Senator Obama has said that he will vote for the pending FISA bill. Some of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate, however, have pledged to vote against that piece of legislation and have offered their reasons for choosing to do so. Let us look at comments by some of those who stand in opposition to Senator Obama's position and why they stand in oppostion. This may better help us to assess where Senator Obama stands on the left/right political continuum.
Senator Russ Feingold:
"This is a terrible piece of legislation. It’s got two major problems. One is very well known. The retroactive immunity for telephone companies, who may not have actually followed the law, instead just complying potentially with the government in giving up our private information against the statutes, this should be handled in a court of law. We should not just give them immunity. It’s a terrible precedent for the rule of law and very unfair. But even worse, is the fact that this bill gives enormous power to the government to suck up all of our international communications; emails, text messages, phone calls, to kids over seas, to soldiers, to reporters, to business associates. It’s unprecedented, with no court review. It’s a huge giveaway. No Senator, and especially no Democrat, should be voting for this legislation."
"In the end, my opposition to this bill comes down to this," the senator concludes. "This bill is a tragic retreat from the principles that have governed government conduct in this sensitive area for 30 years. It needlessly sacrifices the protection of the privacy of innocent Americans. And it is an abdication of this body’s duty to stand up for the rule of law. I will vote No."
Senator Chris Dodd:
"And let me make clear, at the outset of this debate, that this is not about domestic surveillance itself. We all recognize the importance of domestic surveillance – in an age of unprecedented threats. This is about illegal, unwarranted, unchecked domestic surveillance."
"And that difference—the difference between surveillance that is lawful, warranted and that which is not—is everything."
Senator Patrick Leahy:
Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement charging that the House-passed bill "fails to hold the Bush-Cheney administration accountable for its illegal wiretapping program."
Leahy added, "I will oppose this new FISA bill when the Senate votes on it next week." Congress, he added, must do everything possible to protect the people from Bush’s "callous disregard for the rule of law."
Senator Barbara Boxer:
I know that many of my colleagues in the Senate think we know enough about this program. But we do not know enough. The Bush administration trampled on the Constitution, and we are not doing anything in the bill to provide real accountability.
If we vote for this FISA legislation, we are perpetuating a cover-up.
I want to be clear -- I support giving our government every tool necessary to track down terrorists and protect our citizens. But we also have a responsibility to uphold the constitution and the rights of our citizens.
Who would like to see this legislation passed? Why, Dick Cheney and Dubya, of course. So, who is Senator Obama representing with his declaration to vote for FISA?
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Update: Action link, courtesy of NeuvoLiberal, to keep pressing on the FISA issue on all fronts, not just Obama!