Obama: Hold Telecoms Accountable as President
- by: Care2
- recipient: Senator Obama
On July 9th, the Senate approved the FISA Amendments Act, expanding the powers of the National Security Administration (NSA) to spy on Americans and granting immunity to telecommunications companies that participated in the Bush administration's program of warrantless surveillance of American citizens.
Senator Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, voted for this bill, along with the majority of his Senate colleagues.
We, the people, demand that our leaders - and future leaders - stand up for our Constitutional rights. We call on Senator Obama to promise us that in his first 100 days as President, he will stand up for the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution by launching a full, transparent investigation into Bush's illegal warrantless surveillance program and pursue criminal charges against any government officials and telecommunications companies that broke the law by participating in this program.
Dear Senator Obama:
I am deeply disappointed that you voted for the FISA Amendments Act of 2008. I am writing to you now to ask that you make a promise to me and to all Americans that you will make this right in your first 100 days as President.
When discussing your decision to support the FISA Amendments Act, you left open the possibility of using the Department of Justice to investigate whether the Bush administration or the telecommunications companies broke the law. While the legislation you just signed protects telecommunications companies from civil lawsuits, it does not prohibit your administration from investigating illegalities.
[Your comments here]
I urge you to make a promise to the American people that in your first 100 days as President, you will launch a full, transparent investigation into President Bush's warrantless surveillance program and pursue criminal charges against any former administration officials and telecommunications companies that broke the law by participating in this program.
