Tea party splits on security, civil liberties

Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) want to dismantle the program. Amash is calling for the resignation of James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, who when asked in a Senate hearing earlier this month if the government is amassing records said, “No.” Paul has filed a lawsuit seeking to end the program.

Among “a lot of the new members, those who describe themselves as conservatives, they have a much more libertarian streak and, I think on these type of issues, they’re very sensitive about violations of our civil liberties and don’t want to see someone at the head of the intelligence [community] who is going to lie to members of Congress in a hearing,” Amash told POLITICO.

He sees the libertarian move as an evolution of the party as a whole.

“That’s just a natural evolution within the Republican Party,” Amash said. “The vast majority of Republicans agree with my perspective on this. And when I called for Mr. Clapper’s resignation, our phones were off the hook with support from our constituents.”