Mustang
Gold Member
I felt the same way when José Padilla was arrested in 2002. He should have been accorded his Constitutional rights as an American citizen.
Now if conservatives want to make an issue of how it's unconstitutional for an American citizen (even a naturalized citizen like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev) to not be read his Miranda rights (and any other shortcuts to his constitutional rights that might happen), I'm in agreement. There's a REASON why they're called constitutional RIGHTS, and not privileges. That's rights can't be summarily taken away.
However, if conservatives are being selective in their outrage possibly just because this is happening under a Democrat president, then their argument looks weak AND merely partisan, as well. If you want to stand up for the Constitutional rights of citizens, then you should go to bat for Padilla too.
Now if conservatives want to make an issue of how it's unconstitutional for an American citizen (even a naturalized citizen like Dzhokhar Tsarnaev) to not be read his Miranda rights (and any other shortcuts to his constitutional rights that might happen), I'm in agreement. There's a REASON why they're called constitutional RIGHTS, and not privileges. That's rights can't be summarily taken away.
However, if conservatives are being selective in their outrage possibly just because this is happening under a Democrat president, then their argument looks weak AND merely partisan, as well. If you want to stand up for the Constitutional rights of citizens, then you should go to bat for Padilla too.
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