For the past 2 or 3 weeks I have seen multiple diaries ripping into Obama's because is said that the newly revised FISA bill is one he could support.
Many supporters decried his position and demanded that he hold firm that he would filibuster against any bill that included immunity for telecoms.
Several diaries have ended saying that they would not vote for Obama if he supported the FISA bill or that they simply would withold their donation from his campaign like a treat to a poorly behaved child.
What I don't understand is all of the hysteria.
What many people fail to realize that that the US Courts have effectively shielded telecoms from being sued. Several people have filed various claims against telecoms claiming they violated their constitutional right to privacy by allowing the executive branch to wiretap their phones without a warrant.
In dismissing all the cases, the courts cited the plaintiffs inability to:
- proof that the telecoms actually tapped their phones/violated their rights
- show proof that they suffered any damages resulting in the wire tap.
The newly revised bill does not shield telecoms from criminal prosecution. It does restore the requirement for warrants for wiretaps through the judicial process. There is no provision that says that at any time, criminal charges cannot be brought against those who violated our rights. There is no provision that says that the files could not be turned over the proper authorities for investigation. This is an acceptable solution to me.
As someone in another diary said:
"Obama can't be all things to all people at all times."
Though we try to make him.
Sometimes you have to pick your battles and "civil" telecom immunity is a loser. Obama understands this and so do I. His ability to reassess his position based on the changing facts is a testament to who he is, unlike the current administration that charges on regardless of the facts or consequences.
Under the Bush administration, American civil rights have been violated for the past 5-7 years. Change is necessary to repair the damage that has been done to us domestically and to our international reputation. We need serious change and this is something that can only be achieved under a democratic administration. Our best chance and only hope for that is to support Obama 100%.
So again I ask: Isn’t the point to win?
Update: Many comments are still laced with why the FISA bill is so wrong. Maybe it's because I live in DC and cynical that I believe that regardless of the laws or what is right, the US government has and will continue to violate my Constitutional rights, whether I know about it or not. For instance, our passport and medical files have been breached regularly by people who simply claim to be curious. This is just one of many violations that have been carried out by the government.
The point of the post was to make people think about how we need to support the Democratic nominee or risk ending the election like that of Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, and Kerry. Few people even bothered answering the question. As Americans struggle to pay their mortgages, gas, food prices, health care, etc. Obama is hoping that those issues are more important to us than telecom immunity. I for one agree with Obama.