Guantanamo Detainees Have Constitutional Rights: Politicians React

The Supreme Court ruled today that detainees held in Guantanamo Bay have a constitutional right to challenge their detention. This is the third such ruling rebuking the Bush Administration over its handling of foreign terrorism suspects. Politician have begun to react to the Supreme Court's decision.

Senator Barack Obama:

Today's Supreme Court decision ensures that we can protect our nation and bring terrorists to justice, while also protecting our core values. The Court's decision is a rejection of the Bush Administration's attempt to create a legal black hole at Guantanamo - yet another failed policy supported by John McCain.

Senator John McCain:

It obviously concerns me. These are unlawful combatants, they are not American citizens, but -- and I think that we should pay attention to justice Roberts' opinion in this decision -- but it is a decision the Supreme Court has made. Now we need to move forward. As you know, I always favored closing of Guantanamo Bay and I still think that we ought to do that.

Senator Russ Feingold:

Today's Supreme Court decision is yet another stinging rebuke of the Bush administration's extreme views on executive power. Time after time, the Supreme Court has rebuffed the administration's attempts to undermine the Constitution, from its Rasul and Hamdi decisions in 2004 to its Hamdan decision in 2006. It is a testament to our system of government that the Court has rejected the habeas-stripping provisions of the Military Commissions Act and reaffirmed that the government does not have the power to detain people indefinitely and arbitrarily without judicial review. The writ of habeas corpus provides one of the most significant protections of human freedom against arbitrary government action ever created. We can and must fight terrorists without abandoning the principles on which our country was founded.

Senator Patrick Leahy:

There is nothing more fundamental than the right of habeas corpus. In three separate decisions, the Supreme Court in recent years has rejected this administration's erosion of fundamental rights. These protections set the United States apart from those who wish to harm us. This decision echoes earlier court opinions that have solidified our constitutional system of checks and balances. The administration has rolled back essential rights that have long guided our nation's conscience.

Today's Supreme Court decision in Boumediene v. Bush is a stinging
rebuke of the Bush administration's flawed detention policies, and a
vindication for those who have also argued from the beginning that it
was unwise as well as unconstitutional.

Senator Dick Durbin:

The Supreme Court today has reminded this Administration and its Congressional supporters that the fundamental precepts of liberty must be respected even as we work to protect our nation. Giving the detainees at Guantanamo the right to challenge their detention in court is basic to any system of justice. Today's Supreme Court decision again rejects policies of this Administration that are inconsistent with our Constitution.

Congressman Jerrold Nadler:

Today's ruling is a resounding affirmation for the rule of law and a rejection of the President's sweeping claims of power," said Rep. Nadler. "We all agree that terrorists must be brought to justice - but we must not abandon the very system of justice we are protecting in the process. This decision reaffirms that, even in a time of conflict, the President does not have the authority to act as a tyrant. Time and time again, the courts have rightly rejected President Bush's campaign to undermine the Constitution.

Comments

[Agnim]

Fascinating that some Americans would have more faith in their bible, from a foreign culture, than have faith in their own US Constitution.

No one should be surprised at the Bush McBush position on the US Constitutional guarantees.
When people would start UNPROVOKED wars to mass murderer hundreds of thousands, then ignoring the US Constitution is just par for the course of criminality!

By mindlessly and cowardly taking impeachment off the table, the worthless Democratic leadership has completely surrendered the nation to a megalomaniac duo, Bush-Cheney, who have no regard for human lives or for the document responsible for guiding America's destiny to a better place.

Terrorists must be stopped; but Americans cannot afford to become like the terrorists, less the terrorists win.
Part of the devilish aim of the muslim terrorists is to radicalize the world for destruction.
Sane and sober minds MUST resist such childish temptations.

