Obama: I'll Fight To Strip Telecom Immunity From FISA

[TeamJordan23]

Lets hold off judgment to see what happens in the Senate next week. If the retroactive Immunity is not stripped, then it will be interesting to see what Obama does.

Obama: I'll Fight To Strip Telecom Immunity From FISA

(CBS/AP) - Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., issued a statement in support of the House's update of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but said he would try to strip a provision granting immunity to telecommunication companies when the bill comes to a vote in the Senate next week.

The House approved a compromise bill Friday that would set new electronic surveillance rules that would also shield telecoms from lawsuits arising from their participation in the government's warrantless eavesdropping on telephone and computer lines in the United States.

The government eavesdropped on American phone and computer lines for almost six years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks without permission from the FISA Court, the special panel established for that purpose under the original 1978 law.

Some 40 lawsuits have been filed against the telecommunications companies by groups and individuals who say the Bush administration illegally monitored their phone calls or e-mails.

Obama said there is "little doubt" that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, "has abused authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders."

"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.

" 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."

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/06/21/politics/horserace/entry4200105.shtml

[Bullet1987]

1. It's good Obama is doing this...

Let's see what happens.

[Benhurst]

2. Good. And if he fails to do so, he should lead the opposition to its passage.

[sellitman]

3. I hope he succeeds.

Good for him!

[TwilightGardener]

4. Well, wake up from the vapors and get off the fainting couch, ladies--

if he votes to strip immunity, what's with the hysteria?

[MrCoffee]

5. And Harry Reid doubts there will even be a vote on an amendment.

So thanks for...well, thanks for nothing, Senator.

[DevonRex]

6. If CBS can accurately portray his stand, why can't DUers? K&R

[dailykoff]

7. FISA is unconstitutional. Simply letting it expire would be by far the best

course of action. We don't need "effective intelligence collection tools" that give Bushco carte blanche to shit on the constitution.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

8. stripping the immunity portion form this bill is a long long shot....

I want to see the whole bill go down

[Frustratedlady]

9. If they want to give the companies immunity from prosecution, then

let them have it (they're going to end up with it, one way or another)BUT ONLY if we get the full story on who authorized it, who they were targeting (including those politicians and/or MSM they spied on, blogs and citizen groups) beyond foreign and domestic terrorists. I'll never believe terrorists were their first target. They were building their database for use in the 2004 election. Our safety was the least of their concerns.