The debatable Patriot Act has been given a new start once again, thanks to Obama. President Obama did not really sign the bill in the White House as he is in Europe. It was revealed the document was signed into law using an autopen, a pseudo-robotic gadget that replicates signatures, and this act has proved controversial.
Provisions allowing government surveillance renewed
Recently, certain key provisions of the Patriot Act, were set to expire unless a bill was created, passed by Congress and signed by the president. The controversial surveillance was passed and signed into law by Obama at the last minute. This was regardless of all the debate on it, reports the Christian Science Monitor. Even though Senator Paul tried to rally against the bill, the government can still use the internet, business records and wiretaps without a warrant whenever they want. However, according to CNN, brouhaha in Congress has started as the president used a robotic pen.
All about the autopen business
An autopen was used to sign the document since the president is in France right now and the signature was needed. A person’s signature is reproduced with an autopen. The difference between an autopen and genuine signature is almost extremely hard to tell. The machines, according to MSNBC, vary in complexity while in simply tracing a template to far more mechanically complex machines. Many sites are reproducing an interview with Bob Olding who is the owner of one of the two businesses that exists in the U.S. that makes the machines. Since the 1930s, the technology to do this hasn’t changed much, Olding said. ABS states that Olding owns Damillic Corp. He also stresses that Damillic goes out of its way to properly vet its consumers and make sure that his products are getting used ethically.
Nothing illegal about it
In the Constitution, it simply states that the president will sign a bill. “He shall sign it” is in there. The signature is valid, the Department of Justice claims. It simply has to be directed a document to be legal. As long as a president gives his consent of signature, it is legal and valid to auto sign something. This was the response the Justice Department had in 2005 when an autopen for President Bush was being looked into. Donald Rumsfeld was found to have used an autopen to sign letters of condolences to the families of troops killed in action in 2004, and former Vice President Quayle admitted to using one in 1992. Thomas Jefferson built a signature and letter duplication machine, or polygraph, in the 19th century. Government officials, astronauts and business executives all have used autopens in the past.
Articles cited
Christian Science Monitor
csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0527/Patriot-Act-three-controversial-provisions-that-Congress-voted-to-keep
CNN
whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/27/rise-of-the-machines-autopen-puts-bill-into-law/?hpt=T2
MSNBC
firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/27/6731197-the-great-presidential-autopen-hullabaloo
ABC
blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/05/robama-is-it-ok-for-a-president-to-autopen-a-bill-into-law.html
Damillic Inc
realsig.com/index.htm
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