Last year, I reacted with outrage when Democratic candidate for Congress Michael Arcuri supported the Military Commissions Act, a law that revoked the right of habeas corpus, ended the presumption of innocence, stopped enforcement of the Geneva Conventions, legalized torture, set up a system of kangaroo courts that make a mockery of justice, and gave the power to the President of the United States to appoint a secret committee with the power to strip constitutionally-guaranteed rights from any person merely by declaring that person to be an enemy. Arcuri was a lawyer, so he should have known better, but he said that he supported the Military Commissions Act without even reading it.

Arcuri was elected anyway, in a shameful moment for the Democratic Party and the 24th congressional district.

Half a year later, enough pressure has been applied to Congressman Arcuri to convince him to finally reverse his position, and support legislation designed to disable the worst versions of the Military Commissions Act. The legislation is called the Restoring the Constitution Act of 2007, and is numbered H.R. 1415, currently co-sponsored by 36 Democratic members of the House of Representatives. In the Senate, the original legislation, S. 576, is co-sponsored by 11 senators.

Better late than never, so thanks to Michael Arcuri for getting around to reading the Military Commissions Act, and realizing that it stands against everything that’s good about the United States of America.