Assassinations, Spying and The Constitution: ACLU President Susan Herman Talks Big Govt and Liberty

"All of our elected representatives have to hear from a broad cross section of liberals, libertarians, conservatives--people who just say, 'This is too much big government. We want our government back,'" says American Civil Liberties Union President Susan Herman, author of the new book "Taking Liberties: The War on Terror and the Erosion of American Democracy."

How much has the police state expanded since 9/11, and is there any way to stop it? Herman sat down with Reason.tv Editor-in-Chief Nick Gillespie to discuss the this and other questions surrounding the state of liberty in America. Herman notes that while there have been a few minor changes in policy, for the most part there's been a remarkable continuity between the Bush and Obama administrations in terms of their disregard for civil liberties. She makes the case that liberals must make alliances with libertarians and pro-liberty conservatives like Ron Paul and Gary Johnson if there's any hope of curbing the ever-expanding police state.

She also discusses the recent assassination of American citizen Anwar Al-Awlaki and the ACLU's role in representing Al-Awlaki's father in court.

Interview by Nick Gillespie. Edited by Zach Weissmueller.

Approximately 17 minutes.

Visit Reason.tv for downloadable versions, and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates when new material goes live.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ACLU
• civil liberties
• Obama
• Bush
• War on Terror
• Big Government
• PATRIOT ACT
• Anwar Al-Awlaki
• assassination
• police state
• surveillance
• Big Brother
• libertarian
• Nick Gillespie
• Reason Magazine
• Glenn Greenwald
• liberalism
• anti war Republicans
• Ron Paul
• Gary Johnson

[safewaysecurity]

Nick why didn't you ask her why the ACLU does not support or defend the Second Amendment and not endorse the individual rights view? Why do they support all other civil liberties except that one?

[lantern256]

While I like you talking about this situation now. We should have been talking about it long ago when the government was killing people up on Ruby Ridge. Which is in the United States.

[QuartuvLarry]

Has anyone noticed that no militias were called upon to fight off the invaders in the Modern Warfare games?

[dlane0308]

@Loathomar How do I interpret the 2nd amendment? I hold that it applies to individuals, not states. Seeing that a militia is nothing but a voluntary citizens' army, I don't see how that clause changes the meaning significantly. Aside from any constitutional reason I am a supporter of gun rights and the right to self defense in general.

[Loathomar]

And I know that sounds funny, but I am mean things like speed limits or things of that nature, not free speech. I mean, if limiting people speed on the hwy to 70mph saves 1 million lives per year vs no speed limit, I am all for it, but if it save little to no lives, well then it is just BS and should be removed. Either effective regulation or no regulation at all. And as so much of the government regulation is ineffective, I have a tendency to lean towards Libertarianism.

[Loathomar]

count.. Basically, do you completely ignore the 1st section of the 2nd amendment? Personally, I believe the states have the regulate guns, even ban them outside a well regulated Militia under the constitution, but at the same time I know banning guns does not do any real good, so why they help would I support a removal of a freedom, if it does not do any good. Banning guns does not decrease crime or deaths so why do it? I never support and removal of any freedom, if it does not do some real good

[Loathomar]

@dlane0308 My point was that if you take a liberal and change there views on the 2nd amendment to be a big supporter of the conservative view of the 2nd amendment, that does not make that person a Libertarians. I too feel toward between the Libertarians and the Democrats, but that is because a disagree with a lot of the Democrat's view, not just gun control. Thought there is a question of not just do you support the 2nd amendment, but how do you read the 2nd amendment? count...

[dlane0308]

@Loathomar Not necessarily true. I am a 2nd amendment supporting liberal. I always find myself torn between the Libertarians and the Democrats. It is tough for someone who loves civil liberties in this country.

[wrefordon]

I suggest the reader checks out and use the following and google "Tavistock Institute and the erosion of the American Constitution" the third blog down, and others gives a in depth account of the threat to America, it is serious with regard to the control of the mind and the insidious penetration of corruption of Democracy in America, and all that follows, I would say you are all dead meat including myself, the over confidence of Americans is enough to make one weep, I send you a SOS.

[steve0281]

This is one reason I don't totally loathe the ACLU.

[briandecree]

Your country is SO corrupted and full of shit.... thank god I don't live there!!

[daPlumber702]

@Loathomar This I can agree with, although the idea of restrictions or regulations on owning anything really is nothing but another way for the government to make us all slaves. every last one of us.