"Obama Will Support Filibuster Of Any Bill Containing Telecom Immunity"

[Bluebear]

By Greg Sargent - October 24, 2007

t's official: Obama will back a filibuster of any Senate FISA legislation containing telecom immunity, his campaign has just told Election Central. The Obama campaign has just sent over the following statement from spokesman Bill Burton:

"To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies."

As we reported here yesterday, MoveOn and a dozen top liberal bloggers were preparing to wage an aggressive campaign today to pressure Obama and Hillary to say that they'll support Chris Dodd's vow to filibuster any Senate FISA bill containing telecom immunity. And late yesterday both Obama and Hillary put out statements saying that they'd back Dodd's threatened filibuster of the current legislation that's just come out of the Senate intel committee.

Those statements, however, lacked the clarity that immunity opponents have been looking for, so today the MoveOn and lib blogger campaign has been in full swing. MoveOn emailed members this morning urging them to call Obama and Hillary and...

Tell him/her the public is counting on him/her to filibuster any bill that gives immunity to phone companies that broke the law.

Now we have Obama's answer: He'll support a filibuster of any such bill.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2007/10/obama_camp_says_it_hell_support_filibuster_of_any_bill_containing_telecom_immunity.php

[jefferson_dem]

1. Hannity?

So, basically, you're posting this to tell everyone "Obama was against it before he was for it." Bravo.

[Hydra]

3. Wow

No shame and lots of excuses from people who insisted he was to be our great hope.

[Bluebear]

6. What's your take on the vote, jefferson dem, are we keeping our powder dry?

[jefferson_dem]

19. My take, in one word...

Prudent.

There was absolutely no reason for Obama to fall on his sword in the name of a doomed vote to filibuster FISA legislation. I'm as much of a civil libertarian as anyone on this board but I also appreciate the political realities we confront. Thankfully, so does our nominee.

[Bluebear]

23. Well, my take is "disappointing"

Really, I am naive enough to think that these pledges and stances mean something, and that they shouldn't be waving around like reeds in the wind in the name of political expediency.

You'll not like this link but:

http://baltimorechronicle.com/2008/070708Miller.shtml

"Obama's recent rightward moves—concerning BushCo's faith-based programs, and the FISA bill—have both been loudly justified by commentators who would certainly deplore them if it weren't Obama who had made them.

The thinking goes like this: "Obama's our guy, and he's really cool, the candidate of 'change,' so we should cut him all the slack he needs, so he can get elected president. In any case, this recent stuff is not so bad. So let's all lighten up—or else. Because he has to make such moves, or he will lose; and those who criticize him now are only helping the Republicans."

[bowens43]

34. Prudent?

You have got to be kidding. This is a 180 degree turn around. This not something to play politics with. This is the Constitution, something that Obama claimed to believe in. Our nominee seems to be trying to prove that he's just like all the other politicians. Every day it looks more and more like there will be no change.

I have been an avid Obama supporter but I find his sudden rush to the right, and this vote especially , to be very troubling.

[jefferson_dem]

43. Fine.

I know about the Constitution and all. Just like the outcome of the vote was pre-decided, the constitutonality of the statute will be sorted out by the courts, regardless of whatever position Obama took.

Feel troubled if you must. I don't. The sky is not falling.

[Bonobo]

2. Obama had an ex-gay preacher! I will work for his downfall forever!!!

Signed,

Bluebear (one-issue voter)

[Bluebear]

5. I'm not a one-issue voter, you jagoff. Freedom and the Constitution are not 'gay'.

[AmyCamus]

10. What are you talking about?

You have a problem with gays?

[Bluebear]

13. I had a problem with Obama using ex-gays to perform at his events.

This was last October, and as you can see, some idiots didn't like me for speaking up then and they don't like it now.

[AmyCamus]

17. Well, we disagree on his vote, but agree on that homophobic gospel singer.

I think Obama was reaching out to the wrong sort of people with that fundraiser.

[Bluebear]

18. I certainly will vote for Obama. make no mistake.

And thank you for your views on that fundraiser :)

[Solon]

29. Seems like someone can't let go of primary infighting...

Not like Bluebear wasn't justified in her outrage. Just sayin'.

[nam78_two]

36. Bluebear is not a one-issue voter-Bluebear is awesome.nt

[KMC]

4. What Happened, Barack?

We need to hold Obama's feet to the fire...Stick to our Democratic core values, Barack!

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jefferson_dem]

20. LOL! Blah blah blah...concern...blah blah blah.

Who do you support for President? Be honest.

[Javaman]

45. troll much? nt

[RedShoes]

8. we are all painfully aware that he did the wrong thing.

but since this is a new bill, his camp can use that as the reason for his change of heart.

[Bluebear]

9. Please. See threads for "I agree with FISA". We are not all aware it was wrong.

:(

[RedShoes]

32. I did and they are unfortunate.

[AmyCamus]

15. Not "all" - I support our nominee.

He certainly knows more about this than some bunch of webheads.

[tkmorris]

30. Oh horseshit

Your congresscritter doesn't sit up there on Capitol Hill poring over reams of classified information that you don't have access to. In fact I bet I could name 50 DU'ers that are more informed on most bills than that lot is. Most of the time they don't even bother to read the fucking thing.

[Marr]

40. That's the kind of thinking that got us into Iraq.

'If he's pushing for it, he must know something I don't'.

Judge them by their actions, period.

[DJ13]

11. Im really getting tired of these threads by former strong Hillary supporters

[Bluebear]

14. Then put me on ignore, newbie, as I told you earlier. I voted for Edwards.

Go visit some adoration thread where your candidate can do no wrong, because I happen to think our candidates work for us, not the other way around.

[xchrom]

16. too bad. nt

[jefferson_dem]

21. Too bad...

Indeed.

[LostinVA]

24. BB is an Edwards supporter, and a damned good guy -- and liberal

LIVE FREE OR DIE!!!!!

[Bluebear]

26. Thank you very many. :)

[LostinVA]

28. *rainbow hugs and kisses*

[AmyCamus]

12. His opinion has evolved. That's what thinking does for you.

[bowens43]

35. devolved would be more accurate. That's what pandering does for you.

[LostinVA]

22. Damn, I don't like snacking this late

:popcorn:

[Bluebear]

25. You know, I didn't think about that. Just go easy on the butter. nt

[LostinVA]

27. I popped one of those Orville 100-calorie bags

Kettle corn. Or is it "Kettle Korn"???

[skooooo]

31. Another post meant to bash Obama from you?? I'm shocked!!

:eyes:

[Bluebear]

37. Aw, shut up and put me on ignore already.

I don't need to hear how much you dislike me every other day so please just ignore me and go away.

[The Straight Story]

33. Hillary said she would as well?

Wow. And neither did.

Things that make you go hmmmmm...

[merh]

38. Please take a few minutes to read these threads

For another perspective that you may have missed.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6473419

And this OP is pretty friggin awesome.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3586356

[cbc5g]

39. Yeah, it's too bad the filibuster wouldn't have had enough votes to sustain it

Sorry.

[MonkeyFunk]

41. There's not ONE democratic Senator

that Obama could sway? I've been told he's now the leader of the party.

[jefferson_dem]

44. Welcome back.

:hi:

[Hannah Bell]

42. it would have - if the democratic leadership believed in it & enforced

party discipline, ala sam rayburn & lbj.

but neither is the case.