Dem. Sen. Joe Manchin Warns Over NSA: ‘Big Brother is Truly Watching You’ (+video)

Photo Credit: AP

Photo Credit: AP

Blue Dog Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia strongly suggested Sunday that the National Security Agency’s (NSA’s) domestic surveillance program upsets the “fine balance” between safety and civil liberties, saying the data collection programs prove “Big Brother is truly watching you.”

The West Virginia lawmaker appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Candy Crowley to discuss newly-proposed curbs to the NSA’s invasive spying program, including over 40 recommended changes from a White House-appointed panel and an unconstitutional ruling on the program from a federal judge.

Unlike some lawmakers from both parties — California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and New York Republican Rep. Peter King spring to mind — Manchin expressed his willingness to rope in the NSA. “The things we need to do in this country — which is our responsibility, especially as elected officials and government as a whole — is how do we protect the privacies of each and every american but also protect the security of our country?” he asked. “There’s a fine balance there. So I’m open to listen to all the recommendations that have come out to see if we can improve upon that.”

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