Monday, January 23, 2006
MCCAIN PREFERS LAWS From Fox News Sunday, via Think Progress:
WALLACE: But you do not believe that currently he has the legal authority to engage in these warrant-less wiretaps.UPDATE: Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) waffles in today's Times:
MCCAIN: You know, I don’t think so, but why not come to Congress? We can sort this all out. I don’t think--I know of no member of Congress, frankly, who, if the administration came and said here’s why we need this capability, that they wouldn’t get it. And so let’s have the hearings.
The eavesdropping is a big matter on the coasts for people who are inclined to dislike the president," Mr. Romney said. "The great majority of Americans think it is the president's first responsibility to protect the lives of the American citizens in an urgent setting where there is a threat of terrorism."
But Mr. Romney called back a few moments later to make clear that he would have a different view if the program were found to be unlawful.
"I would never suggest that the president should break the law," he said. "My guess is, my assumption is, he did not break the law. The president has a responsibility to follow the law, which I believe is likely to be found, but he also has a primary responsibility to protect the American people."