Miranda Rights: for terrorists before Americans
Recent revelations that many facets of our communications are being monitored by government entities, is a chilling reminder of how far America has moved away from the Constitution. Edward Snowden, a former employee of Booz Allen Hamiliton, a defense contractor to the National Security Agency, was revealed as the source of the recent intelligence leaks. Now in hiding overseas, Snowden revealed yet another scandal surrounding the Obama White House. President Obama quickly responded to media criticisms of this obvious overreach by his Administration. He stated that a country to be safe from terrorism must give up some of its freedoms to achieve that goal. Democrats, in a harmonious chorus, noted the spying programs now in place were initiated under President Bush. The two glaring facts Democrats left unstated were: most of them voted for the Patriot Act which empowers these programs and the legislation only permits intercept of foreign communications not those of Americans within our borders. Much more insidious than trolling through our lives via social networks, the postal system and other forms of electronic eavesdropping is: how will the information be utilized?
Information that is brought to light which does not imply a terrorist threat, yet is incriminating under other circumstances could be violating a person’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Worse, in the event information is given to law enforcement officials, from these forays into our privacy, could the government be trampling on our Miranda Rights? Though Miranda addresses the spoken word in regards to self-incrimination, the written word is only an extension of its voiced counterpart, as recognized by law. Government’s intrusion into our private communications precludes a warning that information gathered might be used against us at some future date. Obama’s security teams skipped over the part in the law that advises Americans they should be notified of their Miranda Rights before these clear intrusions into our privacy occur. Sixteen hours after the Boston Marathon Bombing, Eric Holder’s team and a federal judge ran to the bedside of the bomber, Dzhokhar Tsamaev, to advise him of his Miranda rights. Why Eric Holder moved so quickly to quiet this murderer remains a mystery. Yet, in the minds of Obama Administration officials, terrorists have more rights than their victims. Edward Snowden’s controversial revelations only affirmed what most of us suspected, that Uncle Obama has moved into our backyards. Whether you consider Snowden a patriot, hero or traitor one thing for certain: he did us all a favor. Mark Davis MD, President of Healthnets Review Services, www.healthnetsreviewservices.com, platomd@gmail.com, Author of Demons of Democracy and the forthcoming book, Obamacare: Dead on Arrival, A Prescription for Disaster. Manager of the group on LinkedIn, Government in Transition.
