Hold trio accountable for unconstitutional legislation

Rep. Butch Otter and Senators Craig and Crapo are back from Washington, having voted "yes" on the Military Commissions Act. This radical legislation undermines the constitutional right to a fair trial under the 5th and 6th Amendments. This act denies the accused access to evidence against him/her and allows use of secret and coerced evidence. It denies the right to a speedy trial, allowing detention virtually forever without being charged with any crime. It grants the Bush administration wide latitude in interpreting Geneva Convention mandates, a change that prominent GOP members have said will leave our military men and women in jeopardy as other countries follow. It abandons Habeas Corpus (the right to demand a showing of lawful grounds for detention) dating back to the Magna Carta (800 years).

This unconstitutional legislation comes as a response to Supreme Court decisions rebuking the Bush administration's detainee and military tribunal policies, and legitimizes the un-American practices of indefinite detentions and the harsh mistreatment of detainees. It also absolves the Bush administration of any responsibility for war crimes. By voting for this legislation, our representatives have abdicated both their duty to uphold the Constitution and to represent the values and voice of Idahoans. They should be held accountable.

HERON BAKER

Sandpoint