So, why did 94 House Democrats change their votes on FISA?

[Occam Bandage]

Last week, on June 20, the House of Representatives approved a compromise bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA). The bill sets new electronic surveillance rules that effectively shield telecommunications companies from lawsuits resulting from the government’s warrantless eavesdropping on phone calls and viewing of emails of private citizens in the U.S. Approximately 40 lawsuits have been filed with potential damages totaling in the billions of dollars.

On March 14 of this year the House passed an amendment that rejected retroactive immunity for phone carriers who helped the National Security Agency carry out the illegal wiretapping program without proper warrants. Ninety-four House Democrats voted in favor of this measure--rejecting immunity--on March 14, then ‘changed’ to vote in favor of the June 20 House bill--approving immunity.

“Why did these ninety-four House members have a change of heart?” asked Daniel Newman, executive director of MAPLight.org, “Their constituents deserve answers.”

MAPLight.org's research department compiled PAC campaign contributions from Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint and correlated them with the voting records of all House members who voted on last week’s FISA bill. (The analysis used data from CRP; contributions were from January 2005 through March 2008). Here are the findings:

Comparing Democrats' Votes (March 14th and June 20th votes):

Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint gave PAC contributions averaging:

$8,359 to each Democrat who changed their position to support immunity for Telcos (94 Dems)
$4,987 to each Democrat who remained opposed to immunity for Telcos (116 Dems)

88 percent of the Dems who changed to supporting immunity (83 Dems of the 94) received PAC contributions from Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint during the last three years (Jan. 2005-Mar. 2008). See below for list of these 94 Dems.

All House Members (June 20th vote)
Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint gave PAC contributions averaging:

$9,659 to each member of the House voting "YES" (105-Dem, 188-Rep)
$4,810 to each member of the House voting "NO" (128-Dem, 1-Rep)

http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08

The top seven:

Clyburn, James: $29500
Hoyer, Steny: $29000
Emanuel, Rahm: $28000
Boucher, Frederick: $27500
Meeks, Gregory: $26000
Crowley, Joseph: $24500
Pelosi, Nancy: $24500.

Looks like Dems are a cheap date.

[ixion]

1. selling our civil liberties for a few thousand bucks

that's just ducky. :argh:

[justaregularperson]

25. Link here for ActBlue's campaign to replace "BushDemocrats"

If you don't like this consider contributing to a few campaigns that are targetting the worst offenders. I did. That will help send a message to these Dems that will not listen to the people.

http://www.actblue.com/page/bushdemocrats

[NightWatcher]

2. would it be fair to call Steny, Rahm, and Nancy whores?

selling themselves and selling out their constituents. Nice

[jgraz]

6. Not to whores. They usually just fuck one person at a time.

:grr:

[Frank Lemadeer]

19. Not whores. PIMPS.

It's OUR liberty, OUR right to privacy they're selling.

[indepat]

21. Not really for it would be like giving honest whores a dirty name

:D

[electropop]

35. Prostitution is often called a "victimless crime," so "whore" is not very accurate.

I think they are more like "hired goons."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. I can't believe how blatant! Here's $4800 no strings attached, if you vote Yes, we'll double it.....

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. Because the bill was changed?

:shrug:

[liberal N proud]

5. My right to privacy is worth $4,000 bucks?

And looky what Nancy got to sell my rights away... $24500

[midnight]

7. This should be illegal.

[atreides1]

10. It usually is

Because anywhere else it's called a bribe, when it comes to politicians it's called a contribution!!!

[libodem]

18. I thought so too

After Abramhoff I thought that the lobbyists weren't allowed to give pay-offs and presents.

[libodem]

8. That's disgraceful

Business as usual.

[Occam Bandage]

9. Agreed. Whether they were bribed, or whether this is fair play that happens to look like bribery,

this is a disgrace to the Democratic House. I'd like to see the rest of the party follow Obama's lead and refuse to accept PAC money.

[halliburtonsux]

11. 'Looks like Dems are a cheap date.' --Yup, and Nancy Pelosi...

is, apparently, the *cheapest.*

[Occam Bandage]

14. Hey, that's not fair to Nancy. She needed three times the average!

Of course, some might say that the Fourth Amendment is worth a bit more than $24,000, but hey. Not our Nancy.

[cascadiance]

12. Because primary season is over, and they're counting on us forgetting over two years later...

when the Blue Dogs and the DLC's could be threatened in the primaries by TRUE Democrats again!

This is one attribute we should take from an elephant and NEVER FORGET THIS SELLOUT to the corporations instead of the people and then use our attribute as the party of the donkeys and kick them in the ass OUT next time!

[Echo In Light]

16. And the sad thing is, in many instances, they're likely on target with that calculation

[justaregularperson]

26. Don't forget! Contribute to ActBlue's campaign against BushDemocrats

http://www.actblue.com/page/bushdemocrats

[Hydra]

13. Amazing how cheaply they sell us down the river

I'd hold out for billions- telecom immunity is no small favor.

