There have been a plethora of diaries in the past week in regards to Obama's stance on FISA legislation and the backlash that has ensued by the netroots. Both sides of the argument on how this may or may not be affecting Obama have been at it (including me). I've had a few thoughts on this issue that I've shared in those diaries, and I'd like to share those now. I'm sure they're not terribly new, but it's a perspective I'd like to give nonetheless.
Here's my thoughts (in no particular order):
- We're all fighting on an issue that thankfully everyone agrees on is a horrible bill that should not be passed. The debate comes as to the degree of how bad this bill is and, in perspective to all other issues surrounding us, how important it is in comparison. If this wasn't an election year, I'm willing to bet there would hardly be much of a debate at all. Only now when we have a candidate that appears to have taken an opposite stance to our own do we have a debate on the importance of the bill. That principle alone needs consideration, if we are to stand for any principles at all. I realize that Hunter as well as many other respected diarists here have voiced similar opinions on this, and Glenn Greenwald has taken a nearly identical stance as well. I cannot help but agree with them on this because the principle alone is important to me. I acknowledge the fact that it may not be as important to others, and that there are certainly other vitally important pressing issues out there that's worth a great deal of effort and support by us all as well. This ties into my second point:
- This particular issue has been very important to me because it is one of THE biggest issues that directly ties Bush to breaking the law. The importance of violating our 4th Amendment rights is critical in of itself to me, but what's even more important is the evidence that's clearly presented which demonstrates a direct tie to this Administration breaking the law. And what's worse, their Yoo excuse of Article II or AUMF simply cannot and will not hold water (ask SCOTUS). Bush has admitted to ignoring FISA laws, and his excuse if so full of holes a truck can drive through it. We've got a chance with 40 different lawsuits right now to have all that evidence eventually exposed to demonstrate Bush's illegal activities. Of all the issues to impeach and/or prosecute this Administration on, this is one to which we don't have to rely on our spineless, impeachment-off-the-table Congress to do something about because it's not in their hands (sadly and ironically it appears they're taking matters into their hands in the opposite direction). And this ties into my third point:
- We have the opportunity now to hold Bush accountable now. Why pass up that chance in hopes that Obama might pursue some prosecution later? That continues to make absolutely no sense to me. And finally:
- Voicing my dissent to my candidate whom I will continue to support both financially and with volunteer time does not hurt him in my view. In fact it does quite the opposite. As I've mentioned in comments before - I like Obama, a lot. I've been a strong supporter of him ever since Senator Dodd dropped out (to which I was an Edwards supporter before that). I strongly believe that expressing my disapproval to my nominee will only make him a better candidate as he will know that I am indeed watching him closely, and I want him to represent me as best as possible. Since I feel my views are very much Democratic views, I believe me voicing my dissent to Obama will make him a stronger Democrat, and that will only help him in this election.
For diarists who feel that my opinions are hurting his chances, I will continue to disagree, and I feel that marginalizing his stance on this hurts us much more in the long run. Being in lockstep with a candidate on all things, even the ones that deep down you know are wrong, is not the place for me in a Democratic party. That wreaks of modern day Republicanism, and I simply will not follow that. My candidate is wrong on this, and it's perfectly okay to tell him and everyone else this. This is constructive criticism to me, because I will still vote, volunteer, and give him money.
So please, enough with the threats that I'm letting McCain win or that I'm hurting Obama somehow. I disagree with you marginalizing Obama's stance, but in the end we're all Democrats and we're going to continue fighting the GOP. And outside of the presidential election, I'm going to continue to choose and support efforts to elect better Democrats who are more in line with my views and beliefs.