Supreme Court Detainee Ruling Affirms Badnarik on Civil Rights

San Francisco, CA July 1, 2004 -- "This is exactly what we've been saying all along," observed Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian candidate for US President. "In fact, my staff and I made exactly this point to several San Francisco leaders, and members of the American Muslim Task Force on Saturday." Badnarik's passion for the Constitution drove him to seek and win the Libertarian Party's nomination, and he expects to be on the ballot in all 50 states.

"We're looking at the presidential candidates in hopes that there's one who will protect our rights," explained Maad Abu-Ghazalah, Palestinian-born Executive Director of the American Muslim Task Force for Civil Rights and Elections. The Task Force is an umbrella organization of the nation's largest Muslim organizations, formed to develop a unified strategy for Muslim Americans in the 2004 elections.

Abu-Ghazalah and other San Francisco Muslim leaders met with Badnarik to discuss the Libertarian candidate's position on national civil rights issues. The Muslim leaders noted that the protection of civil rights is their primary concern in the election.

In the case of American citizen Yaser Esam Hamdi, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor noted that the court has "made clear that a state of war is not a blank check for the President when it comes to the rights of the nation's citizens." Hamdi's case concerned the rights of detainees caught up in the so-called "war on terrorism". The government argued that American citizens it designated as "enemy combatants" lost their civil rights by making war against the nation.

In the case of about 600 foreign-born men held indefinitely in a U.S. Navy prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the high court ruled that the Constitution's provision of the right to Habeas Corpus still operates. Challenges brought using the right of Habeas Corpus require the government to prove its reasons for a detention are valid. Despite Supreme Court precedents to the contrary, the government had argued that non-citizens are not protected by the US Constitution.

"Government's only valid function is to protect your property and rights," Badnarik asserted. "The Bush administration's frightening assault on civil rights, and John Kerry's 'me-too' support of the repugnant Patriot Act prove that they are both determined to seize your rights. No concerned American should vote for either of them. Vote Libertarian and vote to keep your freedom!"

Badnarik was in San Francisco attending the city's Gay Pride festival, and several successful fundraising events. He was the only presidential candidate to attend Gay Pride, and is now in Indiana to announce the Libertarian Party's candidate for that state's Lt. Governor.

Michael Badnarik is the Libertarian Party nominee for President and will appear on more Americans' ballots than any other third party candidate.





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