Obama Silent as Democrats Give Bush More Spying Powers

Democratic leaders in Congress are poised to grant new spying powers to President Bush and arrange retroactive amnesty for telecommunications companies accused of illegal surveillance, according to a deal announced Thursday evening. Today's New York Times describes the legislation, which the House could vote on today, as "the most significant revision of surveillance law in 30 years" and a "major victory" for the lame duck president. If passed, the bill would constitute the largest capitulation by Democratic leaders since winning control of Congress, an especially striking setback as Democratic voters rally around a presidential nominee who has flatly opposed Bush's spying policies -- and repeatedly promised to challenge the corruption, doubletalk and "politics of fear" that rule Washington.

Yet Barack Obama has been mostly silent as the House caved into White House demands for more surveillance power this week. He has advocated civil liberties and accountability during previous clashes over surveillance, voting against a White House spying bill in August, but Obama has sidestepped the issue this week, despite pleas from supporters. "If Obama remains missing much longer, it may be necessary to issue an Amber Alert for him," wrote Glenn Greenwald, an attorney and Salon blogger who rallied activists to raise over $115,000 in two days to run primaries against Democratic incumbents who undermine the rule of law.

Obama's quiescence on this fundamental issue is disappointing, but not new. In February, I criticized him and Clinton for going MIA during an earlier spying stand-off, when a coalition of liberal incumbents, netroots activists and the civil liberties groups ACLU and EFF successfully beat back Bush's threats to stop a similar bill. Now things are just worse, for Obama and the Congress.

Obama has a much larger mandate to lead the party, yet he is ducking this battle. There is no rationale for Congress to fundamentally alter surveillance policy for Bush's last five months in office, but instead of doing oversight they are granting him more power. The Supreme Court just issued a historic opinion rebuffing Bush and Congress for compromising the Constitution, through the President's lawless detention policies and the Democratic Congress' attempt to authorize them in the Military Commissions Act, yet neither branch appears chastened. And politically, the Democrats' promise of change, reform and accountability risks a hollow ring when they continue to endorse more of the same corporate handouts and failed Bush agenda.

From The Nation.

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Comments

[robbep]

If elected do you think Obama is going to change our health care system? prbly not.

[kennedy]

Obama can you say.......­......NO CHANGE, THAT YOU ARE THE SAME OLD WASHINGTON POLITICIAN. YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

[DeadCivilian]

What exactly will we be celebrating July 4th? I’ve forgotten, just as I’ve forgotten so many things like
U.S. support of:
the Shah of Iran
Saddam Hussein
The Taliban
Al Qaeda
Saudi Arabia
Bin Laden
Not the ravings of a conspiracy theorist - a matter of public record. These enemies were created by our own wayward foreign policy over the last 60 years. Look it up.
Now we are told that fighting the enemies our foreign policy created is best achieved by monitoring every single electronic communication of average citizens.
The "war on terror" is a lie. The BIGGEST, MOST SOPHISTICATED, MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED MILITARY IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE ENTIRE WORLD cannot find 387 nut-jobs, with satellites that can photograph a pack of cigarettes from space and display the brand. Somehow, we can’t find Bin Laden.
Americans are too afraid to admit what they know deep down is occurring right now: The US is in the midst a fascist takeover. We are slaves on a corporate plantation where you are free to pay taxes and interest to corporate entities growing obscenely wealthy off your labor, earning record profits while you cut back to fill your tank to get to those 2 jobs without health care benefits.
The election is a farce. Whoever wins will still be beholden to our corporate overlords. Why do think the telecoms got immunity? BECAUSE THEY RUN THIS COUNTRY. Not you, not Congress, not ‘We the People’. What a naive joke that is.

[jimmy2001]

Ari you need to read the Huffpost, there is a statement on there from Obama about why he is planning on supporting this bill.

Next i would like to know why are people only calling out the Democrats on this. Have we come to the point where we completely accept the fact that the Republicans are simply not going to go against this president or defend the American people and our Constitution???

