Reply #18: By the way, here's the Edwards quote: [View All]

[AP]

CAMERON: Senator Edwards, the PATRIOT Act, a piece of legislation that you voted for, a piece of legislation that has been much criticized by virtually everybody on this stage, falls two years old today. There has been a tremendous amount of criticism of John Ashcroft and the Justice Department for its enforcement of that legislation, legislation that you authored. 

Shouldn't it, in fact, be incumbent on those of you who wrote the legislation to take responsibility for it, other than those who are legally responsible for enforcing it?

EDWARDS: Well, I did. 

First of all, I think Carol Moseley Braun and Dennis Kucinich should be heard. And I hope you're going to have questions for them, so I want to stand up for what they are saying.

(APPLAUSE)

Second, on the PATRIOT Act, which I, along with...

(LAUGHTER)

... which I, along with almost the entire United States Senate voted for -- here's the reality of the PATRIOT Act. There are some provisions in the PATRIOT Act, most of which get no attention, which did good things, which updated the law, which allowed us to go after money laundering, which allowed information-sharing, some of the problems that existed before September 11th. 

The problem with the PATRIOT Act and the reason we need to make changes is because it gave entirely too much discretion to an attorney general who does not deserve it. It's that simple.

(APPLAUSE)

And I want to...

CAMERON: But, Senator, wasn't the legislation written by the lawmakers providing that very latitude? Didn't you create that latitude in the legislation that you wrote?

EDWARDS: Yes, and the attorney general of the United States came before us and told us that he would not abuse his discretion. He has abused his discretion. He has consistently abused his discretion. We all know that now. These provisions need to be changed. 

Let's break it down. First of all, I'll admit Edwards should have done a better job of fielding this quesion (especially considering that his research team should have know that this was one of the two or three most oft-repeated empty criticisms of Edwards). It's true that the Patriot Act does have some good provisions, like the one that Edwards actually was responsible for, which is the one that requires hospitals to stockpile certain medicines to treat cetain biological weapons likely to be used by terrorists (if I remember correctly). Had he had the time, he should have stated the exact provisions he thought were worthwhile.

In any event, notice here that Edwards is doing fine answering this question and gets cut off with another question. Cameron wastes his time, then gives him seconds to answer a loaded question -- implying that Edwards is entirely responsible for every element of that bill.

So, Edwards already said there were good things and bad things in the bill. He notes the good things (fair enoug) and before he can embark on the criticism, Cameron senses where the question is going, doesn't want to hear the criticism flow from the firt part, so he hijacks the question with the spin he needs -- you're responsible for the good and the bad -- and, no time left, no flow left, Edwards has to say, 'yeah, bad stuff too, we know where it came from, let's address it.'

And then all the DU'ers here who benefit from Cameron's spin are going to town.

Where anyone gets the notion that Edwards doesn't understand how the legislataive process or the constiution works, I don't know.