Editorial: The silent treatment

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003 | 8:55 a.m.

Increasingly groups and individuals from all across the political spectrum have criticized President Bush's anti-terrorism legislation, enacted shortly after 9-11, for provisions they say undermine civil liberties. On Tuesday Attorney General John Ashcroft, as part of his nationwide tour to defend the Patriot Act, touted the law in a Las Vegas speech before members of law enforcement.

We've generally supported the Patriot Act, but Ashcroft's appearance here was pathetic. He refused to take questions from local newspaper reporters, instead opting for brief one-on-one interviews with local television reporters that didn't allow for in-depth questions about the controversial law. This stage-managed event, complete with American flags as a backdrop for Ashcroft's speech, was blatant manipulation of the media. Ashcroft is afraid to address legitimate questions many people have about the Patriot Act -- and this fear was clearly evident by his hiding behind a choreographed event. We expected more courage from the nation's top law enforcement official.