Obama's FISA flip-flop angers liberal bloggers

What is the alternative for angry liberal bloggers? McCain?

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/rospars/gGxsZF/

I want to take this opportunity to speak directly to those of you who oppose my decision to support the FISA compromise.

This was not an easy call for me. I know that the FISA bill that passed the House is far from perfect. I wouldn't have drafted the legislation like this, and it does not resolve all of the concerns that we have about President Bush's abuse of executive power. It grants retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that may have violated the law by cooperating with the Bush Administration's program of warrantless wiretapping. This potentially weakens the deterrent effect of the law and removes an important tool for the American people to demand accountability for past abuses. That's why I support striking Title II from the bill, and will work with Chris Dodd, Jeff Bingaman and others in an effort to remove this provision in the Senate.

But I also believe that the compromise bill is far better than the Protect America Act that I voted against last year. The exclusivity provision makes it clear to any President or telecommunications company that no law supersedes the authority of the FISA court. In a dangerous world, government must have the authority to collect the intelligence we need to protect the American people. But in a free society, that authority cannot be unlimited. As I've said many times, an independent monitor must watch the watchers to prevent abuses and to protect the civil liberties of the American people. This compromise law assures that the FISA court has that responsibility

The Inspectors General report also provides a real mechanism for accountability and should not be discounted. It will allow a close look at past misconduct without hurdles that would exist in federal court because of classification issues. The (PDF)recent investigation uncovering the illegal politicization of Justice Department hiring sets a strong example of the accountability that can come from a tough and thorough IG report.

The ability to monitor and track individuals who want to attack the United States is a vital counter-terrorism tool, and I'm persuaded that it is necessary to keep the American people safe -- particularly since certain electronic surveillance orders will begin to expire later this summer. Given the choice between voting for an improved yet imperfect bill, and losing important surveillance tools, I've chosen to support the current compromise. I do so with the firm intention -- once I’m sworn in as President -- to have my Attorney General conduct a comprehensive review of all our surveillance programs, and to make further recommendations on any steps needed to preserve civil liberties and to prevent executive branch abuse in the future.

Now, I understand why some of you feel differently about the current bill, and I'm happy to take my lumps on this side and elsewhere. For the truth is that your organizing, your activism and your passion is an important reason why this bill is better than previous versions. No tool has been more important in focusing peoples' attention on the abuses of executive power in this Administration than the active and sustained engagement of American citizens. That holds true -- not just on wiretapping, but on a range of issues where Washington has let the American people down.

I learned long ago, when working as an organizer on the South Side of Chicago, that when citizens join their voices together, they can hold their leaders accountable. I'm not exempt from that. I'm certainly not perfect, and expect to be held accountable too. I cannot promise to agree with you on every issue. But I do promise to listen to your concerns, take them seriously, and seek to earn your ongoing support to change the country. That is why we have built the largest grassroots campaign in the history of presidential politics, and that is the kind of White House that I intend to run as President of the United States -- a White House that takes the Constitution seriously, conducts the peoples' business out in the open, welcomes and listens to dissenting views, and asks you to play your part in shaping our country’s destiny.

Democracy cannot exist without strong differences. And going forward, some of you may decide that my FISA position is a deal breaker. That's ok. But I think it is worth pointing out that our agreement on the vast majority of issues that matter outweighs the differences we may have. After all, the choice in this election could not be clearer. Whether it is the economy, foreign policy, or the Supreme Court, my opponent has embraced the failed course of the last eight years, while I want to take this country in a new direction. Make no mistake: if John McCain is elected, the fundamental direction of this country that we love will not change. But if we come together, we have an historic opportunity to chart a new course, a better course.

So I appreciate the feedback through my.barackobama.com, and I look forward to continuing the conversation in the months and years to come. Together, we have a lot of work to do.

I've been a Obama supporter since the 2004 Democratic Convention and

have been talking to many about how Obama is the change we need in

government

I religiously wore an Obama button everywhere and since I am white I

had to withstand many racist comments and insults for my support.

Unfortunately that support including my VOTE has just changed and I

will probably vote for a third party candidate maybe Nader.

The reason for this is Obama's recent Congressional vote on the FISA

bill.

I cannot believe Obama sold out to the corporate world and Washington

Status Quo so easily.

If Obama thinks he must reposition his viewpoints closer to center he

is wrong. the closer to center that he moves the more likely he is to

lose the election.

Obama won the primary because Americans want CHANGE and Obama

promised change.

Allowing the government to spy on us without warrants and giving

immunity to the telecommunications corporations as well as voting to

end the discussion on the issue is in flagrant
opposition to all the things he has been promising

Obama is a hypocrite and I will now tell everyone
I know that I have changed my position and no longer support Obama.

I wish I would of voted for Hillary now because she and Schumer voted

for the people of America on this important issue not in favor of

policies carried out by the BUSH administration which are destroying

our Constitutional Rights!

Obama needs to strengthen his spine and speak out for the people at

all costs and risk.

Only in this way will he win.

Too bad he is starting to look like a Kerry rerun

If Kerry had the courage to stand up and say I will end the WAR and

not espouse a surge and continued presence in Iraq he may have won

but we all know history.

Obama is on the threshold of changing history but if he back pedals

and panders to the conservatives he will lose.

McCain has most of the Conservative vtes already locked up we need

the independents and the disenfranchised to rise and take this

country back.

From Obama's vote on FISA i can see that he is not up to the task

now.

I am mortified now about the future of the United States of America

and though i have merely considered moving to Canada, I now think

that it is a decision I must consider very seriously.

Obama is a weak willed sell-out and America will not elect him if he

continues to make hypocritical votes on the Congressional floor.

My Obama button is now entering the garbage can as I end this letter

Goodbye and Good Riddance Obama!

Um, no, we won't.
While I am not a blogger, nor do I even consider myself a democrat (or republican) FISA was THE issue that I was paying attention to. As I watch our government go into a downword spiral even lower than Nixon's watergate, I find myself exasperated by our current leaders who think it's ok to trample on the constitution and forfeit our civil liberties all in the name of a false national security tactic. How spying on your own citizens stops afghanistan terrorists from striking again heaven knows. I was going to vote for Obama - if maybe a bit reluctantly. But now there is no way I will sacrifice my morals and belief in the constitution to support a candidate that is oh so willing to bend his own standards - against the will of his supporters. Were is is some real change we can believe in?