the graphic and pointing out Specter's comment.)



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