An Open Letter To Senator Obama

From the diaries, jerome

As I mentioned in my previous post, the “Senator Obama - Please Vote NO on Telecom Immunity - Get FISA Right” group is rapidly growing. An open letter was sent to senator Obama's office this morning and they are preparing a response to this.

(We continue to hear that they're working on a statement, but it's getting late, so we decided to take the initiative to make sure we have something out before the weekend.

Please repost widely! - promoted by JonPincus)

            sent by Mike Stark to Senator Obama's office and his campaign at roughly 11:45 a.m. EDT today.  also posted on the Get FISA right wiki and elsewhere)


Here is the full text

Dear Senator Obama,

On October 24, 2007, your campaign spokesman said, “To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.”

On June 20, 2008 you said, of retroactive immunity, “I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses.”

As the largest grass-roots group on your campaign website, my.BarackObama.com, and in the spirit of your open/responsive government campaign pledges, we wish to share our ideas for how we may work together to further the goal of eliminating retroactive immunity from the FISA legislation scheduled for debate in the Senate next week. Although this is only one of the problems we see with legislation allows the government to wiretap the communications of its citizenry without a warrant, it’s the area we think we can help you the most.

First, Senator Obama, we ask that you make the same tools that we used to call undecided voters in Iowa and New Hampshire available for us to call our fellow citizens in West Virginia, Nebraska, Delaware, Florida and other states that have Senators committed to voting against the amendment that would strip telecom immunity. You have the tools and we have the people power. Together, we are confident we can bring Change; we can make the government listen to the people instead of the telecom lobbyists.

Second, Senator Obama, we ask that you attend the Senate debate and schedule floor time to speak about the violence done to the rule of law when Congress retroactively immunizes the illegal conduct of a special interest. We know you understand that justice should not be sold to the highest special interest bidder; we also know that you can persuade other Senators that are not so clear on the issue. Of course, if you do this, our committed members will surely capture the video of your inspiring oratory, load it to YouTube and spread your words to our friends and family far and wide. We trust in your ability to bring a new way of doing business to Washington and look forward to helping you make that Change a reality.

Senator Obama, the my.BarackObama.com caption reads, “I’m asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington... I’m asking you to believe in yours.” We’re ready to put these words into practice.

Thank you.

The 15,000+ (and rapidly growing) members



Please join the group “Senator Obama - Please Vote NO on Telecom Immunity - Get FISA Right” to show your support for the effort against FISA.



Display:


Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (none / 0)

Awesome jobs guy.  Keep the fight going!!!! rec'ed


Rise / Repeat / But for god's sake don't spin!
by aliveandkickin on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 01:45:57 PM EST

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (2.00 / 4)

You can still rec.?

Ban this troll please!!!!

I rec'd this as well by the way. It's beyond annoying that after accusing another user of being a pedophile this guy is still around.


No way. No how. No McCain!
by spacemanspiff on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 01:56:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (none / 0)

I don't want him banned. He'd just come back under a different username. I want him right where we have him. He's a broken tool. Let him rattle around in the bottom of the toolbox.


"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." Samuel Johnson
by MS01 Indie on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:44:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (none / 0)

I would like a link to that comment please...


If you follow history with a long enough arc, things always get better, and the truth always prevails...Gandhi
by SevenStrings on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:50:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It was pretty bad... (none / 0)

http://www.mydd.com/comments/2008/7/2/16 5150/1050/23#23


by Tenafly Viper on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:54:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thanks, and yes...it is !! (none / 0)


If you follow history with a long enough arc, things always get better, and the truth always prevails...Gandhi
by SevenStrings on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:58:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (none / 0)

Just throw it on the pile of unopened open letters.


by Beren on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 01:46:10 PM EST

No. (none / 0)

The time for cynicism is over. Enthusiasm coupled with new technology has empowered the people of this country to take back what is rightfully ours. Whether or not Obama falters or loses the plot in his campaign will not be a deterrent to the larger rebirth of activism. He simply helped to open the floodgates and there's no shutting them now. We can make a difference.

Yes we can.