[kellygrrrl]

"have we come to the point" ...

far surpassed that point

[GrainOSand]

"…we completely accept the fact that the Republicans are simply not going to go against this president or defend the American people and our Constitution?"

Widely held and widely believed.

Can you say de facto standard conclusion?

As for Mr. Obama, I feel for him because a lot is being put at his feet. However, he ran for president, president did not run for him. By throwing his hat in the ring, he suggested he knew the lay of the land the real stakes in play and the urgency at hand. If he knew, then he had to know there was bound to be a showdown during the election where he was going to have to take a position that framed his candidacy further. I am asking him to have courage and resist the arm wringing that continues behind the scenes for this travesty of a bill by inclusion of immunity for crimes real and potential within the bill. Leaders are made in the crucible of moments hot with far reaching implications.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: “…let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself …”
George Bush: “Wanted dead or alive”; “You are either with us or you are with the terrorists”; “Freedom’s on the move”.
Lincoln: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

[greylox]

**Most of us go by what we've seen for the past several years. The republicans have marched lock step with Bush all the way. Why change now. They played peeping tom quite merrily during the Clinton administration. Why wouldn't everyone expect them to turn a blind eye to the constitution.

[sparkey]

Obama won't say anything because he wants to use the same spying techniques on the republicans as the republicans used on the democrats.

[jaxbarrow]

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign released a statement Friday afternoon saying that while Obama opposes amnesty for telecom firms that spied on Americans, he will support the House compromise legislation.

Oh goody.

[Casanova1978]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but so far this bill has only reached the House of Representatives, and not the Senate. Obama is a member of the Senate, and I'm sure that when it comes up for debate there that he will speak out on this issue.

[kellygrrrl]

he needs to vote NO

simple as that

[chronic]

If it were that simple many would vote no. Unfortunately its not as simple as would would think.

The Bush/Cheney Junta and The Republican Crime Syndicate in congress has hurled our nation into the abyss!

It will take many many years to repair the damage done to our nation and electing a Liberal/Progressive President is a start to undo that evil criminal damage by the right wing.

[calfacon]

As leader of the Democratic Party he should have spoken out earlier and louder. Pelosi wouldn't have gotten away with this.
Call Obama, tell him how you feel.
Obama for President - 866-675-2008
Obama Senate office - 202224-2854

[meanguy]

sure he will, casanova..­.another pretty speech

[badfishatlarge]

I cannot believe he is acting like a duck on this issue.

Benjamin Franklin: "Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither."

[jharasymiw]

While the compromise bill is not ideal it does reestablish the rule of law. the real issue is telecom immunity. frankly as progressives we are between a rock and a hard place in this election. We have to capture the house and a sizable majority in both houses. However, once we have accomplished this we can support progressive democrats to run against "establishment Democrats". Getting the country back on track will take time and several election cycles. As voters see success we can run on an evolving agenda and send republicans in democractic clothing back home to make an honest living rather than sucking from the corporate through.
Jim

[GLaB]

Quite the opposite - this bill does not "reestablish the rule of law" - it firmly entrenches the fact that THIS FISA law JUST LIKE THE LAST ONE can be freely ignored without consequences.

[calfacon]

Au Contraire. This bill says if the president gives you a piece of paper saying " I told you to" you're allowed to break any laws. Rule of Law?? Rule of disdain for law. Sets yet another precedent that the Congress is no longer a co-equal branch of the government. they are only there to pass laws to cover whatever the president does. Rule of Law?

[jackie4444]

HuffPost's Pick

Obama's in a difficult position. If he continues to keep his mouth shut because Pelosi and top Party leadership are intimately involved, he becomes no different than any other politician. He loses his wings, falls to earth and forever thereafter walks like ordinary political men, slogging along, watching when he steps. Disappointing but familiar.

