We’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.”
https://twitter.com/kirstenpowers10/status/299643920810377217
Sen. Feinstein says Anwar al-Awlaki was a "so-called" US citizen. I can't even.
— Andrew Blake (@apblake) February 7, 2013
Are we all "so-called" American citizens until Dianne Feinstein decides if we're cool or not?
— Paul Blumenthal (@PaulBlu) February 7, 2013
Feinstein calls Anwar al-Awlaki a "so-called" American citizen umm I thought you either are a citizen or not… #Brennan #tlot
— Jason4Liberty (@Jason4Liberty) February 7, 2013
https://twitter.com/FirstTeamTommy/status/299647922314833921
Feinstein's been a "so-called" Democratic Senator from California for years. @daveweigel @intelligencer
— Need A Hobby (@NeedaHobby1) February 7, 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.
https://twitter.com/joshgreenman/status/299643837163376640
https://twitter.com/joshuahersh/status/299643909238308865
Feinstein suggests that because Awlaki was "not upstanding" he is no longer a US citizen
— David Rohde (@RohdeD) February 7, 2013
Is Dianne Feinstein arguing that not being "upstanding" nullifies one's right to due process as a citizen?
— The Joke Calculator (@DewNO) February 7, 2013
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https://twitter.com/kirstenpowers10/status/299644183768092674
Sen Feinstein assures that Americans killed by drones were “not upstanding.” Not any more. #DueProcess? #Brennan
— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) February 7, 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
— ? (@HarryElephante) February 7, 2013
https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/299643952305418240
Senator #Feinstein actually implied that killing #Awlaki was justified since he wasn't an "upstanding citizen." #Brennan #GWOT
— Eric Wuestewald (@eric_wuest) February 7, 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.
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