For the past couple of weeks, too many Bush supporters have defended the president’s warrantless-search program by replying, “Clinton did it too.” The claim is wrong, but it’s been surprisingly common.
Today, the Big Dog himself addressed the approach his administration took.
When asked if the president should have constitutional authority to order domestic surveillance without a warrant during wartime — a controversy President Bush currently faces — Clinton said it is “a decision the Supreme Court would have to resolve.”
“My attitude was that once the Congress had spoken on it and given us the tools that we needed, we used it,” he said. “We used the law. We either went there and asked for the approval or, if there was an emergency and we had to do it beforehand, then we filed within three days afterward and gave them a chance to second guess it, because I thought it was a good — I think in the country you always have to try to balance these things out, so that’s what we did.”
Do you suppose this might stop Bush supporters from repeating the talking point? Never mind; don’t answer that.