Approaching midnight on May 26/27, 2011 President Obama auto-signed from France one of America’s most despised laws, which remains enforced – the US Patriot Act. However, the hatred of the law differs between citizens and governmental officials. The attitude of the American inhabitants is fairly evenly divided into three distinct camps; yet partisanship is obvious. On the other hand legislators, who either loathe or support the bill, are absolutely bipartisan. The data will show an amazing role reversal between citizens and their government resulting in some of most unlikely coalitions.
Disjointed Citizens
A February 2011 Pew Research Center poll found not only a divided nation on the issue but also a lack of a majority that is following one clear objective. With 34% of the American population opposed to the measure the nation finds 42% in favor of the law. Finally, nearly a quarter of all citizens that complete the triad, find the law too complicated to formulate an opinion.
Unified Politicians
Ironically, American legislators are far more unified. Seventy-six percent of US senators voting (72) and sixty three percent of House representatives (250) voted to pass the legislation extension. So coalesced were the legislators, debate was seriously curtailed. Corey Boles reporter for The Wall Street Journal argued on May 26, 2011, “All week long [Senator Rand] Paul has pushed to be allowed to have votes on amendments…only to have it fall apart.” Matthew Rothschild, editor of The Progressive magazine, went further on May 28, 2011. “Sounding like Dick Cheney himself, [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid went after Rand Paul in the most outrageous manner,” Rothschild accused. Even fellow Kentucky Republican, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, went after dissenter Paul when he expressed dismay at the delay in a Senate floor speech Thursday morning May 26, 2011.
Bipartisan Politicians
Just as the politicians are strongly unified in support of the Patriot Act, so too is the small opposition. The irony is that members of this obstructionist group are complete ideological opposites. Southern Libertarian and Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul joined forces with New England’s Liberal Democrat, Vermont’s Senator Patrick Leahy. Right-wing Tea Party Republican Mike Lee from Utah linked forces with Minnesota’s comedian, Democrat Al Franken. When war hero, Hawaiian Democratic Senator Daniel Akaka connected with anti-veterans’ Republican Senator Dean Heller from Nevada, the nation knew the band of political odd couples was uniquely American.
Party-Line Citizens
While politicians have been uncharacteristically unified and bipartisan, the citizens have taken on the one-sided role formerly relegated to office-bearers. However, not only are the people willing to follow political rhetoric and march lockstep along party lines, but also they are willing to change their view as rapidly as their faction gains or loses power.
According to the Pew data, in January 2006, during the presidency of Republican President George Bush, 65% of the Republican electorate agreed with the implementation of the Patriot Act while 25% of Democrats felt it was necessary. In February 2011, during the presidency of Democrat Barack Obama, 29% of America’s Democrats (35%) and 13% of her Republican voters (57%) changed opinions of the law as the nation change political parties of the presidency. Republicans became less supportive as Democrats became more supportive of the divisive Patriot Act.
However, far more impressive is the electorate’s negative response to the decree. Following the same political formula, Republicans saw a 28% increase in their negative outlook of the law during the current Obama administration while Democrats' opposition to the Patriot Act dropped by 33%.
The newly signed Patriot Act has illuminated several ironies between US citizens and lawmakers. Townsfolk became polarized along party lines as the usually partisan politicians became unified in their support. All the while the opposition created some of the nation’s most unimaginable partnerships.
Frank W. Hardy - Frank has 36 years of airline experience navigating every ocean & continent. Flying 25,000 hours in 42 years presents a rare historical ...
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