Gonzales, a major architect of the surveillance program, said that the operation was "both necessary and lawful" and that he believed any president would have taken the steps Bush did. "I think it would be irresponsible to do otherwise," he said in a speech at Georgetown University Law Center(...)
With polls showing the public evenly split about the eavesdropping program, Gonzales - like Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney before him - said in his speech that he welcomed a "worthy debate" over the limits of presidential power.
More than two dozen students in the audience turned their backs on Gonzales and stood stone-faced before live television cameras for the duration of his half-hour speech. Five protesters in the group donned black hoods and unfurled a banner that quoted Benjamin Franklin. It read, "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither."
Gonzales, who had been White House counsel when the eavesdropping program was approved after the Sept. 11 attacks, appeared unbothered by the protest. Aides said he planned more public events before his testimony at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the program, scheduled for Feb. 6.
It's our job to protest.
Posted by kerry at January 25, 2006 09:19 AMI'm still trying to find out more info on the students who protested...good for them, what a proud moment. I just wonder if they were part of any organized group?
Posted by: Jeremy at January 26, 2006 04:39 PM