Title: Reality Check: Has the Patriot Act thwarted 42 terror attacks?
Headings: Reality Check: Has the Patriot Act thwarted 42 terror attacks?
Reality Check: Has the Patriot Act thwarted 42 terror attacks?
Content: Shouldn't we keep and even strengthen the Patriot Act? A number of candidates answered the question. To analyze those answers, we are going to do this Reality Check in 2 parts. Let's start with the question that was asked by Ed Meese of the Heritage Foundation. He asked at the debate, "At least 42 terrorist attacks aimed at the United States have been thwarted since 9/11. Tools like the Patriot Act have been instrumental in finding and stopping terrorists. Shouldn't we have a long range extension of the investigative powers contained in that act? Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman didn't really answer the question. For those who did, there were only two sides. On one side, Texas Congressman Ron Paul says he is against what he calls the unconstitutional reach of the Patriot Act.