Memo to Senator Obama

Here's a message I just sent to Barack Obama. I encourage you to do likewise.

Dear Senator Obama:

I am writing to strongly object to your support of the new FISA legislation. I am a longtime loyal supporter of yours, and up until now I applauded your commitment to civil rights. But your support of this so-called "compromise" legislation is simply inexcusable. The legislation is anything but a compromise - instead it is a capitulation to the executive branch's police powers and an infringement on the Constitutional rights of everyday American citizens. Not only would the legislation grant immunity to telecom companies for their willfully illegal actions, but it would also reduce the FISA court's role from providing required approval of surveillance warrant requests to the toothless task of determining whether the warrant procedures were properly followed, regardless of the legitimacy of the request itself.

You did indicate your intention to strip telecom immunity from the bill, but even Senator Reid isn't sure if this is at all possible. If providing immunity is at all feasible, the entire FISA bill should be voted down. Let the House or Senate then come up with a new FISA bill which doesn't provide immunity and which also restores the FISA court to its pre-Bush Administration role.

Also, saying that you support the current FISA bill but would also exercise discretion in domestic eavesdropping should you be elected President simply isn't enough. Saying "trust me" isn't enough. For one, it's always possible that you won't win the election in November, and John McCain would undoubtedly embrace the expanded surveillance powers that the FISA bill would provide. For another, even if you do win the election, time and again we've seen candidates promise one thing during election season only to reverse themselves once they're in the White House. I truly want to believe that you're a different type of politician who wouldn't do such a thing, but the cynic in me can't help having doubts.

Please do everything in your power to strike down the FISA bill as it is currently consituted. It's simply the right thing to do.

Sincerely,
Peter Anderson