DNI McConnell insults Feingold's intelligence

[babylonsister]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/dni_mcconnell_insults_feingold.html#more

DNI McConnell insults Feingold's intelligence

by James Oliphant

Sen. Russ Feingold Tuesday called out Mike McConnell, the Director of National Intelligence.

Feingold (D-Wis.) sent McConnell a sharply-worded letter concerning McConnell's speech at Furman University on Saturday. McConnell spoke about the legislative battle over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and here's what he said that rankled Feingold:

We had a bill go into the Senate. It was debated vigorously. There were some who said we shouldn't have an Intelligence Community. Some have that point of view. Some say the President of the United States violated the process, spied on Americans, should be impeached and should go to jail. I mean, this is democracy, you can say anything you want to say. That was the argument made. The vote was 68 to 29.

And indeed, the Senate FISA bill passed with wide bipartisan support. (The House passed a different bill, and currently leaders of both chambers are trying to figure out how to move forward in a way that can garner some Republican votes and avoid a White House veto.)

But Feingold objected to McConnell's characterization of the floor debate (i.e., some Democrats are Communists.) and wrote him the following:

As you correctly noted, the bill was the subject of vigorous debate. Many members of the Senate expressed serious concerns about the lack of checks and balances included in the legislation and the potential impact of the new authorities on the privacy and civil liberties of Americans. Many Senators were also concerned that retroactive immunity for companies alleged to have cooperated with the President's warrantless wiretapping program would undermine the rule of law.

However, I am not aware of any Senator saying or suggesting that "we shouldn't have an Intelligence Community" or that President Bush "should be impeached and should go to jail." I would therefore appreciate your providing a list of all statements made by Senators during the debate that you believe support these assertions. If there are no such examples, you should issue an immediate correction and an apology.

While all sides of this debate deserve to be heard, to falsely attribute statements to United States Senators serves only to mislead the American people. It also undermines your credibility and that of the position of Director of National Intelligence.

If you listen closely, you can almost hear Feingold slapping McConnell across the face with a white glove. But absent a duel, he may have to wait awhile for his correction and apology.

[provis99]

1. McConnell is an insult to human intelligence

Hell, he's an insult to amoeba intelligence.

[SharonAnn]

2. That's an appropriate response. On a side note, McConnell's uniform bothers me.

It makes it look like the military is in charge of our government. Sort of like Pakistan was (and maybe still is) and Russia is. Where the populace have to fear the government's "secret service" that can kidnap them, torture them, and hold them without charges.

[babylonsister]

3. Does McConnell wear a uniform? I know Hayden does. ?? nt