The Lies Mike Rogers Told Congress About The USA Freedom Act

One of the most obvious ways that you knew the USA Freedom Act that passed out of the House yesterday was clearly not real NSA reform was the simple fact that the NSA #1 defender in chief, Rep. Mike Rogers, not only voted for it, but spoke strongly in favor of it on the House floor.

In typical Mike Rogers fashion, his statement is quite incredible for its bald faced lies. Let's dig in.

It is commendable that we have found a responsible legislative solution to address concerns about the bulk telephone metadata program so that we may move forward on other national security legislative priorities. Our obligation to protect this countryshould not be held hostage by the actions of traitors who leak classified information that puts our troops in the field at risk or those who fear-monger and spread mistruth to further their own misguided agenda.

Got that? The only reason that this debate is happening is because Ed Snowden revealed how the NSA was breaking the law. Rep. Sensenbrenner wrote the original USA Freedom Act to make it clear that what the NSA was doing directly violated what he intended the law to be when he wrote the original USA Patriot Act. To argue that revealing the NSA breaking the law makes him a "traitor" is just one of many of Rogers' continued lies and mistruths. But that opening paragraph also makes it clear that Rogers views the USA Freedom Act as a mere nuisance, which needs to be passed to get the privacy groups to shut up -- though, of course they won't. 

And, despite all of Rogers' claims, there is still no evidence at all that any of the information "puts our trips in the field at risk." As for "fear-mongering" and "spreading mistruth" that has been the currency of Rogers himself -- in fact, in this very sentence, where he talks about "traitors" and putting the troops at risk.

Following the criminal disclosures of intelligence information last June, the Section 215 telephone metadata program has been the subject of intense, and often inaccurate, criticism. The bulk telephone metadata program is legal, overseen, and effective at saving American lives. All three branches of government oversee this program, including Congress, the FISC, inspectors general, and internal compliance and privacy and civil liberties offices in executive branch agencies.

Actually, that's not even close to true...

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140522/17435027341/lies-mike-rogers-told-congress-about-usa-freedom-act.shtml