MoveOn To Obama: Keep Your Word, Filibuster Telecom Immunity

MoveOn.org has launched a new campaign pressing Sen. Barack Obama to honor his pledge to filibuster any legislation that gives immunity to telecoms that spied on Americans:

Here's an excerpt from MoveOn's letter:

Dear MoveOn member,

On Friday, House Democrats caved to the Bush administration and passed a bill giving a get-out-of-jail-free card to phone companies that helped Bush illegally spy on innocent Americans.

This Monday, the fight moves to the Senate. Senator Russ Feingold says the "deal is not a compromise; it is a capitulation." Barack Obama announced his partial support for the bill, but said, "It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses."

Last year, after phone calls from MoveOn members and others, Obama went so far as to vow to "support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies." We need him to honor that promise.

Can you call Senator Obama today and tell him you're counting on him to keep his word? Ask him to block any compromise that includes immunity for phone companies that helped Bush break the law.

Obama's presidential campaign: [phone]

Then, help us track our progress by clicking here:

http://pol.moveon.org/call?cp_id=758&tg=479

These companies helped the Bush Administration illegally spy on the emails and phone calls of innocent Americans. By giving "immunity" to these companies, all lawsuits brought against them by civil liberties groups would be thrown out of court. That means we may never find out how far Bush went in breaking the law. And once it's done, it can't be undone. That's why we need Obama to promise to block any bill that has immunity.

Read the full letter here.

Comments

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

There is no reason -- other than political hostage-holding -- for RETROACTIVE telecom immunity to be injected into a GOOD-FAITH bill to give government FISA-court­-supervise­d powers to eavesdrop in the future.

Recall that all along, for all six years the White House was asking the telecoms to break the law, the White House COULD AT ANY TIME have gone BACK to the FISA court for warrants.

The issue remains that the telecoms never demanded the warrants. They were asked to break the law. The did so. AND KNOWINGLY. Whether willingly, begrudgingly, in good faith, or bad, is NOT the basis of guilt or innocence in the eyes of the law -- as it existed at the time.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hJKgeE0Z-SivATjok-utYBdh9wDwD91DJPS80

[UltraClassic]

Obama knows that making it more difficult to spy on the bad guys not help him get votes. This entire telecom issue and attempting to hang corporations for providing requested service to HLS is BS. It may be red meat for the MoveOn and DailyKos types but the rest of the country could care less.

Obama may be dumb, but he is not stupid.

[LivingStardust]

How about you read the Constitution, jackass.

[chappelforpres]

The "bad guys". Anytime I hear that mindless Noecon crap, it makes me shudder.
Why not just burn the constitution and let the dimwits who are 0 for 93 show us the American way?

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Because Telecom Immunity is so popular. Not!

[faretheewell]

I just called Obama's senate office. According to them, he will support the compromise bill but will work in the future to remove the telecom immunity provision in the future.

This is not what I wanted to hear at all.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

That's one helluva straddle -- better than voting "present."

[Harrygton]

The Future? The goddamn future? that could be one year or all 8 years of his presumed reign of hope! So he had to give a Race Speech when his Reverend's Rantings went public, but when the Constitution of the United States is at stake, he can wait until he can find some time... no lofty speech surrounded by flags? Well, does this clarify where his priorities are?

Sad! Very sad!

[JohnnyBasic]

I'm confused..­..

So, Obama's position is I'll VOTE for telecom immunity now...but will work against it in the future?

Why not VOTE against it now?

Independent candidates continue to look more appealing.

[EFC]

Maybe it’s time for a straight-talking maverick to step-up and defend the Constitution. He has nothing to loose-the bill will pass anyway, thanks to the weeniecrats.

As the Slacker-in-Chief once eloquently stated:…”fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can’t get fooled again.” Change is change is change is an onion.

[naschkatze]

The "future" is the Democrats' version of Bush's "just trust me". We thought they would make some changes after the 2006 election, and what has happened? They still cave in to the administration (because they really want the same things), and even though they have a slim majority, the Republicans run roughshod over them in the House and Senate procedurally. They are either eunuchs or the other branch of the one party system we have.

