Posted on 07/20/2007 11:49:28 AM PDT by Natty Bumppo@frontier.net
The name “John Doe” has it’s origins in English jurisprudence. Landowners, wrongfully evicted from their property, would bring suit in the fictitious name of “John Doe” (rather than, say, “Kelo”) in order to regain their property and their rights. The fictional name offered some protection from retribution, especially should the offending party by anyone of greater status or title. In the centuries since, the name “John Doe” has come to signify the dispossessed and anonymous.
Especially now.
In November of last year, a group of Moslem clerics assembled at a midwest airport and engaged in a number of deliberately provocative activities that were designed to raise security concerns. Predictably, passengers and airline personnel reported them, and they were removed from their flight, which is precisely what they wanted: to create an incident in which they accuse fellow citizens of bigotry.
Since then, they have engaged in public and private retribution for their troubles, and the Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has even filed lawsuits against the anonymous passengers who made reports or complaints. The agenda is clear: intimidate citizens from reporting suspicious activities, the precise thing our government asks us to do in airports, subways, train stations, and public buildings.
In response to this outrageous litigation, Republican Congressman Pete King of New York proposed a security amendment that would extend protection from such punitive and frivolous lawsuits to those civically minded citizens who report suspicious persons, activities, or objects. The “John Doe Amendment” passed the House with a whopping 304-121 bipartisan appeal, including 105 Democrats. The Senate, obviously still smarting from being taken to the woodshed on immigration, decided to kill the measure. They forced it to a super-majority, (60 votes to pass), but only 57 Senators voted for it, 39 against, and 4 were absent.
The demographics of the vote are revealing. Supporting the measure were all of the Senate Republicans (except one absentee), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), and 8 Democrats. Opposing the measure were all Democrats. In the coming weeks, we can expect all the usual excuses: “it was the wrong bill” (it was a transportation amendment rather than one for security); “it was not good law” (which, plainly, three-quarters of the House did not catch); “it was fear-based legislation” (fear of harassment); “it was not politically correct” (no, only morally).
The bottom line is that the Senate Democrats have just voted all of us to be John Does – anonymous, dispossessed, faceless plaintiffs at the mercy of those who would try to take our rights away from us. They have voted to put at risk every citizen who would perform the civic duty of reporting a crime, or a suspected crime. They have sent a message to CAIR and those who engage in litigious intimidation that citizens can expect no consideration from their government when doing their duty as citizens. Personally, this is nothing new to me. In the nearly thirty years I spent serving this country as a member of the Armed Forces, it was at times without either public or legislative support or protection. But that did not stop me, nor any of my fellow sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines from doing our duty. For most of us, doing our duty transcends the risks and popular disdain often associated with it. We learned it as Scouts, and we learned it in uniform, and most of us believe it and live it still.
We vote regularly, pay taxes, serve on juries, volunteer at schools, pitch in on community and youth programs, participate in neighborhood associations, generally obey the laws and generally expect everyone else to obey them as well. When we see something wrong, we speak out. If I saw the imams acting up, I would have reported them, and I still would. So sue me. Take note: if I see anyone else acting furtively or questionably on my flight, in the airport, on the Metro, in the station, I will report it. Take note: attorneys for CAIR and any other organization who want me to think that doing what’s right is wrong: I will do my duty and I will not be intimidated. Take note: members of the Senate – I vote. I will do my duty at the polls as well, you may count on it.
You may call me John Doe. At least that way you’ll remember who I am.
Ping
Should be used in every fax, letter or email that is sent to your Senator or Congressman!
What is up with this “forced a super-majority”? It was a simple amendment to a bill - thus should only require a standard majority, which it did receive.
If it was a filibuster attempt - then make the sorry jerks actually filibuster in the original intent of the maneuver - round-the-clock debate/speeches with no other business going on until it is settled.
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