Rep. Jane Harman may not be taking on wider wiretap issues

[sabra]

Source: Daily Breeze

When news first broke two weeks ago that she had been wiretapped, South Bay Rep. Jane Harman fought back in a tone of populist outrage.

Speaking to MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell, Harman said she was disappointed that the country had engaged in "a gross abuse of power in recent years." She also said she was less concerned about herself and more worried about "innocent Americans" who don't know that "right now, somewhere, someone is listening in on their conversations."

It was uncharacteristically strident rhetoric for the veteran congresswoman. But if civil liberties advocates were hoping that the wiretapping incident would turn her into a crusader against surveillance abuses, they are likely to be disappointed.

In more recent remarks, Harman has dropped the populist angle. Instead she has defended her conduct without linking her situation to the broader issue of unwarranted eavesdropping on ordinary Americans.

In an interview with the Daily Breeze on Tuesday, she scaled back her criticism of Bush administration policies.

"I don't know if there are rampant wiretapping abuses," she said.

Read more: http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_12302939

[Captain Hilts]

1. As a member of the Intel Cmte., she waived a right to privacy. nt

[Solly Mack]

2. lololololol

and so it goes

[EFerrari]

6. And I thought the Bristol Palin on abstinence story was funny.

It's like The Onion is generating LBN this morning.

[Solly Mack]

7. What's the saying? Current reality has rendered satire moot?

[PassingFair]

3. This woman is SO compromised.

How many more like her in our midst?

[sweettater]

5. I would imagine

most if not all of them are compromised one way or another. :hide:

[gratuitous]

4. Thank you for your service, Ms. Harman

Would you mind terribly vacating your seat in Congress in favor of someone who would actually do the job? Pathetic excuse for an elected official.

[robinlynne]

9. That someone is running! Marcy Winograd is officially running against Jane Harman.

I will find a link. Marcy is one of my idols. She has clear insight into whatever is going on. She is honest, thoughtful, courageous, everything we need in congress, and rarely see.

[gratuitous]

10. That would be excellent news

Didn't she run against Jane in the last Democratic primary? Or am I thinking of Darcy Burner in Washington? Hard for my old swiss cheese memory to sort these things out sometimes. If I am recalling correctly, Winograd mounted a pretty good challenge for an outsider who didn't get much (if any) support from the party. With two more years of Harman's flaccid representation to use as their guide, maybe the Democrats in her district will have tired of Harman's antics.

[robinlynne]

11. Yes. She won 38% of the votes with NO MONEY, only a few volunteers. link below:

Here is one of the invites to her first endorsement rally, next Monday:
I really dont know how to post this properly, I just cut and pasted from one of the many emails circulating here in LA right now.


IT'S OFFICIAL! Marcy Winograd, a charter member of Westside Progressives, has decided to run against Jane Harman in the June 2010 Democratic primary for the House of Representatives, 36th Congressional District.

She will kick off her campaign at the Venice Pier (Washington Blvd. and Ocean Walk Front / Boardwalk), this coming Monday morning, May 11, at 9:00 a.m. Please come and show your support for Marcy.

Endorsed by the West L.A. Democratic Club in her brief 2006 grassroots campaign against Harman, she garnered a whopping 38% of the primary vote. Westside Progressives urges you to show your support for Marcy by contacting her campaign committee and pledging your time and money on behalf of her campaign. The club will soon poll its members to determine whether to give her an early endorsement. If you aren't a member, join now so your vote will count. If you're not sure whether your membership is current, contact our membership coordinator.

While Jane Harman, a Blue Dog Democrat who voted for the invasion of Iraq, is a strong advocate on behalf of the Los Angeles defense industry, Marcy Winograd, founder of L.A. Jews for Peace and PDLA, the Los Angeles chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, is a peace candidate who currently supports the withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan. She is a member of the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party. Click here to read a selection of recent posts by Marcy.

[robinlynne]

8. Did she get a call from karl?

[Supersedeas]

12. Veteran Congresscritters know how to manipulate populism to suit political purposes