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|title=AIDS in the workplace; the administration's impeccable logic
|title=AIDS in the workplace; the administration's impeccable logic
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|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9A0DE0DA143CF930A25754C0A960948260&scp=9&sq=Bruce%20Fein&st=cse}}</ref>
"Bruce Fein, a Reagan Justice Department official who also worked for the Congressional staff helping Representative Dick Cheney defend the White House during the Iran/contra scandal.."
<ref>{{cite web
|publisher=[[The Nation]]
|author=Charlie Savage |date=September 24, 2007
|title=Reaganites Reconsider
|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/reaganites-reconsider}}</ref>


===Criticizing Bush, Clinton and Obama===
===Criticizing Bush, Clinton and Obama===

Revision as of 23:50, 23 August 2011

Bruce Fein is a lawyer in the United States who specializes in constitutional and international law. Fein has written numerous articles on constitutional issues for The Washington Times, Slate.com, The New York Times, Legal Times, and is active on the issues of civil liberties. He has also worked for the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation, both conservative think tanks, as an analyst and commentator.[1]

Fein is a principal in a government affairs and public relations firm, The Lichfield Group, in Washington, D.C..[2] He is also a resident scholar at the Turkish Coalition of America.[3]

Early life

Bruce Fein was born in 1943 and raised in San Francisco. He received his degree in law from Harvard Law School in 1972.

Relations with the US Government

Fein was a top Justice Department official under the Reagan administration. He has heavily criticized every subsequent U.S. President.

Reagan Administration

Under President Ronald Reagan, Fein served as an associate deputy attorney general from 1981 to 1982 and as general counsel to the Federal Communications Commission. During that period, he wrote an extensive 30-page critique of Times v. Sullivan, the Supreme Court ruling that freed American media from much of its liability under libel law in the United States. That memorandum was briefly misattributed to Judge John Roberts while his nomination to be Chief Justice of the United States was pending.[4] In 1987, he served as the minority (minority party) research director of the committee in the United States House of Representatives that investigated the Iran-Contra Affair.[4][5][6] 

"Bruce Fein, a Reagan Justice Department official who also worked for the Congressional staff helping Representative Dick Cheney defend the White House during the Iran/contra scandal.."

[7]

Criticizing Bush, Clinton and Obama

The George W. Bush administration's terrorist surveillance program which intercepted some communications without a warrant from the FISA court incensed him enough to propose censure or even impeachment of Bush.[8] He ridiculed Harriett Miers's Supreme Court nomination,[9] and was sharply criticical of then-U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.[10][11][12]

In March 2007,he founded the American Freedom Agenda with Bob Barr, David Keene and Richard Viguerie.[12][13] Notable published writings by Fein include articles advocating the impeachment of former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and former U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney.

On September 2, 2008, Fein addressed Ron Paul's "Rally For The Republic" in Minneapolis, offering a critique of the Bush administration's interventionist policy and advocating a more non-interventionist foreign policy. Fein also harshly criticized the anti-terror policies of the Bush White House, including wiretapping and detention of terror suspects. In April 2009, Fein criticized President Barack Obama for declining to prosecute Bush administration officials for composing CIA memos justifying torture during interrogations.[14]

In 2011, Fein proposed impeaching President Barack Obama in connection with the 2011 military intervention in Libya. [15][16]

Discussing Genocide

Sri Lankan Civil War

Fein has acted "on behalf of Tamils Against Genocide" related to espouse their cause, i.e. to present parts of the Sri Lankan Civil War as Tamil Genocide. It included attempts to bring criminal charges against some American citizens who are prominent members of the Sri Lankan government.[17]

Armenian issue

As a scholar at the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA), and in collaboration with the Turkish American Legal Defense Fund, Fein actively participates in the Armenian-Turkish dispute with regard to their shared history.

Bruce Fein has penned more than one column on the topic, including in The Washington Times and The Huffington Post.[18] As opposed to the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Fein asserts that the fate of Armenians during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I should not be characterized as a genocide, arguing that racial, ethnic or religious motivation for the deaths cannot be proven and that a 'political or military motivation for a death falls outside the definition.' [3] He argued: "Armenian casualties from starvation, disease, and Ottoman Muslim killings were painfully high, perhaps 300,000-600,000. [...] The tragic Armenian losses and suffering deserve sympathy and commemoration, but no more so than their Ottoman Muslim counterparts."[19]

Court Cases

His first action as a lawyer was to participate, in the name of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations to the court case against Mourad Topalian, sentenced in 2001 for illegal storing of war weapons and explosives, linked to a terrorist group, the Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide.[20]

Together with David Saltzman, he was the lawyer of Guenter Lewy against the Southern Poverty Law Center. After to have filed a complaint,[21] the TALDF obtained a public statement of retraction and apologies from SPLC, and a monetary compensation to Prof. Lewy.[22] Bruce Fein is also one of the lawyers of Rep. Jean Schmidt against David Krikorian[23] and of TCA against University of Minnesota[24]. The House ethics committee recently found that Fein had misled Schmidt by failing to disclose to her that his fees in connection with the litigation against David Krikorian were being paid by the TCA[25].

