E-Mail From Robert Byrd On Illegal Wiretap

[ThomWV]

We just got this E-Mail from one of Robert Byrd's sites. It was part of a fund raising, and I cut that part off, but I thought you all should see the rest. Here it is:



Dear Friend:

Earlier today the courts once again stepped in to address the overreaching policies of an Executive Branch that is running roughshod over the rights and freedoms of innocent Americans. This is not the first time that the Judicial Branch has sought to check the president's overzealous and overreaching actions.

I commend the courts for safeguarding the constitutionally-protected liberties that Americans have had since our country's founding. This decision rightly restores the separation of powers established in our Constitution. It is the Congress' job to make the laws, and the President's job to see that they are faithfully executed. No one -- not even the President -- is above the laws enacted by Congress.

Any attempts to address the Administration's requests for surveillance should come only after the Congress has been fully briefed. Anything less would be legislating in the dark and would be an affront to our fundamental system of government.

That is why I have introduced legislation to establish an independent, nonpartisan commission to investigate warrantless surveillance on law-abiding American citizens. This commission should investigate the legality of the Administration's secret domestic spying program and shed much-needed sunshine on any unlawful or unconstitutional executive intrusions into the lives of ordinary Americans. It could then determine how best to protect the homeland, while also safeguarding the Bill of Rights.

I would urge all American patriots to sign my petition to investigate the secret spying program and put a check on the Administration's efforts to go outside the Constitution. Please tell a friend about the petition and ask them to show their support for checks and balances on executive power.

I hope that this ruling serves as a wakeup call for the White House to stop ignoring the Constitution and to start following the laws.

Sincerely,

Robert C. Byrd
United States Senator


Paid for by Friends of Robert C. Byrd Committee