Obama's Weak Statement on FISA

The House passed a FISA "compromise" today that included retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies that participated in President Bush's illegal surveillance program. Barack Obama's statement on the measure, while promising to try and strike the provision when the bill reaches the Senate, also buys into the Bush administration's and the GOP's assertion that this bill has to get done to "protect Americans."

It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives – and the liberty – of the American people.

Make no mistake about it, McCain's will be much worse, crowing about companies acting "in good faith" while removing the only mechanism we have to determine that, but Obama's statement is indicative of a sickness with many Democrats who are so afraid to be called "weak on terror" that they'll go along with this. I've got news for you...

They're gonna call you weak anyway. And I'll believe you'll fight this in the Senate when I see it. This is why my first endorsement went to extreme long shot Chris Dodd, because he single-handedly kept this thing at bay until now with the simple argument that the old FISA law was working just fine. Not Barack Obama, not Hillary Clinton, and certainly, no Republican.

Democrats, listen up. There is a certain segment of this country who would vote to liquefy kittens in a blender if the GOP told them it would make them safer. You ain't gonna get those votes. You need to stand by your beliefs, and be able to share them with people, not try to shoehorn them into Republican drag.

I hope all Democrats urge Senators Obama and Clinton to lead the fight in the Senate on this thing. Go to BarackObama.com and HillaryClinton.com and let them know you feel plenty safe with the current FISA law.

Here's the full text of Obama's statement:

"Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people. There is also little doubt that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, has abused that authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders.

"That is why last year I opposed the so-called Protect America Act, which expanded the surveillance powers of the government without sufficient independent oversight to protect the privacy and civil liberties of innocent Americans. I have also opposed the granting of retroactive immunity to those who were allegedly complicit in acts of illegal spying in the past.

"After months of negotiation, the House today passed a compromise that, while far from perfect, is a marked improvement over last year's Protect America Act.

"Under this compromise legislation, an important tool in the fight against terrorism will continue, but the President's illegal program of warrantless surveillance will be over. It restores FISA and existing criminal wiretap statutes as the exclusive means to conduct surveillance – making it clear that the President cannot circumvent the law and disregard the civil liberties of the American people. It also firmly re-establishes basic judicial oversight over all domestic surveillance in the future. It does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses. But this compromise guarantees a thorough review by the Inspectors General of our national security agencies to determine what took place in the past, and ensures that there will be accountability going forward. By demanding oversight and accountability, a grassroots movement of Americans has helped yield a bill that is far better than the Protect America Act.

"It is not all that I would want. But given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as President, I will carefully monitor the program, review the report by the Inspectors General, and work with the Congress to take any additional steps I deem necessary to protect the lives – and the liberty – of the American people."