Say one thing ... New findings scary because of the trust it erases

Let's be fair: Some monitoring of connections and communications is necessary in an era when militant groups and crazy nuts can call for a jihad with the click of a mouse.

So, extra security to protect this nation from such attacks is warranted.

But that is not the curious part of the recent news that the Obama administration is monitoring what you do or say on the Internet.

It is the hypocrisy.

Is this not the same man who railed against the Bush administration for its "stepping on human liberties" and who vowed to erase every security monitoring procedure put into place after Sept. 11 after savaging all of them and every official who suggested using one?

Yes, it is -- the man who now has expanded government bureaucrats' reach and is defending the action as reasonable and necessary.

And isn't this the same national security team that told us that al-Qaida is under control and that there is no reason for continued scrutiny of Muslim interests or for questions about motives in the Middle East? Did they also not suggest we set the enemy combatants free?

So why is there a need to chase journalists, to tap phones and to monitor calls?

That's right. It is more of the say one thing to placate and deceive the voters while doing something else theory of government.

Bottom line is, they think we aren't paying attention.

And soon, we will hear the latest spin on how the latest round of security decisions is really former President George W. Bush's fault.

The problem the current administration is having is a direct result of what happens when you do not tell the hard, unvarnished and necessary truth, when you sugarcoat and cherry pick information for political reasons.

You have no credibility.

And that, more than anything else, is what should make every citizen of this country take notice.

And why there should never be politicians who are given a free pass -- or permission to dodge questions or to create their own version of "news."

Checks and balances -- and a free and questioning press and populace -- are in place for exactly this sort of reason.

The Founding Fathers were right again.

Published in Editorials on June 7, 2013 11:07 AM