Duckworth Reacts to Roskam's Support of Domestic NSA Program
Duckworth Reacts to Roskam's Support of Domestic NSA Program
Tammy Duckworth, candidate for Congress in Illinois' 6th district, responded today to the comments of her opponent, state Sen. Peter Roskam, who endorsed the Bush Administration's collection of data on domestic phone calls made by millions of Americans.
Roskam told reporters that he would "be in support" of the program, carried out by the National Security Agency at the direction of the White House. He made his comments on WBBM-AM's "At Issue" program, which aired Sunday morning.
Duckworth's comments follow:
"As a member of the U.S. armed forces, I served my country to protect our national security and to defend the personal liberties that our Constitution affords to all Americans. That is a role that I hope to continue in Congress-- to keep America secure from terrorism, and to keep Americans' rights intact.
"I also intend to be a member of Congress who will ask the questions that need to be asked.
"The administration's domestic surveillance program is an instance that demands that members of the House and Senate carry out their traditional role of providing oversight and demanding accountability of the executive branch on behalf of the American people. It is alarming that Peter Roskamthrough his ask-no-questions' approach-- would so casually surrender that important duty of Congress.
"Time and again, we see fresh evidence that Peter Roskam, if elected to Congress, would serve as a rubber-stamp for an administration whose actions often raise as many questions as answers. With his blanket endorsement of this domestic surveillance program, Peter Roskam has shown himself once again to be unwilling to stand apart from his partners in the Bush Administration, orin this caseto simply demand that they be upfront with the American people.
"The people of the 6th district are looking for a member of Congress who will be an independent voice, who is unafraid to ask the questions that need to be asked, and who will take seriously the responsibilities that go with being a member of Congress including demanding full answers from those in positions of power, including those in this administration."
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