[dantanna]

is obama going to be another chicken democrat and/or a third clinton who says is for the people but he actually is not? we will be waiting to see what he does and the leadership role he takes on this issue. no one should be given a free pass for stepping on the constitution; a constitution for which soldiers die to defend; but civilians in congress and the WH love to screw over and over again... at least in the past few decades.

[naschkatze]

That's good. We are faced this year with Bush III or Clinton III even though Hillary did not win.

[bbbear]

I realize mybarackobama.com is probably inundated with calls on this subject.. But it is extremely frustrating not to get through. Yet I'm nearly certain Senator Obama will do the right thing, even filibuster if needed, to remove the immunity clause put forward by Pelosi and her spineless clowns in the House. After all, Senator Obama is a leader and not some ordinary, fear driven democrat.

But, it seems to me, he needs to address his movement ASAP and re-assure us. If he has a reason that doesn't center on an inane fear that removing the immunity will make him open to attack by repubs, maybe I can live with it. I may even continue to donate until I reach the max... But if he doesn't get in touch with us, and doesn't put forth an extreme effort to remove the immunity clause, I will vote for him, but will no longer donate.

I know I only speak for myself. But, it seems to me, in no uncertain terms, Senator Obama needs to stop the corporate press's rumor about a possible repub for VP. I'm ok with repubs in President Obama's cabinet, but if Senator Obama opts for a repub VP I can ( broken heart! ) no longer support him.

[vippy]

My sentiments exactly. Obama has to come clean or he is a goner for me!

[Harrygton]

http://obama.senate.gov/contact/index.php

I just left another message:

"I cannot continue to support a candidate that would support the current version of FISA which gives amnesty/immunity to the complicit Telcos who helped GWB wiretapped the phones of American citizens two weeks after taking power! If Mr. Obama is not willing to take the heat for the constitution, then he better get ready to take the heat from the 1.5M of us that may be walking away from financially supporting his campaign! I guess the TELCOS are already lined up to pick up the tab for another corrupt politician!"

Where is the change? There are so many Demoractic Senators that are not up for re-election this year, why can't they stand up and take the heat? Because the leadership is gutless and takes us all for granted! Well, I may not have any power, but don't pee on me and tell me it's raining!

[bbbear]

I tend to agree with you. Yet I still strongly suspect Senator Obama will do the right thing.Stil­l, iIt will break my heart if he doesn't and I will no longer donate. But I will, albeit somewhat reluctantly, still vote for him.

[wmholt]

Same here!

[synergie]

what are you basing this suspicion on? and basically you will not really do anything to hold him accountable, so why does he need to listen to you? If he doesn't do what you think he should do, or what you've been led to think he would do, why have still signed over your vote to him? For god's sake, man up and hold him accountable. He's got plenty of time to actually address this, and if he doesn't there is time enough to back another horse. Its late June, show him that we do hold him accountable and that he does need to listen to us or he won't get our vote!!! Just not being "john mccain" isn't enough, if he can't show us how else he's different from either the status quo or the competition.

[Realbluesky]

This is a deal breaker for me. If Obama supports this legislation to grant immunity, he has lost my vote. I will not vote nor will I ever vote Republican, but I will not vote for Obama if he supports this. I did not vote for Hillary because of her vote for the war and I will not vote for Obama if he caves on this issue. This is too serious. My feeling is that I, as an individual, must hold my representatives accountable. My one vote means nothing, I am aware of that. However, to me, I cannot vote for someone who would support such an attack on the Constitution.

[bbbear]

Your vote is strong when it echo's perhaps millions of others who feel the same.. However, I must say it's not a compete deal breaker for me... I'll stop donating, but will still vote for him... Still, subtrack my measly $100 to $200 per month X a couple of million, and you're talking real money.

[PopulistPagan]

I am hoping that Obama takes advantage of this opportunity to show Americans what real leadership is!

