Obama aide says Republicans playing politics with terrorism

[jefferson_dem]

Obama aide says Republicans playing politics with terrorism
Posted: February 7th, 2010 10:25 AM ET

Washington (CNN) - Top Republicans in Congress were told the suspect in an airliner bombing attempt was in FBI custody hours after his arrest, and none asked if he would be transferred to military custody, President Barack Obama's assistant on homeland security and counter-terrorism said Sunday.

Republican leaders have criticized the Obama administration for charging terrorism suspect Omar Farouk AbdulMutallab in a criminal court and reading him his Miranda rights instead of turning him over to military custody as an enemy combatant. AbdulMutallab allegedly attempted to detonate explosive material sewn into his underwear aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Detroit, Michigan, on Christmas Day.

However, the assistant, John Brennan, said on the NBC program "Meet the Press" none of the GOP leaders in Congress he called on Christmas night - including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner - raised those issues then.

"I'm tiring of politicians using national security issues … as a political football," Brennan said.

The GOP leaders knew, he said, that "'in FBI custody' means there's a process being followed," including the reading of Miranda rights including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.

Brennan noted that in the previous Republican administration of President George W. Bush, Democrats also tried to gain political advantage from security issues.

He urged politicians to refrain from politicizing such issues "rather than second-guessing what is happening on the ground."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/07/obama-aide-says-republicans-playing-politics-with-terrorism/?fbid=LtcZQkX8J5C

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Republicans would be furious with Democrats if they were doing what the Repubs are doing right now

Good to see somebody calling them out on their hypocrisy and "Johnny-come-lately" hyperbolic criticism of President Obama's counterterrorism policies.

[Old Codger]

2. Not new

They have been doing this since 9-11 nothing new at all.....

[FrenchieCat]

3. But will the media ever say that?

Hell to the naw!

[Kdillard]

4. k and r. Not surprising but glad they are being called out on it.

[LatteLibertine]

5. Jon Stewart

made good point when he called out Bill-O who has stated in the past that you don't criticize a President heavily during times of war.

On a another note, Mr. "soft on terror" killed or captured many more terrorists in 2009 then Bush did in 2008. The number may be close to double.