1. Domestic Spying
"We reject the use of national security letters to spy on citizens who are not suspected of a crime." (2008)
2. Guantanamo Bay
"We will close the detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, the location of so many of the worst constitutional abuses in recent years." (2008)
3. Patriot Act
"We will revisit the Patriot Act and overturn unconstitutional executive decisions issued during the past eight years." (2008)
4. Executive Power
"We reject sweeping claims of 'inherent' presidential power." (2008)
5. Surveillance Oversight
"We support constitutional protections and judicial oversight on any surveillance program involving Americans." (2008)
6. Habeas Corpus
"[W]e don’t always catch the right person. We may think this is Mohammed the terrorist, it might be Mohammed the cab driver. You might think it’s Barack the bomb thrower, but it’s Barack the guy running for president. So the reason that you have this principle [habeas corpus] is not to be soft on terrorism, it’s because that’s who we are. That’s what we’re protecting." (2008)
7. Staying True to Values
President Obama on the war on terror: “This war, like all wars, must end. That’s what history advises. That’s what our democracy demands. In America, we’ve faced down dangers far greater than Al Qaeda by staying true to our values.” (2013)
8. FOIA Requests
"The Freedom of Information Act should be administered with a clear presumption: In the face of doubt, openness prevails... In responding to requests under the FOIA, executive branch agencies should act promptly and in a spirit of cooperation, recognizing that such agencies are servants of the public." (2009)
9. Tracking Citizens
"We reject the tracking of citizens who do nothing more than protest a misguided war." (2008)
10. Extraordinary Rendition
"We will not ship away prisoners in the dead of night to be tortured in far off countries, or detain without trial or charge prisoners who can and should be brought to justice for their crimes, or maintain a network of secret prisons to jail people beyond the reach of the law." (2008)
11. Executive Actions
"We will not use signing statements to nullify or undermine duly enacted law." (2008)
12. Warrantless Wiretapping
"We will review the current Administration’s warrantless wiretapping program." (2008)
13. Restoring Constitutional Traditions
"[W]e’ve seen an Administration put forward a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we demand. The Democratic Party rejects this dichotomy. We will restore our constitutional traditions, and recover our nation’s founding commitment to liberty under law." (2008)
14. Unreasonable Search and Seizure
President Obama on the Patriot Act: "This is legislation that puts our own Justice Department above the law. When National Security Letters are issued, they allow federal agents to conduct any search on any American, no matter how extensive or wide-ranging, without ever going before a judge to prove that the search is necessary.” (2005)
15. Washington Secrecy
"For a long time now, there’s been too much secrecy in this city. Information will not be withheld just because I say so. It will be withheld because a separate authority believes it is well-grounded in the Constitution." (2009)
16. Whistleblowers
In a statement about protecting whistleblowers: "Often the best source about waste, fraud and abuse in government is an existing government employee committed to public integrity and willing to speak out. Such acts of courage and patriotism . . . should be encouraged rather than stifled." (2009)
17. On Presidential War Powers (See Libya)
“The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation. In instances of self-defense, the President would be within his constitutional authority to act before advising Congress or seeking its consent. History has shown us time and again, however, that military action is most successful when it is authorized and supported by the Legislative branch. It is always preferable to have the informed consent of Congress prior to any military action.” (2007)
18. Openness and Transparency
"My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government." (2009)
19. Don't Mock the Constitution (see photo at top of post)
"Don’t mock the Constitution. Don’t make fun of it. Don’t suggest that it’s un-American to abide by what the Founding Fathers set up. It’s worked pretty well for over two-hundred years." (2008)
