Zerlina’s read of why President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with the indefinite detention provision included is an accurate take on how the bill works and how it moved through government. But with all due respect I think she missed the administration’s doublespeak when it comes to intent. The signing statement is designed to distance Obama as candidate for re-election from the action he and the Congress actually took – making it possible to detain US citizens without due process. Actions matter way more than words in politics, because they actually, you know, do something in people’s lives.

In fact, the Obama administration is responsible for the bill allowing for the detention of US citizens. Take a ...