John McCain: The kids aren't alright, my friends.
by differance on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 03:43:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The time for attacks on the Democratic nominee (none / 0)

on a website that purports to support Democrats is over.


by Beren on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 03:45:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

due to site maintenance (none / 0)

the link you provided doesnt work...


vote blue in 2008
by sepulvedaj3 on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 01:49:26 PM EST

Re: due to site maintenance (2.00 / 1)

Yes, I just noticed it. Meanwhile you can go to the getfisaright site for updates


by devil on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:00:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: due to site maintenance (2.00 / 1)

Its not the link.  Its the site.

We crashed the site; very cool.


McCain = bad Obama = good
by CAchemist on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:07:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: due to site maintenance (none / 0)

Works now!  I just signed up.


by NewOaklandDem on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:27:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (none / 0)

Rec'd for reasonable criticism that I agree with.  I really hope Obama gets this right.


by NewOaklandDem on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:20:13 PM EST

What happens if the response is not (none / 0)

to your liking...?

Just a hypothetical question, I know...


If you follow history with a long enough arc, things always get better, and the truth always prevails...Gandhi
by SevenStrings on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:43:47 PM EST

Re: What happens if the response is not (2.00 / 1)

It's not just Senator Obama. We have to petition ever lawmaker on this. If FISA passes as it is, while we cannot change it (unless it is challenged and defeated in court), one thing we will know is we have to start early. If we started earlier, we could have gotten even more people on board. Organizing online is one thing, but with this level of organizing, if we have time, we can have some real events too...


by devil on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 03:09:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (none / 0)

Joined that group a few days ago, and I hope and encourage everyone to make clear to Axelrod and the policy team that messing with the Constitution is not an acceptable way to "move to the "Center".

We are not children or dummies, we are not uninformed, we get it.

With people like Glenn Greenwald leading the way, hopefully the Obama team will listen and get it too.


by dembluestates on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:45:38 PM EST

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (2.00 / 1)

Here is also a link to Russ Feingold's petition on FISA:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/activ ities/92-senate-petition-to-stop-telecom -immunity
by Tenafly Viper on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:52:16 PM EST

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (2.00 / 1)

FISA is the canary in the coal mine for the Democratic Party.  If they cave on this what do they truly stand for if anything.  Without the Constitution there is nothing!  No country, no civil rights, no freedoms! Just a mass of rudderless individuals with no particular purpose.  Obama had better find his spine!  


by orionwest on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 02:59:44 PM EST

Re: Of course (none / 0)

Because FISA is more important than the 150,000 troops dodging bullets and bombs each day in Iraq.

Because FISA more important than the 291,000 Americans who have lost their jobs in the last 6 months.

Because FISA more important than the 45 million Americans without health insurance.

Because FISA more important than the 35 million Americans living in poverty.

Y'know with letters like these -- pretty soon the Clintons may be able to convince the superdelegates that if Barack Obama can't unite the party, why should he be the party's nominee?


by Brad G on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 03:53:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Of course (none / 0)

??

What do the Clintons have to do with FISA?

Oh, I get it.

There are things more important than FISA to some people, right?

No!

NOTHING is mnore important than our Constitution, our Bill of Rights.  Anything else is a REPUBLICAN argument.

Without our Constitution, we have another King George W. Bush, and then another, and then nothing.


by dembluestates on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 04:11:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Of course (none / 0)

Those troops that fight and die everyday do so because they believe the Constitution means something!  They are sworn to protect it not any politician or party.  Senators also swear an oath to protect the Constitution and it's about time they had as much courage as the troops!


by orionwest on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 06:10:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (none / 0)

I'm off for the weekend. I might post little during this weekend.

HAPPY 4th OF JULY


by devil on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 03:22:32 PM EST

Lyndon Johnson on the FISA Bill (none / 0)

You [should] not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harm it would cause if improperly administered. -- Lyndon Johnson, Senate Majority Leader, 1959




Democratic Candidate, US Senate, Wisconsin 2012
by benmasel on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 04:27:15 PM EST

Re: An Open Letter To Senator Obama (none / 0)

Some thought on FISA:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/7/3/16414 9/9447#readmore


Unseen, in the background, Fate was quietly slipping the lead into the boxing glove.
by fogiv on Thu Jul 03, 2008 at 05:08:22 PM EST


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