[oldwiseone]

Wasn't John held for five years without any trial? Dod he forget that? What John is telling us is that to be American is the worst decision we can make. Instead he wants full authority when the gas riots, say, start. That way they can put the organizers away and not tell enyone where they got him. (under an assumed state of emergency)

[evgolightly]

McCain would be WORSE than Bush, if that's possible. I'm very concerned that if he wins, he'll appoint more fruitcakes to the Supreme Court, and we will be stuck with them for years ... DECADES. Think about what that could mean for our country. It's terrifying. And depressing.After 8 years in a dazed stupor, and after watching the huge "success" that Fox News has become, I feel like everything is resting on a hinge. One more Rev. Wright and we may have to kiss our country goodbye. I remember when I used to be REALLY proud of this place, but sadly, it wasn't for much of my "adult lifetime".

[oldwiseone]

Oh YEAH! America the beautiful with her hands tied behind her cack, is at the hanging tree,
they just took off the noose that was placed around her neck. and what does John McCain shout out/?No, that is the worst mistake..."

[afgail]

Our 8 year nightmare is almost over. The question is are we as a nation smart enough to avoid a repeat nightmare with John McCain?

[oldwiseone]

It wouldln't be a nightmare, it would be national suicide

[j0hnwi11iams]

These Conservative bastards are ACTIVIST judges. Read the consitution. Habeas Corpus can only be suspended during INVASION or INSURRECTION. What are these freaks smoking?

[jackie4444]

This should be it - the end of the line - for McCain. If he truly believed the 'worst decision' comment,
he would be totally unfit to be president - effectively 'disapproving' the single most bedrock principle
in constitutional law. But it seems apparent - by virtue of the earlier, 'it concerns me but we need to move on' comment, for which he was apparently chastized by his idealogical handlers, to his sudden declaration that this is the worst decision ever - that he doesn't deserve . He comes off
as nothing more than a marionette.

[DRaymond]

In one respect I am glad that it is putting presidential power and the constitution back on the issue list.

McCain is of course playing to the base and the neocon spin of the 'unitary executive'. I think that in general though the notion of nearly unlimited presidential power scares most independents and a great many libertaria­n-conserva­tives.

I lso think that, as a 5-4 decision it will also help sustain concern about the importance of Supreme Court Justices. Not only are we one appointment away from changing course on reproductive rights but also one appointment away from the unitary executive.

[tel8034]

I'm not surprised that both Bush and McCain has taken this position, when just last week we learnt that Bush administration pulled the United States off the United Nation's Human Rights Council.

Human Rights and the Rule of Law are NOT to priorities of either Bush and McCain.

More proof that McCain (if he ever becomes POTUS) will continue on with a 3rd Bush term.

[blueskybigstar]

This is a huge decision. No administration will be able to masquerade in the same way again. My heart is much relieved and my faith somewhat restored in this country. As long as one person loses his or her rights, none of us will have rights.

[barackobama4prez]

Let's just pray that future generations of Americans will not be asleep at the wheel like we've been from 2000-2008.

[juevosrancheros]

You have the experience of half-waking up from a nightmare, but not awake enough yet to either move your limbs or to be fully confident you're not still dreaming? That pretty much sums up the past 8 years for me.

[RTIII]

Hallelujah!

Surprising that Roberts would go along with this but perhaps he understands how history would have judged any other decision and he doesn't want to go down in historical flames like Bush!

[BadCompany]

Roberts dissented.

[mcole]

no it wasnt roberts that voted against it, it was SCALIA

[janblixt]

Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, and Alito DISSENTED
The majority was Kennedy, Souter, Stevens, Ginsberg, and Breyer.

[gerarlam]

We are getting our confidence back in the United States of America. One of the darkest period of our time is coming to an end. We now can see the light at the end of a long tunnel.
When Bush and his gang are goe, it will be sunshine again.
As he has always promised to bring people to justice, I now hope it will be its turn.
Thanks America that you constitution and justice are still intact after all these assaults from this administration

[BadCompany]

Does Russ count as more than one politician these days?