[ellie]

15. I received this e-mail from MapLight

and was going to post it. Thanks for doing it! Can the vote buying be any more blatant? I mean, really.

[spanone]

17. their votes were purchased by the telecoms

[windoe]

20. How is this not bribery?

How is this legal?

[sellitman]

22. Until money is taken out of the system we will continue to be gamed.

Both sides are guilty.

[Eric J in MN]

23. What you can do about the Money Talks principle

http://www.actblue.com/page/fisa

[rosesaylavee]

24. Full List Here:

http://www.maplight.org/FISA_June08

PAC contributions from Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint (January 2005 - March 2008).

Contribution House Member District

1 29500 Clyburn, James SC-6

2 29000 Hoyer, Steny MD-5

3 28000 Emanuel, Rahm IL-5

4 27500 Boucher, Frederick VA-9

5 26000 Meeks, Gregory NY-6

6 24500 Crowley, Joseph NY-7

7 24500 Pelosi, Nancy CA-8

8 24000 Bean, Melissa IL-8

9 22500 Edwards, Thomas TX-17

10 22100 Baca, Joe CA-43

11 21500 Engel, Eliot NY-17

12 19000 Bishop, Sanford GA-2

13 18500 Moore, Dennis KS-3

14 18500 Spratt, John SC-5

15 18500 Thompson, Bennie MS-2

16 16000 Melancon, Charles LA-3

17 15500 Cuellar, Henry TX-28

18 15500 Stupak, Bart MI-1

19 15000 Ackerman, Gary NY-5

20 14800 Butterfield, George NC-1

21 14300 Tanner, John TN-8

22 14000 Kind, Ronald WI-3

23 13500 Barrow, John GA-12

24 13500 Gordon, Barton TN-6

25 12500 Costa, Jim CA-20

26 12500 Ross, Mike AR-4

27 12000 Green, Al TX-9

28 12000 Hinojosa, Rubén TX-15

29 11000 Cardoza, Dennis CA-18

30 11000 Schiff, Adam CA-29

31 10000 Boswell, Leonard IA-3

32 9000 Boyd, F. FL-2

33 9000 Tauscher, Ellen CA-10

34 8500 Skelton, Ike MO-4

35 8000 Ellsworth, Brad IN-8

36 7500 Gutierrez, Luis IL-4

37 7500 Rahall, Nick WV-3

38 7000 Harman, Jane CA-36

39 7000 Langevin, James RI-2

40 7000 Lipinski, Daniel IL-3

41 7000 Reyes, Silvestre TX-16

42 6500 Matheson, Jim UT-2

43 6500 Scott, David GA-13

44 6500 Wilson, Charles OH-6

45 6000 Cleaver, Emanuel MO-5

46 6000 Etheridge, Bob NC-2

47 6000 Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie SD-0

48 6000 Salazar, John CO-3

49 5500 Hastings, Alcee FL-23

50 5500 McCarthy, Carolyn NY-4

51 5500 McIntyre, Mike NC-7

52 5000 Davis, Artur AL-7

53 5000 Murtha, John PA-12

54 5000 Ortiz, Solomon TX-27

55 4500 Brown, Corrine FL-3

56 4500 Donnelly, Joe IN-2

57 4000 Berman, Howard CA-28

58 4000 Bishop, Timothy NY-1

59 4000 Dicks, Norman WA-6

60 4000 Lowey, Nita NY-18

61 4000 Mahoney, Tim FL-16

62 3000 Murphy, Patrick PA-8

63 3000 Smith, Adam WA-9

64 2500 Arcuri, Michael NY-24

65 2000 Altmire, Jason PA-4

66 2000 Castor, Kathy FL-11

67 2000 Chandler, Ben KY-6

68 2000 Giffords, Gabrielle AZ-8

69 2000 Higgins, Brian NY-27

70 2000 McNerney, Jerry CA-11

71 2000 Mitchell, Harry AZ-5

72 2000 Pomeroy, Earl ND-0

73 2000 Sherman, Brad CA-27

74 2000 Sires, Albio NJ-13

75 1000 Berkley, Shelley NV-1

76 1000 Boyda, Nancy KS-2

77 1000 Gillibrand, Kirsten NY-20

78 1000 Kanjorski, Paul PA-11

79 1000 Kildee, Dale MI-5

80 1000 Klein, Ron FL-22

81 1000 Perlmutter, Ed CO-7

82 1000 Rodriguez, Ciro TX-23

83 1000 Space, Zackary OH-18

84 0 Baird, Brian WA-3

85 0 Berry, Robert AR-1

86 0 Marshall, James GA-8

87 0 Peterson, Collin MN-7

88 0 Richardson, Laura CA-37

89 0 Ruppersberger, C.A. MD-2

90 0 Sestak, Joe PA-7

91 0 Snyder, Victor AR-2

92 0 Taylor, Gene MS-4

93 0 Udall, Mark CO-2

94 0 Yarmuth, John KY-3

[EFerrari]

27. Bookmarking.

[Mongooseflies]

28. this makes me f'n sick to my stomach

i know we're in tough economic times but c'mon people!
most constitutionally aligned freedom loving americans were hoping these people would grow a spine.
guess not.


