David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, in light of the comments of the last speaker, I would simply note that the purpose of the Constitution is…”

“Mr. Chairman, in light of the comments of the last speaker, I would simply note that the purpose of the Constitution is not to protect the guilty. The purpose is to protect the innocent. What we are talking about here is the power of agents of the government to search the homes of American citizens and to seize the property of American citizens, and the amendment offered by the gentleman from North Carolina gives us an opportunity to choose between the language of H.R. 666 drafted by the gentleman from Florida or the language reflecting the fourth amendment of the Constitution of the United States drafted by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. I know it is a close call, but, pardon me, I am going to stick with the old fellows. I would also like to remind Members, in light of the comments made by the previous speaker, of the words of Sir Thomas More in the play 'A Man for All Seasons.' More was having a discussion with his son-in-law about the power of the king and the power of law, and his son-in-law said, 'I would strike down every law in England to get at the devil.' To which Sir Thomas More replied, 'And when the devil turned round on you the laws all being flat, where would you be then?'”