Biden, Obama, Richardson Join Dodd in Opposing Telecom Immunity
A few days ago, I praised Chris Dodd for putting a hold on the FISA reauthorization bill that would give retroactive immunity to the telecom companies that helped George Bush spy on you and me. Not surprisingly, Harry Reid is not pleased, but Chris Dodd is prepared to go the distance, threatening to filibuster if Reid tries to bring the bill to the floor. Dodd deserves a lot of credit. This, as I’ve said, is really leadership. It’s doing what the people want, not what the lobbyists want and definitely not what the Chump-in-Chief wants. Fortunately, Dodd is not the only presidential candidate willing to lead, so, if it comes down to it, Dodd will not be filibustering alone.
From an online chat at The Washington Post:
San Francisco: Will you join Sen. Chris Dodd’s hold and proposed filibuster on any FISA bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecoms? Thanks for joining us for this chat today, Sen. Biden, and thanks for the leadership you provide the Democratic Party and America.
Sen. Joe Biden: Yes.
Via Greg Sargent at Talking Points Memo:
It’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.“
Although he obviously can’t be part of the filibuster, Bill Richardson also voiced his support:
I urge my Democratic primary opponents, and every Senator, to stand up and state loudly and clearly — without any equivocation — that he or she will not pass any bill that grants retroactive immunity to companies that willingly aided the Bush administration in violating the law and spying on our own people.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but it’s true: there is a clear difference between running for president and acting you are the president.
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