Obama: I'll Fight To Strip Telecom Immunity From FISA

(CBS/AP) - Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., issued a statement in support of the House's update of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, but said he would try to strip a provision granting immunity to telecommunication companies when the bill comes to a vote in the Senate next week.

The House approved a compromise bill Friday that would set new electronic surveillance rules that would also shield telecoms from lawsuits arising from their participation in the government's warrantless eavesdropping on telephone and computer lines in the United States.

The government eavesdropped on American phone and computer lines for almost six years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks without permission from the FISA Court, the special panel established for that purpose under the original 1978 law.

Some 40 lawsuits have been filed against the telecommunications companies by groups and individuals who say the Bush administration illegally monitored their phone calls or e-mails.

Obama said there is "little doubt" that the Bush Administration, with the cooperation of major telecommunications companies, "has abused [its] authority and undermined the Constitution by intercepting the communications of innocent Americans without their knowledge or the required court orders."

"Given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as president, I will carefully monitor the program.

"[The bill] does, however, grant retroactive immunity, and I will work in the Senate to remove this provision so that we can seek full accountability for past offenses."

The House approved the legislation 293-129.

The White House had threatened to veto any surveillance bill that did not also shield the companies.

Critics say granting immunity to telecoms would scrap the pending lawsuits and prevent any public airing of details about the government's surveillance activities.

Last February, when an earlier version of the FISA bill came to a vote, Obama voted for an amendment to strip the telecom immunity provision from the bill. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) voted in favor of keeping immunity for the telecoms.

Speaking in an interview to be aired on Bloomberg television this weekend, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said that he may schedule a separate vote on stripping immunity from the bill, although he expressed pessimism about its success.

"Probably we can't take that out of the bill, but I'm going to try," Reid told "Political Capital with Al Hunt."

[boudica13]

the majority of comments so far are a twisted, easy to read attempt to keep America afraid of it''s own shadow. Watch your own back, your not needed for the rest of us.

[boudica13]

The so far, majority of comments are twisted, easy to read attempts to keep America scared to death of it''s own shadow. Perhaps they should watch their own backs instead of watching everyone else''s.

[mattcat25]

Most all (with a few reluctant exceptions)of Hillary supporters understand that she has conceded her bid for the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States.

These few posters here on CBS are left over Rush Limbaugh Ditto Bots attempting to sustain a division amongst Democratic and Independent Voters.

The reality about Rush Limbaugh''s Operation Chaos is that a majority of Republican Voters have left the Party in earnest due to the results and actions of the Bush Administration.

The Republican Party refuses to change and have nominated John McCain to carry on another term of the same Bush Policies even at the detriment of former Republican Voters that have found the Party disappointing.

I guess the Republicans feel that they will be able to convolute and dispute another election using Voter Fraud and Voting Machine Manipulation again.

It''s OPERATION CHAOS MY FRIENDTHZZZ!

[modus_oper]

"Obama being the "presumptive" candidate and Hillary being pushed out, is NOT the result of something good happening. It''''s the result of manipulation, of keeping the truth from the people, of lies and deceptions. Any person or any group of people who would resort to these methods to control the outcome of this election, cannot possibly have good intentions for the people of this country."

All of the lies and deceptions came from Hillary (sniper fire?) and Bill Clinton neither of which would recognize the truth if it jumped up and bit ''em on the butt!!!!

[aldon61]

Granting immunity for violating our basic rights is just plain wrong. By punishing these telecoms, a message will be sent that the people are still in control. The administration''s stance is just another example of their relentless attack on our constitution. IMPEACH GEORGE BUSH!

[mudrose-2009]

There is nothing in the Constitution that says one should be punished for supporting his government in a time of war. Who''s this jackass think he''s kidding?

[jack3213]

A vote for Obama is a vote for higher taxes in an economy that can''t afford it. Wake up. His plans are all wrong- and people are just so stupid & blind- SO many walk around thinking they will get a change in government- with a Democrat- you will get NOTHING, and I feel sorry for those who are just plain naive.

[rowdywicca]

Obama: I''''ll Fight To Strip Telecom Immunity From FISA

Whatta crock!

Obama Supports FISA Legislation, Angering Left
By Paul Kane
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) today announced his support for a sweeping intelligence surveillance law that has been heavily denounced by the liberal activists who have fueled the financial engines of his presidential campaign.

In his most substantive break with the Democratic Party''''s base since becoming the presumptive nominee, Obama declared he will support the bill when it comes to a Senate vote, likely next week, despite misgivings about legal provisions for telecommunications corporations that cooperated with the Bush administration''''s warrantless surveillance program of suspected terrorists.

In so doing, Obama sought to walk the fine political line between GOP accusations that he is weak on foreign policy -- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) called passing the legislation a "vital national security matter" -- and alienating his base.

"Given the legitimate threats we face, providing effective intelligence collection tools with appropriate safeguards is too important to delay. So I support the compromise, but do so with a firm pledge that as president, I will carefully monitor the program," Obama said in a statement hours after the House approved the legislation 293-129.

He''''ll carefully monitor it RIGHTTTTTTTT!

[clemenhagen1]

"Any credible source material to back this statement up? I have kept an eye on this story for some time, and other than the FBI voluntarily bringing forward a couple of mistakes, I have never seen anything that backs this statement up."

Are you for real with this? Why do you think Bush has threatened repeatedly to veto any bill that does not protect the companies they coerced to break the law? Why do the telecoms need immunity from prosecution if the spying amounted to just a few FBI errors? Where did you follow this story...Faux News? Did Limbaugh tell you in was not so? Ignorance is bliss, I do suppose.

[bill_w1-2009]

"The government eavesdropped on American phone and computer lines for almost six years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks without permission from the FISA Court, the special panel established for that purpose under the original 1978 law."

Any credible source material to back this statement up? I have kept an eye on this story for some time, and other than the FBI voluntarily bringing forward a couple of mistakes, I have never seen anything that backs this statement up. Repeating it ad-infinitum on lefty blogs & media constitutes truth to some, but not me.