Saturday, June 8, 2013

Obama: “You Can’t Have 100% Security & 100% Privacy,” Responding To NSA Scandal

June 7, 2013 5:41pm

Earlier today, President Obama reacted to the news that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been secretly been keeping databases of American citizen’s electronic and telephone communications.

The president said, “I think it’s important to recognize that you can’t have 100 percent security and also then have 100 percent privacy and zero inconvenience. We’re going to have to make some choices as a society.”
According to Obama, these programs are effective and are overseen by congress as well as members of his
administration. “Every member of Congress has been briefed,” he said, referring to the NSA’s controversial actions.

Obama claims these programs help him keep Americans safe, but that he also wants to respect Americans’ right to privacy. He says the programs are effective, but also encouraged a debate about balance between privacy and security.

“I welcome this debate and I think it’s healthy for our Democracy. I think it’s a sign of maturity because probably five years ago, six years ago, we might not have been having this debate.”
And, of course, no Obama press conference would be complete without blaming President George W. Bush! Obama said, “These are programs that have been reauthorized by broad, bipartisan majorities repeatedly since 2006. I think it’s interesting that there are some folks on the left, but also some folks on the right who are now worried about it who weren’t very worried about it when it was a Republican president.”
Obama said that all the recent “hype” surrounding the NSA is silly. “Nobody is listening to your phone calls,” he said.
You know what’s really silly? The fact that Obama is smug enough to get on stage and try to defend violating our right to privacy. This is just another example of an Obama Administration power grab.
Written by Kristin Tate.