With yet another scandal rocking the Obama administration, the commander-in-chief has flip-flopped yet again, reneging on his promise to the American people that he would be the anti-Bush president.
As a senator, Obama acted as a vocal critic against Bush-era policies like wire tapping, but with the recent unearthing of the NSA collecting data on millions of Verizon customers and the PRISM program, he continues — and has expanded — the same programs he vehemently campaigned against.
“I will provide our intelligence and law enforcement agencies the tools they need to track and take out the terrorists without undermining our constitution and our freedom,” then-Senator Obama said in 2007. “…No more ignoring the law when it is inconvenient. that is not who we are and it’s not what is necessary to defeat the terrorists.”
When the Democratic senator began his campaign for the presidency, he promised the American people he would protect their constitutional rights, but has failed to do so.
“This administration also puts forward a false choice between the liberties a cherish and the securities we provide,” Obama said during George W. Bush’s presidency. “This administration acts like violating civil liberties is the way to enhance our security. It is not.”
At an event in San Jose, Calif., on Friday, though, Obama defended his decision to authorize the programs that collect massive amounts of data — from phone records and Internet activity — and violate a citizen’s right to privacy.
“And the modest encroachments on the privacy that are involved in getting phone numbers or duration without a name attached and not looking at content, that on net, it was worth us doing,” he said. “…But I think it’s important to recognize that you can’t have 100 percent security and also then have 100 percent privacy and zero inconvenience. We’re going to have to make some choices as a society.”
