Back in the day, Sherrod Brown's primary opponent, Paul Hackett, had this to say (Toledo Blade):"For Sherrod Brown, the issue of terrorism presents a big problem," a Hackett consultant wrote in an undated memo. A paragraph later, the consultant called Mr. Brown's intelligence votes "evidence that Brown would be pummeled in a general election match-up, as we already know how Republicans use the issue of terrorism against Democrats."Furthermore, Brown voted for cuts in intelligence funding over a dozen times prior to 9/11:
A consultant hired by Mr. Hackett, Mr. Brown's onetime Democratic opponent for Senate, estimated the funding cuts would have totaled billions of dollars if enacted. None were. The consultant called Mr. Brown's votes on those proposals and a dozen more recent national security issues "toxic in today's political environment," according to campaign research documents obtained by The Blade.And let's not pretend that 9/11 effected Sherrod Brown's votes...
Brown Voted Against A Bill Authorizing The Terrorist Surveillance Program:
Warrantless Electronic Surveillance - Passage. "Passage of the bill that would allow electronic surveillance of communications by suspected terrorists for specified periods without first obtaining approval from the secret court established by the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The bill would allow warrantless surveillance to be conducted for up to 90 days if an armed or terrorist attack against the United States has occurred, or if there is an 'imminent threat.' The president would have to notify congressional intelligence committees and the FISA court of such surveillance. The bill would extend the amount of time intelligence agencies can conduct warrantless electronic surveillance in 'emergency situations' before seeking FISA court approval to seven days." (H.R. 5825, CQ Vote #502: Passed 232-191: R 214-13; D 18-177; I 0-1, Sep tember 28, 2006, Brown voted Nay)
Brown Previously Expressed His Opposition To The NSA's Terrorist Surveillance Program And Said The Senate Select Committee On Intelligence "Should Have Taken Action To Stop [It]"
"Brown Said He Opposes [What He Refers To As] Domestic Eavesdropping And The Government's Collection Of Phone Records." "Brown said he opposes the domestic eavesdropping and the government's collection of phone records. He also [the Senate intelligence Committee] committee should have taken action to stop both." ("DeWine, Brown Square Off Over PATRIOT Act, Phone Records," WHIO-TV Website, June 7, 2006)
Brown Voted To Bar Funds From Being Used For The NSA's Terrorist Surveillance Program:
Fiscal 2007 Defense Appropriations -- Electronic Surveillance. "Schiff, D-Calif., amendment that would bar the use of funds from being available to engage in electronic surveillance in the United States except as authorized under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or two chapters of Title 18 in U.S. Code." (H.R. 5631, CQ Vote #295: Rejected 207-219: R 23-204; D 183-15; I 1-0, June 20, 2006, Brown voted Yea)
Here area few more facts to ponder...
A Former Aide To Liberal Sen. Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH) Said Brown's Votes "Are A Problem" Because Ohio "Voters Will Ask Whether [Brown] Had A Realistic View Of What Is Necessary To Secure The Safety Of The United States." "'They are a problem,' Peter Harris, a former aide to Sen. Howard Metzenbaum, D-Ohio, said of Brown's votes. 'Because voters will ask whether he had a realistic view of what is necessary to secure the safety of the United States, whether he took the subject seriously, and whether he thought about it or cast a knee-jerk vote.'" (Jack Torry, "On Keeping Nation Safe, Candidates Sharply Differ," The Columbus Dispatch, August 27, 2006)In a post-9/11 world, can we trust Sherrod Brown to represent Ohio in the United States Senate? I don't think so...the stakes are just too high.
Brown Voted At Least TWELVE Times To Cut Or Freeze Funding For Intelligence During The Time Between The First Attack On The World Trade Center And September 11th, 2001. (H.R. 1555, CQ Vote #129: Rejected 68-343: R 6-213; D 61-130; I 1-0, May 13, 1999, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 3694, CQ Vote #137: Rejected 120-291: R 21-196; D 98-95; I 1-0, May 7, 1998, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 1775, CQ Vote #255: Rejected 182-238: R 23-199; D 158-39; I 1-0, July 9, 1997, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 1775, CQ Vote #253: Rejected 142-289: R 27-198; D 114-91; I 1-0, July 9, 1997, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 3259, CQ Vote #188: Rejected 137-292: R 18-213; D 118-79; I 1-0, May 22, 1996, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 3259, CQ Vote #187: Rejected 192-235: R 37-193; D 154-42; I 1-0, May 22, 1996, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 3259, CQ Vote #185: Rejected 115-311: R 22-209; D 92-102; I 1-0, May 22, 1996, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 1655, CQ Vote #654: Rejected 162-262: R 37-193; D 124-69; I 1-0, September 13, 1995, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2126, CQ Vote #643: Rejected 93-325: R 13-216; D 79-109; I 1-0, September 7, 1995, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 4299, CQ Vote #333: Rejected in the Committee of the Whole 106-315: R 8-163; D 97-152; I 1-0, July 19, 1994, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2330, CQ Vote #393: Rejected in Committee of the Whole 134-299: R 13-159; D 120-140; I 1-0, August 4, 1993, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2330, CQ Vote #391: Rejected in Committee of the Whole 104-323: R 6-164; D 97-159; I 1-0, August 3, 1993, Brown voted Yea)
Brown Voted At Least TWICE Against The Original PATRIOT Act, Just One Month After September 11th. (H.R. 2975, CQ Vote #386, Passed 337-79: R 207-3; D 129-75; I 1-1, October 12, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 3162, CQ Vote #398, Motion agreed to 357-66: R 211-3; D 145-62; I 1-1, October 24, 2001, Brown voted Nay)
Brown Voted At Least TWICE Against Reauthorizing The PATRIOT Act In 2005. (H.R. 3199, CQ Vote #414, Passed 257-171: R 214-14; D 43-156; I 0-1, July 21, 2005, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 3199, CQ Vote #627, Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 251-174: R 207-18; D 44-155; I 0-1, December 14, 2005, Brown voted Nay)
Brown Voted At Least TWICE Against The Creation Of The Department Of Homeland Security. (H.R. 5005, CQ Vote #367, Passed 295-132: R 207-10; D 88-120; I 0-2, July 26, 2002, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 5710, CQ Vote #477, Passed 299-121: R 212-6; D 87-114; I 0-1, November 13, 2002, Brown voted Nay)
Brown Was One Of Only 66 House Members Who Voted Against Allowing The Death Penalty For Terrorists Who Attack Trains Or Other Mass Transit Systems: Patriot Act Reauthorization - Violence Against Rail And Mass Transit. "Capito, R-W.Va., amendment that would authorize up to 20 years in prison for individuals who commit terrorist or other violent attacks on land, water, or air against railroad and mass transportation systems. It would also provide a minimum sentence of 30 years if the vehicle attacked is carrying spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste, and a mandatory life sentence, with the possibility of the death penalty, if the attack results in the death of a person." (H.R. 3199, CQ Vote #405, Adopted 362-66: R 226-1; D 135-65; I 1-0, July 21, 2005, Brown voted Nay)