Or he can make another dramatic, bold move. Take the opportunity to publicly address what was
done, CONDEMN IT, speak against it in the Senate, vote against it, speak against it in his campaign,
talk about the constitutional issues. Does his courage extend as far as taking on his own Party up
to the top tier 4 months before the election? Its a tall order.

But he's being ask to sleep, publically gagged, in a bed he didn't make. His 'colleagues' with this 'agreement' set him up to be a public laughingstock, showing that his own Party leadership
only gives lip service to his 'change' imperative. WHY SHOULD HE BE SILENT? The Party 'ayes' have no more right to demand he be silent in the face of public outrage about their conduct than did Jeremiah Wright. I think he loses if he lets this pass in silence to 'maintain family/Party harmony'.

[GrainOSand]

Roger that!!!

[dsifso]

Hold on now, it is his party now. He's got his people at the reins. didn't we all celebrate how he was now the leader of the party?
BTW, he is not being silent. He did split the baby on the bill and said he supports it even though he doesn't like it because the times demand it even though he doesn't trust the current administration on this but the enemy has to be defeated even though this is not the bill he would have liked...

[jhink465]

Rise up Americans. Your country is under attack from domestic enemies that have infiltrated and taken over our government. Unite or Die.

[GLaB]

Are you weeping, now, Ari?

[lthuedk 1]

We are being prepped for enactment of Martial Law. The Bush socialists want to prepare for and control our every response to this outrage and many to come.

The only way they can take over completely, is through acts of treason. This "compromise" is our death pol.

Will the military be on our side, or the dictatorships? Admiral Mullen would make a fine commander of our forces. Toss in Gen. Pace and let's get organized.

http://www.light-to-dark.com/the_joy_of_a_dictatorship.html

[GrainOSand]

This time does have a certain revolutionary feel about it. There is something just beneath the surface beckoning for our mass attention. Cleanup is required in aisle nine of American life, the House of Representatives just spilled democracy, integrity, and liberty, all over the floor, and now people are slipping and sliding on the outcome of that fateful mishap of conscience gone missing. Call the senate to mop up this mess or will they break something else, like our hearts and our will and our allegiance?

[rkrenke]

Obama lost my vote today - I will not accept anymore emails or campaign requests from him. It was bad enough when he added Jason Furman to his team as an economic advisor, then he cut that ad for the Blue Dog Dem, John Barrow, who has a primary challenge by a progressive, black female, and now this.

This is not change - it is not hope - it is more of the same spineless behavior we've seen for the past eight years.

[jhink465]

If Obama doesn't take a leadership position in the Senate next week to defeat this assault on the Constitution, I will not contribute another dime to his campaign. As an expert on the Constitution, Obama should know better. If he cannot or will not stand up and articulate what this FISA legislation means to the rule of law, my vote will be in question as well. Bob Barr will start to look better and better.

[NorVaGal]

Buh-bye. We'll leave the light on for ya.

[bbrecht]

We still need Obama-- as a better alternative than McCain, but we do need to get on his a***, starting now (yesterday). Supporters need to also be tough critics. This is democracy. Let's not be ambivalent any longer, there is too much at stake.

[SharonToji]

Obama has my vote, because to do otherwise is insanity. However, I have cut off all contact with emails on his behalf and given the several reasons, and said I will no longer donate money and will not do my usual newsletters (I have about 2500 on my list since I was Southern California ACT volunteer coordinator) nor walk my precints. I am no longer going to lead the meetups I organize. Maybe I'll change my mind later, but right now, I have no enthusiasm for this campaign and I'm a political junkie of 60 years!

[laurenc]

How many people quitting this campaign were lured into it through the blogosphere?
How many ignored John Edwards' more progressive position because young people liked Obama? Just wondering.­..

[Archangel1292]

Oh the Dems have gone and done it now...ever­yone of them that voted for the outragious FISA bill has to go.
With a lame duck prez and the ability to protect our constitutional rights, to hold the telecoms acountable for their criminal actions, they caved...th­ey caved...th­ey caved!
Hard to believe.
Is there no one to do the right thing? I will not forget this in November. I will determine who voted yes and do all in my power to see they are selling shoes,
They caved!