:puke:

[rambler_american]

29. Bribery?

I thought bribing a public official was illegal. And accepting a bribe too. WTF. If this doesn't amount to bribery maybe the word does not mean what I think it does.

[Eurobabe]

30. This is disgusting. n/t

[DailyGrind51]

31. And all Judas got was 30 pieces of silver?

I guess the price of one's integrity has gone up with the price of oil.

[cascadiance]

32. Why? Because primary season is over and they need money for GE!

They are NOW taking our votes for granted, since they can't be threatened in the primary, and believe that we'd still vote for them over Republicans or anyone else in the general election. Therefore, NOW our wishes don't really count much, but those footing the bill for their fall campsigns (aka companies like these) DO!

It's just simple bribers' math!

This is why public campaign financing is NECESSARY!

Though I can understand why Obama isn't taking public campaign financing now, since the system is currently rigged with 527's and other means to screw over candidates that go on public financing, he should commit as part of not doing public financing now, that he WILL lead congress later if made president in making EFFECTIVE public campaign financing law so that this institutionalized bribery finally stops!

This is why impeachment is made worse now as well, as the Democrats are no longer accountable and can be bought off for that now too.

In some respects, the Dems now are even more "less accountable" than many Republicans now, since the Republicans know we probably have a good choice with those Democrats challenging them, but these "centrist" Dems feel more untouchable now!

We just need to keep track of these votes and remember. We should DECONSTRUCT those so-called "liberal ratings" systems where these same Democrats will fill up their "ratings" with many other "cheap votes" that don't mean nearly as much as bills like these, where they are "allowed" by their corporate owners to vote more progressively than these that count for their owners.

[Ian_rd]

33. Someone finally gets it

When the Fourth Amendment starts donating more money to politicians than the Telecom Corporations, then you'll start seeing it upheld and protected.

[annabanana]

34. Bribery, pure and simple.

Bald, undisguised, unadulterated bribery.

[NorthCarolina]

36. Blue Dogs and DLC are simply complicit with GOP/Corporate oppression

If you want change, vote out these Blue Dog and DLC Dems at every opportunity and replace them with Progressive Dems the likes of Feingold/Kucinich/Dodd.

[TBF]

43. Agreed, and fucking Nick Lampson's office is getting a call from one of his

constituents today. Jerk. We may as well have Delay if his is his approach to justice.

[kmac3]

37. . . . . Our freedom of privacy for money

Pretty sad!  However, I've said for years now that you do not
win your Congressional Seat . . . you buy it.  This is exactly
why we get the caliber of representatives we have.  Good,
honest, and intelligent individuals who would be benefit
America cannot win seats on their merit and capability.  IT'S
ALL ABOUT MONEY . . .

          WE DESPERATELY NEED CHANGE   

[fascisthunter]

38. Sellout Hacks... yes, the Democrats Have Corruption Too

Time to weed them all out.

[MessiahRp]

39. Does this include a list for the Senate as well?

Because that would be rather revealing as to why certain Democrats sold us out there as well.

Rp

[Phred42]

40. AT WHAT POINT IS THIS REGARDED AS A BRIBE?

I'm sending this one to everyone I know.

I think I saw someone state this on Olbermann's show:

Congress Priority list:

1. me Personally
2. My Seat
3. The Party
4. The Constitution

As I keep saying (and get slammed for it) Pelosi MUST BE REPLACED.
and take Hoyer and Emanuel with you, and don't let the door kick you in the ass on the way out!

[Reader Rabbit]

41. Has anyone confronted their reps with this information?

If so, what was the response? Also, has anyone sent this to Keith?

[TBF]

42. I was defending Obama on FISA, and I understand his dilemma,

but this fucking sucks. Given this information I really wish he would've told them all to go to hell. He's so great at speeches, he should be leading the Filibuster. Regarding "October surprise" and the like, it's not like the rethugs are going to ask his opinion anyway. Cheney already has CBS planting propoganda to go ahead and strike Iran (blame Israel, how "con-ven-ient" (with apologies to SNL's Church Lady).

Assholes.

[Desertrose]

44. Best government money can buy.....

Cheap date indeed.

[yardwork]

45. Thank you for documenting this. I figured it was the case.

k&r

[Phred42]

46. The Democratic Party has a new Slogan now: C.O.D.