"So-called citizen"? I didn't realize Diane Feinstein was an Anwar Awlaki birther.
—
Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) February 07, 2013We’re still trying to wrap our heads around Democratic Rep. John Conyers’ suggestion to start calling illegal immigrants “out of status” new Americans, and now Sen. Dianne Feinstein has thrown us another curve. While questioning CIA director nominee John Brennan at his confirmation hearing today, Feinstein referred to radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who was killed in a Predator drone strike in 2011, as a “so-called American citizen.”
Feinstein just called aw-awlaki a 'so called' american citizen. Huh?—
kirsten powers (@kirstenpowers10) February 07, 2013
Sen. Feinstein says Anwar al-Awlaki was a "so-called" US citizen. I can't even.—
Andrew Panda Blake (@apblake) February 07, 2013
Are we all "so-called" American citizens until Dianne Feinstein decides if we're cool or not?—
PaulBlumenthal (@PaulBlu) February 07, 2013
Feinstein calls Anwar al-Awlaki a "so-called" American citizen umm I thought you either are a citizen or not… #Brennan #tlot—
(@Jason4Liberty) February 07, 2013
I KNEW she was a #Birther. KNEW IT. RT @SalenaZitoTrib: Sen. Diane Feinstein refers to Anwar al Awlaki as a "so-called" American citizen.—
Tommy (@FirstTeamTommy) February 07, 2013
Feinstein's been a "so-called" Democratic Senator from California for years. @daveweigel @intelligencer—
Need A Hobby (@NeedaHobby1) February 07, 2013
Feinstein seemed to be using “so-called” as a term of general condemnation, noting that most people think of American citizens as “upstanding” people. Critics of the administration’s recently leaked policy of targeting American Al-Qaeda members with drone strikes weren’t satisfied with that simplistic definition.
Feinstein: Awlaki was not upstanding.—
Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman) February 07, 2013
Ah yes, Feinstein is citing the classic "upstanding" case from 1975.—
Joshua Hersh (@joshuahersh) February 07, 2013
Feinstein suggests that because Awlaki was "not upstanding" he is no longer a US citizen—
David Rohde (@RohdeD) February 07, 2013
Is Dianne Feinstein arguing that not being "upstanding" nullifies one's right to due process as a citizen?—
Alex D. (@DewNO) February 07, 2013
Feinstein: When people think of an American citizen you think of someone upstanding. Ummm, Charles Manson is a US citizen.—
kirsten powers (@kirstenpowers10) February 07, 2013
Sen Feinstein assures that Americans killed by drones were “not upstanding.” Not any more. #DueProcess? #Brennan—
InnerCityPress (@innercitypress) February 07, 2013
Remind me to be an "upstanding citizen." I'm not sure of the definition of that, but accorinding to Feinstein my life depends on it #Brennan—
Joshua Daniels (@HarryElephante) February 07, 2013
Dianne Feinstein: "When people hear 'American citizen,' they assume he was upstanding" // no, we assume they have due process rights.—
Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 07, 2013
Senator #Feinstein actually implied that killing #Awlaki was justified since he wasn't an "upstanding citizen." #Brennan #GWOT—
Eric Wuestewald (@eric_wuest) February 07, 2013
Even supporters of the administration’s drone program might want to raise a red flag over the senator’s choice of words, considering that Feinstein is currently pushing to ban 150 “military style” weapons that “upstanding” Americans now enjoy the right to purchase. When rights are at stake, words are important.