Domestic eavesdropping ignites local response

Though U.S. Senate Committee on Intelligence Chairman Pat Roberts said he negotiated "a fix" to the White House wiretapping law Thursday that would avoid an investigation, some Bloomington opponents are obstinate to make officials produce an independent inquiry of the administration. \nMoveOn, a family of nonprofit civil action organizations, plans to hold a candlelight vigil on the south side of the square at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday as a nonpartisan effort to pressure U.S. Rep. Mike Sodrel, R-New Albany, to request an investigation. \nThe vigil is part of a national MoveOn response against President George W. Bush's warrantless domestic surveillance program -- an initiative the administration took assuming it was protected under the Patriot Act. Around the country, MoveOn has organized 225 other vigils for Wednesday. \nIn 2001, the Patriot Act enhanced a law from the 1970s called the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, expanding its definition to include the monitoring of terrorists who are not affiliated with a foreign government. The discrepancy lies between whether that encompasses U.S. citizens and whether that conflicts with the Constitution. \nThe House already renewed the Patriot Act, but the post-Sept. 11, 2001 law has met some opposition from both Democratic and Republican senators. \nParticipants in the demonstration say domestic spying is an affront to American civil rights. \n"Our rights are getting squished right and left," said Mary Gajewski of MoveOn. "I think we're trying to change things." \nBut not everyone in Bloomington believes the wiretapping infringes upon their rights.\n"We are at war," said Jon Frain, an IU junior majoring in political science. "National security is always the No. 1 goal to be obtained, and I think President Bush sees this to be his mandate." \nFrain, like many others, said he does not feel uncomfortable with the president's domestic surveillance. \n"It's very unlikely that my calls would ever be tapped, but I personally have nothing to hide and I know that the president's looking out for our best interests," he said. "And that's perfectly fine with me." \nFrain said that during World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt held some Asian Americans in internment camps, yet Americans still supported him. \n"History might prove President Bush wrong, but we should support him," he said. "If we can stop terrorists from acting against us, I don't think Americans should be so upset." \nVigil coordinator Erica Seiffert said the group plans to read the Bill of Rights and Amendments 13, 14, 15 and 19 at the rally, stressing the importance of preserving civil liberties. \n"I also hope to educate people a little about their rights," she said. \nSeiffert stressed that spying on Americans is an issue troubling many officials, despite their side of the party line. \n"I certainly think this is an issue that some Republicans can (be) and are also upset about," she said. "No one is above the law -- not even the president"