Surveillance Vote Protesters Now Top Obama's Website

The Nation:

Protesters are storming Barack Obama's website. But they all support Obama.

A grassroots group of activists has been organizing on MyBo, Obama's official social networking portal, to protest the Senator's recent decision to back controversial legislation granting the President more spying powers. The effort hit a big milestone on Tuesday afternoon: It is now the largest self-organized group on Obama's website, topping networks that were launched over a year ago. The spying protest, "Senator Obama - Please Vote NO on Telecom Immunity - Get FISA Right," launched last week. (See Obama Network Organizes and Revolts Over Spying, The Nation.)

Membership spiked to about 8,900 people on Tuesday, edging out a student group with roughly 8,600 members, and one organizer estimated that the growth rate reached a rapid four percent during the daytime. The group initially spread through the Obama network, since the site's platform instantly connects members through a dedicated email listserve. On Monday, for example, over 200 emails shot across the wire, reaching the roughly 2,300 members who opted to receive individual messages. The exchanges ranged from policy debates, like whether immunity was acceptable if the telephone companies acted in good faith, to organizing strategies, such as promoting the group on sharing sites like Digg. Then some activists open-sourced the project, creating a wiki-hub for additional actions -- from calling Obama's office to urging Keith Olbermann to promote the group -- and launched partner groups on other sites like Facebook.

Read the whole story: The Nation

Comments

[kellygrrrl]

Can U Hear Me Now?

[allonfla]

No one has yet to answered why these people aren't storming the websites of other Senators. Obama is not the one that will ultimately pass or veto this Bill. Bush will! there are many other Senators who will be voting for it and it won't matter to them what Obama thinks.

You can protest, but I just don't see what good it does to go after him alone. What if he votes no and then the bill gets passed anyway?

Then what? Will you protest and say he didn't stand up for you enough?

[kellygrrrl]

because nobody expects anything from anyone else

we are not talking about people who actually want to be involved with politicians

this is the antithesis

that is kinda the beauty of it

let's see where this goes -- could be huge -- could backfire

he said he wanted to change DC and unite The People

now let's see it

[aturner18]

At least he is smart enough to know what it will take to root out the terriorist

[coba]

can they please get over that FISA thing, they are over reacting to obamas vote, and im not joining that stupid group.

http://sensico.wordpress.com/

[spiderbucket]

Let's get him IN and THEN force this stuff 100%.

[kellygrrrl]

or let's get a whole bunch of People to just pay attention

that works, too

:)

[Pupster]

Hey, it's great that the MyBo FISA protest groups is getting a lot of publicity. Because then Obama will look even more independent when he shuns their pressure to vote contrary to their wishes.

This is like when the Hillary supporters tried to rally and pressure Obama to pick Hillary as VP. Obama can't look like he's caving or he'll look weak. Same with his leftist base.

[allonfla]

You have a good eye for the upside!

[HumeSkeptic]

These protesters are true patriots.

Given the choice between 0bama and Mc Cain, there is no doubt that 0bama is a far superior candidate. However, that doesn't mean that 0bama should get a free pass. It is our country, and we must make our candidates do what is in the best interest of our country.

.

[Pupster]

What I'm noticing is that it doesn't matter if someone donates $10 or thousands of dollars like special interests and lobbyists. People think they own the candidate and can make him do what they want.

[kellygrrrl]

no, people think their opinion matters as much as a lobbyists'

do you realize how amazing that is in this day and age

that is Patriotism

[PATina]

I agree. While some may think it will make him look soft... I disagree. How great will it look to those who haven't committed to voting for him to see a leader actually listen to and act on the concerns of his supporters. That's a dream candidate !!!!

But apparently... most of his supporters on this site... never heard the adage that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. The are satisfied to remain quiet while other louder constituents get what they want.

While I hope he doesn't disappoint me this way... I can't wait to hear what some of these same "let him do his thing" people will be saying when he backs out of reforming health care (because the noisy right doesn't want "socialized" medicine, puts conservative jurists on the Supreme Court (cause he doesn't want to lose the votes of the noisy gun owners and right to lifers), and puts energy refrom on the back burner and begins drilling in ANWR (because the noisy oil company and their investors want more oil now).

[WatchIt]

Look. I am voting for the guy, no question. But as I have said to my very progressive friends who regard compromises that Obama has done as betrayals, "no, it's gonna take a lot of people working together, " not just the single issue radicals. B ush basically engendered a narrow faction to be louder than they really are. Thus we had many well-endowed mouthpieces making the radical right seem a majority. But they scared and intimidated people, they used fear. No. Obama uses Hope and Work and Progress. Not fear.

While I might have to tolerate faith-based groups, even one in particular whose religious concoctions I disdain, I can say they DO GOOD WORKS in many areas, but would not accept for a moment their metaphysical tenets. And while I might have to tolerate large corps snuffing small business, there are some large corps who provide a wonderful product and don't charge an arm and a leg.

Like the Greek maxim, moderation in all things including moderation.

[allonfla]

The majority of this country are NOT progressive and the majority of this country are religious. Not only those on the right go to church!

[Lvm]

I'm completely demoralized over FISA, and to top it off, my husband is done with him over faith-based initiative. Democratic candidates always make the mistake of moving to the "Middle" when the "Middle" in the 21st century has become an iota shy of the fanatical right. Is Obama and the campaign really in touch with the majority in this country? Why on earth do they think he was able to raise the kind of money he did from people like me who gave much more than I should have. Of course, I am voting for him. My husband says he won't vote (I'll have to work on that), but my belief and interest has waned. Damn it all to hell. No more money. No more excitement. He best make a serious speech, and explain himself.

[allonfla]

I meant this reply for you LVM, not WatchIT.

The majority of this country are NOT progressive and the majority of this country are religious. Not only those on the right go to church!

[Mike4Obama]

This bill, if I'm not mistaken, allows for court oversight now. In other words, they can be a criminal liability now, just not civil liability. He is hoping to isolate the civil liability portion out and put it to the vote. You've got to give a little to take a little.

[sandtats]

Exactly While he admits the bill is not perfect, his main concern was that oversight be returned to the courts, albeit at the cost of civil liability for the telecoms, and that would be accomplished with passage of the bill. But his belief is that criminal prosecution still remains an option and will consider/pursue that option once elected. People are overreacting to this, big time

[repearwo]

I am glad that Obama gives people who disagree a place and method to complain and be heard. Try that with any other politcal site. If you disagree with Kos or FireDogLake, or even Crooks and Liars you will be shut down.

[Ramirez]

That's true, and the 0bama campaign deserves kudos for providing a venue for these people to vent.

[FredOCal]

Fantastic! I'm glad to see that people are hold Obama accountable. I believe the American people want a leader who will take a stand on issues, not someone who constantly capitulates. There is no question that compromise is often the correct stance, but when the issue is as cut and dry as this one is, leaders must be held accountable for their positions.

[allonfla]

Wouldn't it be capitulating if he went back on his previous statement. Why is it ok to capitulate to the left, but not to the right, center, etc?

[PATina]

Maybe I'm reading you wrong... but the left ALWAYS gives in. They always compromise their positions. Therefore... the right NEVER has to. If a candidate always comes "right" to you... why would you even contemplate captiulating to the left ??

This is the fundamental issue behind the FISA vote. The left had certain demands... the right had certain demands. In general... the left gave up it's demands... so they won't look "soft on terror". Question: How can you be "hard on terror" when you're soft to everything else???