Books

  • "American Empire: Before the Fall" Published by Campaign for Liberty, June 2010. ISBN 1452829535

American Empire: Before the Fall, the most recent of Fein’s published works, condemns the aggressive foreign policy of the United States for being devoid of concrete objectives, and as such, doomed to war in perpetuity. According to Fein, foreign policy as it stands is earmarked by domination for the sake of domination and gaping wounds to the rule of law and separation of powers. Fein writes: "The larger national motivation is to dominate the world for the excitement of domination. The narrower particular motivation of the President is to reduce coequal branches of government to vassalage, to place the President above the law, and to justify secret government without accountability. James Madison’s admonitions about presidential wars have been vindicated."[26]

Campaign for Liberty commissioned and published American Empire: Before the Fall. This was their first foray into the realm of publishing. Fein's message therein has been well-received by politicians and pundits from across the political spectrum. Ron Paul (via Campaign for Liberty), Ralph Nader,[27] Glenn Greenwald,[28] Judge Andrew Napolitano,[29] US Representative Walter B. Jones, Jr., and many other prominent political figures have publicly declared their concurrence with Fein's analysis. Glenn Greenwald wrote: "The central problem Fein examines — the nation’s conduct as a world-dominating imperial power rather than a republic — infects and exacerbates virtually every serious political and cultural problem. It drains our financial resources and threatens the country with debt-fueled collapse. It precludes spending on the welfare of American citizens for education, infrastructure and entitlements for the needy. It is what justifies the endless erosion of civil liberties and the acquiescence of limitless, unchecked power to the Executive Branch. It is what causes the nation to be plagued by a bloated, borderline-omnipotent National Security and Surveillance State. It even ironically weakens us militarily and renders us far more vulnerable to attack via overstretch and commitments beyond our means. And most of all, it degrades the American character by reducing us to a militaristic, war-fighting state, wallowing in our own fears, insecurities, hatreds and weaknesses."[28]

  • "Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy" Published by Palgrave MacMillan, September 16, 2008. ISBN 0230602886

Constitutional Peril was the first book authored by Fein intended for the general public. It was published while President Bush remained in office in 2008, and it made an impassioned argument in favor of impeachment for the President’s unparalleled expansion of executive authority and multiple defilements of the rule of law. Fein's argument was presented on national television programs including Bill Moyers' Journal.[30]

Ron Paul is among the most notable consistent proponents of Fein's political commentary. He is quoted on the cover of Constitutional Peril saying: "Bruce Fein is one of the most important legal minds of our time. Constitutional Peril is a must-read for American lovers of liberty."[31]

  • "Significant Decisions of the Supreme Court: 1978 - 1979 Term" Aei Pr, June 1980. ISBN 0844733873
  • "Significant Decisions of the Supreme Court" AEI Press, June 1987. ISBN 084473568X
  • "Significant Decisions of the Supreme Court: 1979 - 1980 Term" Fred B. Rothman & Co, April 1985 ISBN 0837711355
  • "Significant Decisions of the Supreme Court: 1977 - 1978 Term" AEI Press, 1979. ISBN 0844733601
  • "Significant Decisions of the Supreme Court: 1975 - 1976 Term" Rowman & Littlefield, June 1977. ISBN 0844732834
  • "Significant Decisions of the Supreme Court: 1973 - 1974 Term" AEI Press, 1975. ISBN 0844731765
  • "Significant Decisions of the Supreme Court: 1972 - 1973 Term" Rowman & Littlefield, June 1974. ISBN 0844710733

