With the Patriot Act expiring on Sunday after legislative maneuvering by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., Republican presidential rival U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., went on the attack, insisting letting the law expire undermined national security and was the result of “political posturing.” Congress is expected to reinstate the law later this week.
Paul went after the Patriot Act due to its provision allowing the National Security Agency (NSA) to collect telephone records and took to the Senate floor in a rare Sunday session to explain why he opposed it.
“Law shouldn't be investigated in secret,” Paul said. “As we move forward, the Patriot Act will expire tonight. It will only be temporary. They will ultimately get their way. But I think the majority of the American people actually do believe government has gone too far. In Washington it's the opposite. But I think Washington is out of touch. There will be 80 votes in order to say continue the Patriot Act. Maybe more.
“But if you go into the general public, if you get outside the Beltway and visit America, you find it's completely the opposite,” Paul continued. “There was a poll a couple weeks ago that said over 80 percent of people under age 40 ... over 80 percent of them ... think that the government collecting your phone records is wrong. And shouldn't occur. So I think really this will be useful.
“People say you're destroying yourself, you should have never done this, the American people won't side with you,” Paul said in conclusion. “And people wish me harm and wish that this will be unsuccessful. But you know what, I came here to defend the Bill of Rights and to defend the Constitution, popular or not, but I frankly think that the Bill of Rights and the Constitution are very popular, very important, and I will continue as long as I have breath and as long as I'm here to defend them and with that.”
Rubio fired back later on Sunday, insisting Paul was engaging in the “reckless spreading of misinformation” even as the nation faced a “growing terrorist threat.”
“The national security laws and programs implemented after the 9/11 terrorist attacks have been the cornerstone of our country’s protection since that infamous day,” Rubio said on Sunday. “Programs like the Section 215 metadata program, which lapsed this evening, have received vigorous congressional and judicial oversight and have allowed us to thwart terrorist plots.
“After tonight there is no guarantee that U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies will have all the tools they need to protect the American people in the face of a growing terrorist threat," Rubio added. “Allowing any of these programs to expire is a mistake, but that’s what is happening as a consequence of the reckless spreading of misinformation and political posturing. Our country is now poised to be less safe and Americans at greater risk from growing terrorist threats.”
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