I sent the following letter to Barack Obama, via his spokesperson, Bill Burton. I am posting it here because I've changed my mind about FISA - again. If anyone was paying attention (which I doubt) or if this confuses you, let Glenn Greenwald unconfuse you. Glenn is the man!
In short, I wrote a number of comments to stories and diaries here urging people to calm down about Obama's new FISA position. All day today, I felt like shit. I realized why just tonight. Barack Obama's sellout of the Constitution, and his bailout of the telecoms makes me sick!
I've written a letter telling the campaign exactly what I will and will not do for Obama at this point.
The full text is below the fold....
Mr. Burton:
I knew I had to write to you after spending two days writing furiously all over the internet trying to support Senator Obama's new position on the FISA bill. I realized today, my heart wasn't in it. I cannot and will under no circumstances support the Senator any further on this issue. He is wrong, and he ought to know better. He needs to reverse course.
I am a long-time Iowa Democratic activist, a former state legislative candidate, former chair of the Webster County Democrats, a member of the old Iowa fifth district Central Committee, and a charter member of the Obama campaign in Webster County, Iowa.
I have given more money to Barack Obama than to any other candidate ever, including my own campaign.
I support, and will vote for Barack Obama - because I have no other choice. His decision this week to make excuses for the execrable FISA bill is one of the most disappointing actions by a politician I support that I have ever had to suffer.
There is no excuse for Senator Obama's position on this bill, not only on the telecom immunity issue, but on fourth amendment issues. He is a constitutional scholar, and a brilliant thinker. It is beyond my comprehension, now that the Presidency is easily within his grasp, that he has taken a pass on the one set of principles on which he should never, ever compromise.
Every impulse I have tells me to be moderate in my disappointment. I know all the arguments for moving to the center, and I know that this election is not a foregone conclusion; but, the Senator's entire appeal as a new kind of candidate offering a new kind of politics hangs in the balance at this point.
Frankly, I cannot give any more time and effort to a campaign that needlessly throws away the principles it is based on. If the Senator doesn't need my canvassing, letter writing, blogging, and organizational talents nor the $400.00 I have budgeted to give to the campaign between now and the election, then he can continue on this witless course.
I can always spend my time working to defeat Tom Latham instead. Becky Greenwald, Democrat for House District Iowa 4 will be a pleasure to work for.
If Senator Obama comes to a change of heart, I suggest he directly post to Daily Kos, MyDD, and other large online progressive groups to let us understand what has happened, and to reinvigorate his commitment to principle. Without it, he's just another slick, appealing mainstream politician. Without it, his entire campaign is worthless.
"Change we can believe in" my ass!
Deadly seriously,
-- my real name and address --
OK, everyone. Write your own letter to <bburton@barackobama.com> and follow it up with a call to Obama's Senate office at: (202) 224-2854 voice, or (202) 228-4260 fax.
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Thanks everybody! It's late. I'm going to sleep. I'll catch up in the morning.
"to sleep, to dream...."