Ned Lamont on Civil Rights

	Ned Lamont on Civil Rights Democratic Challenger

Warrantless wiretapping is acting like they're above the law

Q: Do you see Bush's wiretapping without warrant as a constitutional or legal move, or would you like to see Congress step in and slow down that effort of data collection?

A: The President is acting as if he is above the law. The American Bar Association and most legal scholars say that what he did on those wiretaps in all probability illegal. And I think that those who break the law should be held accountable. First and foremost, if the Democrats take control of Congress again, we'll have some long overdue hearings to debate just that.

That doesn't mean that we don't need a process by which we can tap phones, by which we can go into email and get access when there's really due cause and when there's judicial approval. I don't think the FISA courts inhibit our ability to do that. But the President had no right, and the Justice Department had no right, and the NSA had no right to just unilaterally say, "We're going to go ahead and do this despite the clear rulings of the FISA courts."

Source: MyDD Conversation with Ned Lamont, by Jonathan Singer , Jun 1, 2006

Limiting marriage blurs the line between church & state

I am a strong supporter of affirmative action and equal rights for all Americans. Increasingly the federal government is intruding into our private lives and blurring the bright line between church and state: attempts to limit marriage, stem cell research, teaching creationism in the science classroom, and the Terri Schiavo case come to mind. On questions of individual conscience, it is time for the government to get out of the way. Source: 2006 Senate campaign website, nedlamont.com, "Issues" , May 20, 2006

I am a strong supporter of affirmative action

Hold Bush accountable for warrantless wiretaps

If the President is found to have broken the law by authorizing warrantless wiretaps, then I believe he should be held accountable, and censure is one way to hold him accountable. I do not understand some in Congress who supported censure of President Clinton for his personal indiscretions, but do not want to ‘scold' President Bush for abuse of power in issues central to the ideals of liberty and freedom for all citizens. Source: 2006 Senate campaign website, www.NedLamont.com , May 2, 2006

On gay marriage: butt out and leave people alone

Q: Where are you on gay marriage?

A: There are some places where the government should butt out and leave people alone. And if two people are in love and want to get married, God bless ‘em. I'm not advocating anything, but the government should know when it's overstepped its bounds. All this stuff about a constitutional amendment outlawing the right of gay people to get married--that's wrong. It's wrongheaded. We don't need those kinds of restrictions. I'd just tell government to step back.

Source: The Truthdig Interview, by Blair Golson , Apr 25, 2006

Don't compromise Constitutional liberties in war on terror

America must not compromise basic Constitutional liberties during the war on terror. While increased surveillance and covert intelligence are necessary in defense of our country, we also have laws such as FISA, the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act, to protect against political abuses of such wiretapping and government search and seizure. Source: 2006 Senate campaign website, nedlamont.com, "issues" , Apr 23, 2006

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