Obama: White House aides should comply with congressional subpoenas.

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/06/20/obama-white-house-aides-should-comply-with-congressional-subpoenas/

Obama: White House aides should comply with congressional subpoenas.


Today, President Bush asserted executive privilege to hide global warming documents requested by the House Oversight Committee. Bush “has also asserted executive privilege to keep his chief of staff, Josh Bolten, and former White House counsel Harriet Miers from having to provide information to Congress” about the U.S. attorneys scandal. At a press conference in Jacksonville, FL this afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama said that such blanket assertions of executive privilege are “completely misguided” and does not reflect how he would operate:

I think that nobody is above the law. If there are specific assertions of executive privilege, then, you know, those can be examined. But I think this notion, this blanket notion that you can’t subpoena White House aides, where there’s evidence of genuine wrongdoing, I think is completely misguided.

You know, as I recall, Richard Nixon mounted similar arguments. That’s not how we operate. We’re a nation of laws and not men and women. So, you know — and my — that’s a precedent I don’t mind living with as president of the United States.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. They don't dare let him into office.

Thinking about that scares the hell out of me.

[babylonsister]

3. Stop please. Turn the page. Isn't that the point?

We all are in the process. I refuse to think negative. Why borrow trouble?

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Sometimes I weaken.

You're right.

[AuntPatsy]

8. I crossed myself and knocked on wood...I guess in many ways

I have no stopped believing in a higher power, I just quit believing in the man made one.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. as in Man [sic] made God in his own image? (nt)

[AuntPatsy]

15. Nooooo, mine is not man made...mine is made by me.

[Jackpine Radical]

17. OK, WO-man-made. That's why I did the "sic."

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. The White House people think they are the untouchables

hopefully by Jan 09 the White House will be cleansed.

[ColonelTom]

5. "I think that nobody is above the law." What about the telecom companies? n/t

[babylonsister]

7. I don't recall that the Senate has voted yet. How did he vote?

I know he put a statement out, but send him an e-mail; maybe we can encourage him.

Obama contact information-- Urge him to vote against FISA bill

Hey, gang... Even if Obama manages to get the retroactive immunity provision removed from the upcoming FISA vote, this bill is barely palatable. Let him know you want him to oppose the Democrats' caving to the Bush administration. This vote is coming soon, so act now!

To reach the campaign headquarters, you can call or write:

[phone]

Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680

This link takes you directly to the on-line submission form for the campaign:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/contact2

These are for his Senate offices in Washington and Chicago:

Washington D.C. Office
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
[phone]
[phone] fax
(202 228-1404 TDD

Chicago Office
John C. Kluczynski Federal Office Building
230 South Dearborn St.
Suite 3900 (39th floor)
Chicago, Illinois 60604
[phone]
[phone] fax
Toll free: [phone]
(for IL residents only)

http://obama.senate.gov/contact/

[ColonelTom]

12. Thanks for the link - I sent him this message.

Sen. Obama,

You said regarding the subpoenas of White House aides:

"I think that nobody is above the law."

Yet your statement on the FISA bill today indicates that you're willing to support the "compromise" - or, as Sen. Feingold more accurately put it, "capitulation" - on telecom immunity.

I want to believe in you and your campaign. Please reconsider your position on this bill. There are things more important than swaying voters in one swing state or another. Upholding the Constitution is one of them.

You have the power and the God-given ability to lead us out of the looming darkness of a surveillance state. Please do whatever you can - not just whatever seems politically "feasible" in the context of a campaign - to stop this travesty from being signed into law. Please give us "change we can believe in."

[babylonsister]

13. Good! That's what we should always do, if we're angry about

what a pol does, tell him! If we don't, who will?
And FWIW, I sent him an e-mail also, saying basically the same thing. :thumbsup:

[AuntPatsy]

9. that does have a bit of irony considering his supposed message on fisa today..

I wonder, did he say it or did someone write it for him to say and at the time he was not aware of the implications?

I have to think he is scared to appear soft on the so called constant threat of terrorism that far too many people in this country still believe exists which led him to say what he did today, I still await his vote which will surely say it all..if they only understood where the real threat comes from perhaps they would wake up...

[babylonsister]

11. I don't know who to believe. I'm pissed at House members,

love Leahy, Durbin, and those that will not vote for this, am confused at some Dems in the House that did, and Obama is an unknown though he signed on to the House compromise but hadhas reservations.

I just don't know.

I did read that the majority of Americans don't give a crap, but that doesn't make it better for us that do.

[AuntPatsy]

16. No it doesnt and I am not suprised that someone posted that the right is not happy with it either...

I was just pointed to an article in the post that talked about it, now it said that Sen Obama stood with Fiengold and in the same article said he stood with pelosi as well, we know that Feingold voted against it but that pelosi voted for it so to be honest I am a bit confused and I want to see how he votes...

And I don't understand anyone not giving a crap, I honestly cannot understand that.

[midnight]

6. What about the law of not spying on us. Should they be

required to follow that law too. Or can we expect them to follow what ever laws they like and the ones they break ask immunity from?

[babylonsister]

14. Please explain; what law are you talking about regarding not

spying on us? I'm annoyed about the immunity the telecoms are getting, but I do 'get' the fact that the Dems need to be hard on protecting the US, especially now prior to an election.

What I don't know is how difficult this will be to change.