[cynicism101]

Of course they caved? They have for the last seven years. Ever wonder why?

Here's a theory - Maybe, just maybe, this is an important tool. Given that Democrats expect to have control of all three houses in January, why would they now vote to remove such a valuable tool from their own arsenal?

Sure, you could view this as just another indicator on how they've caved, or failed to represent you, as they have since the aftermath of September 11th. Or, you could view this as your trusty liberal leadership subtly telling you that the tactics of the evil president are actually correct?

I already know your choice, but an alternate perspective can be handy from time to time...

[4peace]

The only thing that makes sense here is that each and everyone of those people that voted for this FISA bill has got something to hide and they're being blackmailed, or there is money to be made for them personally - be it from a lobbyist or a bribe from bushco. Lets face it, thats how our government works. With the likes of karl rove operating behind the scenes and pulling skeletons out of the closet left and right, no pun intended, they just all roll over and do what they're told. I suggest reading Confessions of an Economic Hit Man - I'm sure they employ the same tactics to our "elected" (and I use that term tongue-in-cheek) officials as they do to their puppets running the third world banana republics. You see it works like this, do what you're told or we have a bullet with your name on it, or a scandal with your name on it....what­ever. It IS the american way. Sad. But. True.

We are a one party system that represents 4% of the population. This scenario is getting very, very old.

[maizie]

If they had not voted to pass this abomination, they could be held as liable as the president and the telecoms. This was a CYA legal maneuver, not a compromise, not a capitulation. Since Congress knew about the program from the beginning, they could be prosecuted.

[GrainOSand]

Politics generally appears to be a process of stripping. Politicians strip of their morals, their principles; their judgment, their sense of fairness, and a host of other things that, once you become a politician, get in the way of remaining a politician. The striptease of politicians does not shed outer garments but inner treasure of heart, intelligence, and soul. What is left after the transformation is a hollow individual, well paid, well groomed, and well trained to function as a puppet of hidden masters. The oily slick politician takes to the podium and says I represent the solution to all your problems. Like the televangelist, the politician says put your trust in me and more importantly send me your money. America is broken and has been for a long time. The indoctrination of the public is so deep in its penetration of the public psyche, that it seems the public is no longer offended (if they ever were) by the perverse, freakish, indecent striptease of a politician that results in further pollution of the often-touted idea of America the great. Most are incapable of recognizing an affront to decency, to liberty, to home.

What can be said that has not already been said? Protest songs are written and sung. Speeches are written and given. Articles or editorials are conceived, written, and read. The majority cannot be torn away from the compulsion of their own lives, to see, to respond to, that which threatens life, in both quality and viability.

[GrainOSand]

To the politicians in the senate who get the FISA ball next. Put on your clothes before you vote, and defeat this assault on the quality, and potentially, the viability of American life. To Mr. Obama, as you have asked the public to be the change, so too must the change be embodied in you. I feel you realize this and my faith in you is unshaken. A leader is born in the hot fire of hard choices. One can emerge from the fire a compromised and pathetic leader or one can emerge from the fire of difficult choices a verification that we can and we will change for the better. Mr. Obama, confirm that we can.

The vote on this bill is a no-brainer. You spied, you lied, you guilty. I do not care about memos of paid and conflicted zealots that sought to suggest the legal green light to companies like AT&T; that it was ok to subvert the constitution. Let the current lawsuits against the telecoms proceed by rejecting this bill and allow the court systems to determine in each individual case whether telecom was complicit in the high crimes and misdemeanors of the traitorous administration of George W, Bush. Leadership can no longer be a sick show; it must be -- show me the money. Show me change we can believe in because for too long we have gotten change that has killed belief that any change of note and substance will ever occur.

[jhink465]

Well said.