Listen up Libertarians, Constitutionalist, Jeffersonians, Law Loving Independents, Bill of Rights Republican and everyone else. Once they gut the 4th amendment and basically subdue the 1st amendment by consolidating all the media, which one is next?? Maybe they will make us all pray to the same god? Maybe they wont want us to be able to arm ourselves or our militias? Maybe the court system will be replaced by Military Tribunals, like in Gitmo?? No administration has the right to take away rights that are inalienable, unless we let them. We are governed by consent and I for one do not consent.

If you like the Bill of Rights and our Constitution, back Barack!

[Dismus]

If I like the Bill of Rights I should vote Barak? Um, I'd be willing to bet a substantial donation to his campaign fund that he will indeed be voting for this legislation as written. Oh, he'll give lip service to it not being what he'd like, and say that 'if he were president, he'd change it' but in the end, he'll cave to political pressure and vote to gut the 4th along with most of the other spineless weasels in congress.

You know which candidate is actually againts this? Barr. So I guess I'll be voting Libertarian if hes the only one that will actually stand on principle.

[bbbear]

I can't get through to the listed # [phone]. If anyone has a better # will you please list it?
Thank you

[faretheewell]

Call his senate office 202-224-2854

[bbbear]

Thank you. Unfortunately I got the robot who said "The mailbox is full. Goodbye."

[ImForLogic]

O.k. so, the other Huffington post regarding this subject has over 4,000 comments and this one has close to 1,000. Obviously people are irate over this as am I. But yet, none of the Sunday news shows I watched yesterday even touched this subject. The only subjects talked about were Gas Prices and Barack's "Flip Flop" (As they like to put it. I am so tired of that terminology) over campaign financing. How could the MSM completely ignore this topic? I would just like to thank the MSM for covering what the people are really talking about (sarcasm).

[Tommygun264]

We don't spend millions in advertising to make the MSM fat and happy. AT&T and the rest of the telecoms do. Simple pimple.

[doofmann02]

Have to agree. The News channels are not about news, just like the Food Network is not about food. It's all about $.

You have to go to other sources, which a large chunk of Americans are too lazy or apathetic to do.

[marinade]

e f f i n ' c e n s o r s

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Why if we grant immunity after the fact for a deed already committed cannot we UNDUE said ex post facto grant in the future?

It's not like we're giving them permission to break the law again. Oh wait...

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Don't hold your breath.

A few months ago, onFeb 12, the same day as the Potomac Primaries, Obama voted FOR an amendment that would STRIP telecom immunity, but when that amendment FAILED, he was ABSENT for the vote later that day on the entire bill. That bill passed.

He got to say he "voted against" immunity, but without going on record about the overall bill that contained it.

[diamondgirl9]

I am not being facetious-but I really don't understand this post. I thought everyone here wanted him to strip the telecom immunity out of the bill. So he voted for the amendment and it failed.

Are you saying he should have voted FOR the bill that contained the amendment.­?

[diamondgirl9]

Sorry I meant he should have voted for the bill without the amendment.

[bluesnot]

After sleeping on it again, my feelings are even stronger that the base has been ripped-off and if he is elected we will have a continuation of a do-nothing Congress.

[neetsie37]

ONe by one, the chickens are coming home to roost. Those who worried so much about Hillary being too political are slowly going to realize their candidate is worse.....­.... he'll do (say) ANYTHING, ANYTHING to win. But his chances are dwindling. There's still time to call her back.

[bluesnot]

No, they are exactly the same. Maybe one is a better liar than the other.

[diamondgirl9]

I didn't have a problem with her being political-I had a problem with her.

[POINT84]

but why stop there? why dont we call Edwards, or Kerry...sh­oot how about Bill himself.

Who are you people pushing this madness. Hillary caved to a 'gas tax holiday' Ha! I very much so made the right decision

[Tommygun264]

Hillary is NOT an option. Get over it.

[vippy]

Hillary did not vote for it either. She is the same chickenhawk, that is why I had put hope in Obama. But I guess I will be voting Libertarian. I have had enough.

[pupbayer]

This is another reason I have become an independent. The Democrats in Congress are just useless.