References

  1. ^ Taylor, Stuart Jr. (February 28, 1988). "A Pair of Rehnquist Opinions Sets Legal Experts Buzzing". The New York Times. The message, asserts Bruce Fein, a Supreme Court authority at the conservative Heritage Foundation, was that conservatives should not expect sudden, revolutionary change in settled legal doctrines in these and perhaps other areas from the Rehnquist Court, at least with its current membership.
  2. ^ "The Lichfield Group - Principals". Retrieved 2009-03-15. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help) [dead link]
  3. ^ a b Fein, Bruce (2009). "Lies, Damn Lies, and Armenian Deaths". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2010-04-27. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ^ a b Liptak, Adam (September 28, 2005). "Correction; Libel Memorandum Attributed Falsely To Court Nominee". New York Times. p. A20. Retrieved 2009-03-15. Bruce Fein, a Washington lawyer who was general counsel of the Federal Communications Commission in the Reagan administration, said yesterday that he wrote the memorandum, a caustic critique of New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 Supreme Court decision that revolutionized American libel law, and of the role played by the press in society. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ Solomon, Gerald (June 10, 1987). "A Tight Plug on Intelligence Leaks". The New York Times. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Bruce Fein (July 13, 1986). "AIDS in the workplace; the administration's impeccable logic". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Charlie Savage (September 24, 2007). "Reaganites Reconsider". The Nation.
  8. ^ Gilmore, Brian (December 2006). "A Conservative for Impeachment". The Progressive. Retrieved 2009-03-15. Fein cites the 1952 Supreme Court case of Youngstown Sheet & Tube v. Sawyer as support for the proposition that the President does not have "inherent authority" to bypass legislative enactments of Congress in a time of war. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  9. ^ "Perspectives". Newsweek. Oct 24, 2005. p. p27. Retrieved 2009-03-15. The tipping point in Washington is when you go from being a subject of caricature to the subject of laughter. She's in danger of becoming the subject of laughter. {{cite news}}: |page= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Johnston, David (February 5, 2006). "Attorney General's Credibility May Be at Stake at Spy Hearing". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-15. Some legal experts see Mr. Gonzales as little more than a surrogate for President Bush, whom he has served in a variety of capacities since 1997, when Mr. Bush was governor of Texas. "Nothing in Al Gonzales's public statements, legislative proposals or anything else suggests that this is an individual who operates outside of the political gyroscope of President Bush," said Bruce Fein, an associate deputy attorney general in the Reagan administration. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Isikoff, Michael (June 29, 2007). "Another DOJ Departure". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-03-15. The Titanic is sinking," Bruce Fein, a former top Justice Department official under the Reagan administration and a sharp Gonzales critic, said today about Hertling's resignation. "The fact is the department has become dysfunctional. Gonzales is going to be left with no subordinates. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  12. ^ a b Fein, Bruce (April 16, 2007). "The Letter: "An Unsuitable Steward of the Law"". Time (magazine). Retrieved 2009-03-15. The American Freedom Agenda, led by Viguerie, former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr, American Conservative Union chair David Keene, and Reagan administration lawyer Bruce Fein has bluntly assessed the failings of the Bush-Cheney administration when it comes to defending the Constitution and the Republic it serves. "Especially since 9/11, the executive branch has chronically usurped legislative or judicial power, and has repeatedly claimed that the President is the law," it declared. "The constitutional grievances against the White House are chilling, reminiscent of the kingly abuses that provoked the Declaration of Independence." {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Nichols `, John (2007-08-28). "Attorney General Bruce Fein". New Nation. Retrieved 2009-03-15. The American Freedom Agenda, led by Viguerie, former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr, American Conservative Union chair David Keene, Reagan administration lawyer Bruce Fein and Viguerie has bluntly assessed the failings of the Bush-Cheney administration when it comes to defending the Constitution and the Republic it serves. "Especially since 9/11, the executive branch has chronically usurped legislative or judicial power, and has repeatedly claimed that the President is the law," it declared. "The constitutional grievances against the White House are chilling, reminiscent of the kingly abuses that provoked the Declaration of Independence." {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Fein, Bruce (2009-04-17). "How Obama Excused Torture". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2009-04-17. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  15. ^ http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0411/GOP_lawyer_circulates_Obama_impeachment_articles.html?showall
  16. ^ http://www.politico.com/static/PPM186_articlesofimpeachment_040611.html
  17. ^ Bruce Fein (February 15, 2009). "Genocide in Sri Lanka". Asian Tribune.
  18. ^ For instance: “Armenia Crime Amnesia?”, The Washington Times, October 16, 2007; “Lies, Damn Lies and Armenian Deaths”, Huffington Post, June 4, 2009.
  19. ^ Bruce Fein. "Differences Are Overwhelming". ATAA.
  20. ^ Memorandum or Letter of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations in Aid of Sentencing in the Nature of a Victims' Statement
  21. ^ http://www.taldf.com/complaint.pdf
  22. ^ Bruce Fein and David Saltzman (September 30, 2010). "Free Inquiry Triumphs, Professor Guenter Lewy's Reputation Restored". TALDF.
  23. ^ Bruce Fein and David Saltzman (October 9, 2009). "Turkish American Legal Defense Fund Scores Significant Victory Before Ohio Elections Commission". TALDF.; Bruce Fein and David Saltzman (June 8, 2010). "Congresswomand Schmidt Sues Former Opponent for Defamation, Retains TALDF". TALDF.
  24. ^ Laura Sievert (December 1, 2010). "Turkish group sues U for 'unreliable' website list". The Minnesota Daily..
  25. ^ Glenn Thrush (August 5, 2011). "House Ethics: Jean Schmidt took improper $500K gift but not guilty of violation". Politico..
  26. ^ http://fdlbooksalon.com/2010/09/11/fdl-book-salon-welcomes-bruce-fein-american-empire/#comment-2195120, Bruce Fein, FDLbooksalon.com
  27. ^ http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/294832-1, Book TV, C-Span
  28. ^ a b http://fdlbooksalon.com/2010/09/11/fdl-book-salon-welcomes-bruce-fein-american-empire/#comment-2195120, Glenn Greenwald, FDLbooksalon.com
  29. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL1Utcxz4ac, Freedom Watch, Youtube.com
  30. ^ http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07132007/profile.html, Bill Moyers, PBS
  31. ^ us.macmillan.com/constitutionalperil, see back cover


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