Monday, June 23, 2008

Should Obama Fight FISA Fracas with Fire?

The Senate is set up to be the reasonable body. And sometimes that is frustrating when true legislation is needed. But the Senate is supposed to protect us from horrible, un-Constitutional legislation such as retroactive immunity for telecom companies for violations of FISA.

We have the luxury of two sitting senators running for president from the two major parties. And normally in an election year, a presidential candidate tries not to do anything to draw attention. After all, the other side will come firing away at them.

And it shouldn't have to come down to Barack Obama to save this horrible, un-Constitutional legislation. Chris Dodd has done really good work in trying to filibuster.

But if no other Democratic Senator steps up, does Sen. Obama have the obligation to be the shining beacon of hope?

You hear from right-wing groups that they worry about government interfering in ordinary citizens' lives. Well, this is the most egregious form of government intervention, yet the positioning statements haven't reflected this. This isn't about stopping terrorism; it's about domestic spying and a basic violation of the Fourth Amendment.

Well, Jimmy Stewart is dead and Mr. Smith was sadly a fictional character. And Barack Obama would take a huge political risk if he were to pull a "Mr. Smith." But someone needs to step up and save the Fourth Amendment.

What do you think? Should it come on the shoulders of Sen. Barack Obama? Should another Democratic Senator step up? Tell us your thoughts.



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The Nazis, Fascists and Communists were political parties before they became enemies of liberty and mass murderers.

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