John Doe Abuse

As someone who is getting on a plane in a few days, I have nothing but good things to say about Peter King, whose amendment to the transportation security bill would protect anyone who makes a reasonable, good-faith report of suspicious activity from being the target of a lawsuit. This is a terrorist-unfriendly amendment so democrats must oppose it:

Meanwhile, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, took the floor to oppose King's motion - and to defend the lawsuit against John Does. "We should be tolerant," he argued; people shouldn't be singled out because they "look different."

In fact, the flying imams triggered concerns by a variety of unusual actions, as well as words that roused the concern of another Arabic-speaking passenger. Witnesses say that House members started booing Thompson.

Finally, a member of the leadership realized how this would look to Americans watching on C-SPAN: Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) was seen staring at Thompson and repeatedly drawing his hand across his throat - an urgent signal to get off the floor.

Because they look different? Nobody is pulling the stewardess aside to tell her the passenger in 27c is an Arab. They might report him glaring at the other passengers or trying to ignite his shoes but that is just a hardship "different looking" people will have to endure. No more burning their shoes to keep warm. No more trying to scare everyone.

Must congressional democrats oppose every republican idea, regardless of its merit? It seems so. And it puts them in the position of voting on the side of the terrorists every time a republican puts forth a good idea. I say keep the good ideas coming, R's.