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points by autoexec 2 days ago | 0 comments

Obama wasn't always pro-surveillance though. He campaigned on ending the NSAs domestic spying program. Only after he was elected did he suddenly praise the NSA publicly and greatly expand their spying powers.

[–] cowlevel 2 days ago

Sounds more like he was pro-surveillance but knew how unpopular it was.

[–] autoexec 2 days ago

Obama taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. He spoke passionately about the dangers of domestic spying programs and against the Patriot Act. Maybe he was lying the entire time just to be elected, but he was extremely convincing.

Personally, I suspect that once in office he was either shown something that scared him so much that it genuinely made him believe that violating the rights of every American citizen was necessary, or he was strong armed into supporting what they were doing and expanding their abuses. I imagine the NSA had no shortage of dirt on him and his family just as they must have on every politician, CEO, parent, and child in the country.

[–] buellerbueller 2 days ago

I feel like this is a reasonable but nearly-impossible-to-prove take. Maybe this is why everything goes uniparty.

[–] NDlurker 2 days ago

Yes, just another lying or compromised politician.