“I believe flag burning is a despicable act, but I do not support a constitutional amendment to prohibit flag burning.” (Associated Press policy Q&A, “Flag Amendment” Jan 25, 2004
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“South Carolina, as a matter of compromise, displays the Confederate flag on a flagpole in front of the state capitol. Because I grew up in the South and believe that the Confederate flag is a very divisive symbol I have stated publicly a number of times that I believe that South Carolina should remove the flag from the state capital grounds.” (Concord Monitor / ~WashingtonPost.com on-line Q&A Nov 7, 2003
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Q: The PATRIOT Act is two years old. There has been criticism of John Ashcroft for enforcement of legislation you authored. Shouldn't those who wrote the legislation take responsibility? EDWARDS: There are provisions, which get no attention, which did good things. The reason we need changes is because it gave too much discretion to an attorney general who does not deserve it. The attorney general told us that he would not abuse his discretion. He has abused his discretion. We know that now. (Democratic Presidential 2004 Primary Debate in Detroit Oct 27, 2003
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“I support dramatic revision of the PATRIOT Act. The last thing we should be doing is turning over our privacy, our liberties, our freedom, our constitutional rights to John Ashcroft. First, the very notion that this administration can arrest American citizens on American soil, label them an enemy combatant, put them in prison, keep them there indefinitely-this runs contrary to everything we believe in this country. The notion that they are going to libraries to find out what books people are checking out, going to book stores to find out what books are being purchased. What we have to remember-and I will when I am president-is what it is we are supposed to be fighting for, what it is we are supposed to be protecting. These very liberties, this privacy, these constitutional rights-that's what's at stake in this fight. And we cannot let people like John Ashcroft take them away in an effort to protect ourselves.” (Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate Sep 9, 2003
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Q: Here in South Carolina, it's a felony for two gay men to have sex in their own home. Do you support that law? Or is there a fundamental right to privacy that protects that right? EDWARDS: I believe there is a fundamental right to privacy. I do not believe the government belongs in people's bedrooms. I think that applies to both gay and lesbian couples and heterosexual couples. (Democratic Debate in Columbia SC May 3, 2003
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MOSELEY-BRAUN to Edwards: Ben Franklin once said, “They that can give up essential liberties to obtain a little safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” I have real concerns that the PATRIOT Act vastly expending government power of surveillance, wire taps, arbitrary detention, investigation, and arguably violates (six) amendments to the Constitution. You voted for this bill. Will you vote to repeal it, or will you vote to restore the civil liberties guaranteed to the Americans, and privacy guaranteed to the Americans by the Constitution? EDWARDS: I share that very serious concern. (But) the problem with the PATRIOT Act is not the law itself, it's the way it's being administered, particularly by Attorney General Ashcroft. We have had consistent problems with this. It is why I have proposed taking away from the FBI the responsibility of fighting terrorism and simultaneously setting up an independent watchdog group to make sure that none of us are losing our civil liberties.
Voted YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Bill S.625 ; vote number 2002-147 on Jun 11, 2002)