NC Congressmen Price, Watt & Miller Vote Against FISA
Submitted by NCDem Amy on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 3:53pm
NC Congressmen, Price, Watt and Miller all stood up today for the American people and the Fourth Amendment by voting against, FISA, the illegal wiring taping bill.
FISA, which passed the House on a 293 to 129 vote, has been called a “compromise” by supporters when in fact, it’s merely a capitulation to Republicans and Telecom Companies.
Just hours before the bill passed, George W. Bush praised the bill stating, “The enemy who attacked us on 9-11 will attack again is determined to strike this country again. It’s vital that our intelligence community has the ability to learn who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying and what they are planning.” and what they are saying.”
The bill will grant immunity to Telecom companies who aided the government in its illegal wiretapping program. The ACLU calls the bill a “wholesale giveaway of our Fourth Amendment Rights.”
House Approves Unconstitutional Surveillance Legislation
The bill [FISA] allows for mass, untargeted and unwarranted surveillance of all communications coming in to and out of the United States. The courts' role is superficial at best, as the government can continue spying on our communications even after the FISA court has objected. Democratic leaders turned what should have been an easy FISA fix into the wholesale giveaway of our Fourth Amendment rights."
The 129 Democrats who voted against this bill should be lauded, including our own Brad Miller, David Price and Mel Watt.
For those who voted for it, Blue America (via Firedoglake) has an ActBlue Page where you can “register your digust:” Blue America PAC vs Retroactive Immunity
Kudos to Price, Watt and Miller!
Thank you.
Unfortunately, as TPM is reporting, Obama supports this bill.
What a disappointment. But, so goes general election mode.
NCDem Amy on YouTube
Almost only counts in horsehoes and hand grenades.
And by almost, I mean that David Price is "almost" a principled defender of civil liberties as a result of this vote. Actually, I'm not even sure that he's even at the level of "almost."
Where was David Price when he voted for the Patriot Act when it first came up in 2001 and 62 Democrats, 3 Republicans, and 1 Independent had the courage and understanding of the threats to our Bill of Rights posed by the legislation to vote against it?
Where was David Price when he voted for H.R. 1268, the emergency supplemental appropriations bill in 2005 that instituted the Real ID, an anti-privacy and police-state style provision that takes the country a step closer to a full-blown fascist National ID Card?
Where was David Price when he voted for the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, which reads like a horror story from the age of McCarthyism?
And in response to it being "general election mode," what a cop out. This is precisely the type of thinking that facilitates the problems faced in our society and the inaction in addressing them. How can a candidate profess to be for "change" while not taking what could have been a valuable opportunity in the most visible Presidential election perhaps in our history to take a principled stand on the issue of our sacred Bill of Rights and promote discussion of it?
Principle matters, guys.
Ok, fine...
Regardless of how you feel about Price's other votes, he voted the right way on this one. (Right as in correct).
Price is one of the most progressive US Reps we have here in the state. That is a fact.
NCDem Amy on YouTube
Yes, but...
Before we fall over ourselves to thank these three for *gasp* DOING THEIR JOBS BY PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTION, let's remember that Price voted for The PATRIOT Act. Miller voted to re-authorize it. Where were they on civil liberties those times? How about when they both voted for REAL ID AFTER VOTING AGAINST IT less than a month earlier!
What about Price's vote for the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act? Not sure how Miller voted on that one but I wouldn't be shocked if he voted for it as well.
Why didn't they "stand up for the American people" when voting on The PATRIOT Act or REAL ID? I'll tell you why: because they don't have an ounce of principle between them.
Like almost every single member of Congress today, Price and Miller are like windsocks and blow as the wind's change.
On a side note, I have no idea how Watt voted on REAL ID, The PATRIOT Act, etc. I know he voted against The PATRIOT Act initially (good on him for that, too) and I'm pretty sure that means he's voted against reauthorizing it too, but not sure about his record on these other unconstitutional threats to our civil liberties.
Yes, those were not good votes
I agree, voting for the Patriot Act was a disappointment.
I was simply praising them for their votes on FISA.
Should we only trash them when they vote in ways we disagree with and ignore the votes we respect?
NCDem Amy on YouTube
Saying bad things is always easier
That's pretty much the one thing I dislike about the internet. Too much negativity.
Well it's about time
I mean, seriously. It is about time that these guys stood up for freedom. I mean, come on. To Paige's post. I think that the only reason that David Price voted for against the bill is because he knows that he is facing BJ Lawson for re-election and BJ Lawson (a "Freedom Republican), will call him on such an egregious affront to the constitution. I am glad that BJ Lawson is running to keep David Price on his toes. I say that we should support BJ Lawson to put any of these candidates on notice that they have to defend the constitution and NEVER make a compromise that will go against the Constitution.
~Ray McKinnon
All about 'corporate power' and control...
I made a copy of the roll call vote, because this is the perfect 'whore's list', and the reason why people won't get any accounting of criminal activities in Washington. I won't try to analyze the Republican side because they're all 'for sale' anyway. But all the top leaders of the Democratic party in the House voted 'aye' for this bill to give immunity. Pelosi, Hoyer, Emanuel all did their bow for corporate America. I think the Senate will need to vote again, but that's a foregone conclusion, since they already approved it before. And our 'change' candidate, Obama, said he supports it. Makes me wonder why I'm voting in November.
At least...
Obama has said he will strip amnesty from the bill.
NCDem Amy on YouTube
Well we see that he lied about that
I can't hear what Obama is saying because I see how he is voting...The unprincipled guy voted with amnesty in the bill! Shame on him and all of the Senators who voted for this crap. Take note that the candidate that received 18 million primary votes voted against the bill that is such an egregious affront to the Constitution and permits lawbreakers a pass!
~Ray McKinnon
Take note that criminal prosecution for the FISA lawbreakers,
including those in the Administration who encouraged and supported and coerced the Telcomms into breaking the law.
Wonder what will happen when we have an actual Attorney General? Hmmmmmm....
Can we, instead, start talking about "for the good of North Carolina?" --Leslie H.
Pointing at Naked Emperors