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jct74
03-13-2013, 04:49 AM
Democrats Confront Obama On Drone Policy During Closed-Door Gathering With Senators

Posted: 03/12/2013 5:07 pm EDT
by Ryan Grim and Sabrina Siddiqui

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama faced a tough question on drone policy from a fellow Democrat during a Senate meeting Tuesday and defended his administration's program, according to sources in the meeting.

The administration's drone program captured national attention last week when Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) carried out a nearly 13-hour filibuster to protest elements of it.

Rand specifically wanted clarification from the White House as to whether it believes it has the authority to use a drone to kill an American citizen on American soil who is not engaged in combat, as it feels it does when a citizen is on foreign soil. The day after Rand's filibuster, Attorney General Eric Holder answered that no, the president does not have such authority.

Senate Democrats were largely absent from Paul's filibuster last week. But on Monday, a group of progressive Senate Democrats pressed Obama on the issue. Details of the exchange so far are scarce.

"There was an exchange, but I don't want to get into the specifics," said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.).

...


read more:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/democrats-drone-policy_n_2862544.html


also in a related story - I believe there was a separate thread for this but can't find it at the moment - 8 House Democrats sent a letter to the president asking for the unclassified release of information regarding the administration's drone policy:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/obama-administration-drones_n_2860701.html


Interesting to watch the effect of Rand's filibuster play out here and how many other people will jump on board in following his lead.

dancjm
03-13-2013, 04:52 AM
Wonderful scenes.

itshappening
03-13-2013, 05:42 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GL6LH6ufhM