Fox News has refused to air an ad produced by the Center for Constitutional Rights that criticizes the Bush administration for "destroying the Constitution" by the use of renditions, torture, and other tactics. The ad, "Rescue the Constitution," which is narrated by actor Danny Glover, can be viewed here.

In an email provided to Media Matters for America by the Center, Fox News account executive Erin Kelly told Owen Henkel, the Center's e-communications manager, that Fox would not run the ad:

Hi Owen --

   We cannot approve the spot with it being Danny Glover's opinion that the Bush Administration is destroying the Constitution. If you have documentation that it is indeed being destroyed, we can look at that.

   Sorry about that,

   Erin

If the most glaring clause, against "cruel and unusual punishment" doesn't float Fox's boat, here is more "documentation."

The Sixth of the Amendment of the US Constitution, the "Bill of Rights" states:

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State...to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense."

The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution states:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

On May 8th, 2002, the government arrested Jose Padilla on American soil on allegations, but not formal charges, of terrorism.  George W. Bush ordered the military to take custody of Padilla as an "enemy combatant," in the June 9, 2002 Presidential Order to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld:

"I, GEORGE W. BUSH, as President of the United States and Commander in Chief of the U.S. armed forces, hereby DETERMINE for the United States of America that...Jose Padilla, who is under the control of the Department of Justice and who is a U.S. citizen, is, and at the time he entered the United States in May 2002 was, an enemy combatant...Accordingly, you are directed to receive Mr. Padilla from the Department of Justice and to detain him as an enemy combatant. "

In his Dec. 17, 2005, President's radio address George Bush admitted to reauthorizing illegal NSA warrantless surveillance over both American citizens and foreign nationals more than 30 times:  

"I have reauthorized this program more than 30 times since the September the 11th attacks, and I intend to do so for as long as our nation faces a continuing threat from al Qaeda and related groups."

Bush's elevation of the radical, never-before-seen doctrine of "wartime powers" in a war that lasts forever, and placing this doctrine on the mantle along with the Constitution, is like putting lipstick on a pig.  

Fox's info:

Fox News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229
comments@foxnews.com

It's also fun to call your congressman to ask them to look into yanking Fox's broadcast license.  It won't happen, but it might serve to generate publicity for this downright fascist decision.  I have always said that what is in store for the country is a blurring of traditional left and right and the emergence of "Constitutionalist" versus "Corporatist" forces, with alliances cutting across party lines like Bruce Fein, Ron Paul, Kucinich, and true progressives on one side, and the Giuliani-Hillary money machines on the other.  The money machines will spar on social issues, but never say a word about the subversion of the republic taking place before our eyes.

II.  Impeachment Walker Now Headed to Providence

60-year-old John Nirenberg's one man walk to Nancy Pelosi's office in Wash. DC is headed toward Providence, RI, after leaving from Boston last week.  Everyone is welcome to join him for a few miles or as long as they like.

His website in marchinmyname.org  A nice AP write-up on John is here.  From John's blog yesterday, when he was in Pawtucket:

We stopped in the spanking new police headquarters in Attleboro for a pitstop. The officer kindly welcomed us to use the facilities and we managed to fill up on cold water and had our lunch beneath the long eye of a hallway security camera. We picked up the crumbs we dropped and left the station as pristine as we found it. We were refreshed for the road ahead. The local police hospitality reminded us of the dedicated personage for the day, believe it or not, it is none other than John Ashcroft. Perhaps in another context he will serve as the villain of the day for his work on the ill-named Patriot Act, but today we remember him for his moment of conscience and resistance to the White House in their attempt to undermine domestic freedoms. His efforts did delay some rather nefarious maneuvers.