Congressman Dennis Kucinich Calls for Shutting Down NSA & Praise for Whistleblower Edward Snowden
Former Presidential Candidate Addresses Mass Surveillance Scandal at D.C. Film Premiere for "Terms & Conditions May Apply"
WASHINGTON D.C.- Former Congressman Dennis Kucinich commented on the NSA's mass surveillance scandal at the sold out D.C. film premiere of the new online privacy film "Terms and Conditions May Apply." Speaking to audience members at the post-screening panel discussion at the West End Cinema, Kucinich called for shutting down the NSA, ticker-tape parades for whistleblower Edward Snowden and accountability for Director of National Intelligence James Clapper's perjury before Congress. A video of the former Ohio Congressman's comments at the August 16th screening can be viewed here:
A few select quotes from Kucinich's comments on NSA surveillance:
- KUCINICH: "It's time to punch the NSA's ticket here.... They've ruined the brand. They've destroyed the idea of privacy.... We talk about the death penalty for individuals, which I oppose, but I think there needs to be for government agencies that so broadly betray the public interest.... There needs to be a measure of responsibility. And if they go beyond the pale, which the NSA has, they just ought to be abolished. We don't need the spying."
- KUCINICH: "It's illegal to lie to Congress, but everyone lies to Congress. As soon as they raise their right hand, watch out! Clapper should be held responsible, but he won't be, because that's the condition we're in right now."
- KUCINICH: "In a just world, Snowden, we'd be having ticker tape parades for him. But that's not what's going to happen. So we have to go back to political solutions. This has to be politicized at a district level, at a state level and national.
- KUCINICH: We have the CIA, we have the FBI, a dozen other intlleigence structures... I think it's time to punch the NSA stick in here. They've ruined the brand. They've destroyed the idea of privacy. We need some kind of symbolic and actually profound approach here--that says look, you've violated something very dear to the American people. You don't get to do that. We talk about the death penalty for individuals, which I oppose. But I think that there needs to be for government agencies, that so broadly betray the public interest, there needs to be a measure of responsibility fand if they go beyond the pale, which NSA has, then they should be abolished. We don't need the spying. "
Demand Progress, a 1.5 million member civil liberties organization, is helping promote "Terms and Conditions May Apply" to raise awareness of online privacy infringement. The organization is launching a campaign at www.TrackOff.us , urging members of Congress to watch the film at a September screening on Capitol Hill.
Demand Progress executive director David Segal commented, "Congressman Dennis Kucinich's harsh criticism of the NSA's mass surveillance program is further confirmation of recent poll results showing growing bipartisan agreement over government privacy infringement. From Town Hall meetings to social media venues, thousands of innocent Americans are speaking out against the erosion of due process and privacy rights in America."
4
4
2
