Organizing for America | Politics As A Vocation: My campaign contributions must be diverted now

My campaign contributions must be diverted now

By David from Swarthmore, PA - Jul 2nd, 2008 at 6:58 am EDT

Also listed in: President Obama, Please Get FISA Right

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I am reluctantly diverting all the money I had earmarked for the Obama campaign in order to address a more urgent matter: stopping the FISA bill. This legislation undermines the rule of law, let alone the constitution and I deem it more important to stop or reverse that pernicious legislation than giving to Obama. It's a shame because if he had tried to stop the legislation I would have had no need to put my money into trying to stop it. Instead he has chosen to move to the "center" like Gore, Kerry and Hillary before him and we all know how successful that strategy was. Sorry Barack my money has to go to correct the deeply unpatriotic mess you are creating to get elected.

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Center | Report to Admin

By John from Hagerstown, MD Jul 2nd 2008 at 7:07 am EDT

I am in the center, and am fully behind personal rights, I am not sure why to give imunity to these companies that broke the law would be, corporate money?

GREAT | Report to Admin

By Independent4Obama Jul 2nd 2008 at 7:28 am EDT

Well keep diverting it. You'll REALLY need it when McCain is elected. He doesn't even KNOW about FISA and has no opposition to it at all.

Good luck with that. And THANKS in advance for contributing to the DEMISE of the greatest nation on earth.

Re: GREAT | Report to Admin

By Jeffrey from Decatur, GA Jul 2nd 2008 at 7:54 am EDT

You're either with him or against him, huh?

That doesn't work either.

Why not recognize that this is a very important issue for a lot of people? For them, this is a defining moment.

When people triage their donations, the money goes to the things that are most important to them. Denigrating their choice with ultimatums as you wrote will not persuade them to your way of thinking. If you want to persuade people to change how they think about an issue, you'll have to work harder.

Re: GREAT | Report to Admin

By Jasen from Atlanta, GA Jul 2nd 2008 at 5:59 pm EDT

Hey Jeff!

This is it - the Change We Can Believe In... | Report to Admin

By 2Brian Jul 2nd 2008 at 7:47 am EDT

This IS the issue - the one item that directly affects CHANGE at all 3 main branches of government - the Executive branches attempt to place itself above the law, the Legislative branches failure to exercise it's responsibility to uphold the law and act as a check and balance on the Executive branch and it's willingness to act outside of the Constitution (which it swore to uphold) by granting extra-Constitutional rights to the Executive and corporate entities in an attempt to block the Judicial branch from having an opportunity to review those actions and speak to the Constitutional issues involved.

If we do not get this FISA thing right, and vote NO on the current non-compromise bill that would shield telecoms from civil liability, I will have to decline to continue supporting this campaign.

THIS issue IS the CHANGE we claim to believe in - a clear differentiation between the current failed Washington approach and a responsible, adult, Constitutionally-supporting direct representation of rule of law and best interest of the nation.

If we cannot, or will not, get this right, then bringing troops home from Iraq, and pushing for full insurance coverage of citizens for health plans, is inconsequential in terms of Change we Can Believe In.

Sincerely,
Brian

Re: This is it - the Change We Can Believe In... | Report to Admin

By Jim Stukas Jul 2nd 2008 at 8:57 am EDT

Brian - Jeff, and all other Chicken Littles out there.

Yes, FISA is important. Is it the over-riding issue of our lifetime? If you think so, I suggest you mosey on over to

Link

and tell me how you think the panic attacks you all are having will change things.

Of course you have every right to decide what to do with your money and time. But yelling that the sky is falling is just so tiring.

Put things into perspective.

Of course Obama is not God, and we have every right, indeed every duty to try to organize to influence him. But you can not expect him to vote the way you want on everything.

The Lord works in mysterious ways, or so I've heard.

Re: This is it - the Change We Can Believe In... | Report to Admin

By Mike from Mariposa, CA Jul 2nd 2008 at 9:25 am EDT

How many times are you going to spam us with links to that tired old speech Jim? Either Obama keeps his promise to filibuster FISA or he obeys his orders from Verizon. We'll soon see whether he is change we can believe in or just McSame in a better suit.

Re: This is it - the Change We Can Believe In... | Report to Admin

By John from Issaquah, WA Jul 2nd 2008 at 9:53 am EDT

Sorry, Jim. I think you are the one who lacks perspective. The FISA abomination cuts right through the heart of why this country was founded. The Rule of Law, the 4th Amendment, and Separation of Powers matter. They are what made us great.

FISA | Report to Admin

By Duane in Culver City, CA Jul 2nd 2008 at 9:25 am EDT

Senator Obama's backing of FISA is simply too much of a political calculation (especially for a man who talks of change). This is a Constitutional issue, not a political one, and I must echo David in PA's comments. It's very difficult to imagine continuing to donate funds to this campaign if your vote isn't changed. The time to be bold and strong is now. We can't wait till we get in office to do that, or we may not get there. "Walking the middle" reeks of pandering and even a weakness that's transparent to the American voters. Please Senator Obama, do the right thing.

Dollar Protest | Report to Admin

By Sparkle Plenty Jul 2nd 2008 at 10:20 am EDT

Thanks so much to all who formed this blog for Obama supporters to give voice to our positions on the FISA bill.

Members of our family have managed to contribute over $200 to the Obama campaign even though no one is well off and a couple of us are on fixed incomes.

We did so because we all believe bringing a 21st-century community organizing perspective to politics can begin to transform this country and the broader world.

But in June none of us made a contribution. We did not want our donations to be considered as endorsements of Obama's position on FISA.

Of course, no one beyond our small circle could know of this protest. So it was with real enthusiasm that I signed up for this group to help multiply the influence dissenting voices might have on the senator's position on the bill.

Obama recently told Rolling Stone that his goals for a first term are universal healthcare, getting combat troops out of Iraq, and formulating an energy policy that addresses global warming and dependence on foreign oil.

In our family, we believe rebuilding trust in government by holding those who have broken the law accountable for their acts should be at the top of his list.

Again, thanks to group founders for providing citizens like us with a megaphone for broadcasting our views on this
.

Goodbye | Report to Admin

By Dave from Cedar Rapids, IA Jul 11th 2008 at 7:45 pm EDT

I quit the Democratic Party today. FISA was the last straw. I am registering as an Independent. I supported Dean (donating hundreds of dollars and was a precinct captain) in 2004 and Obama in 2008 in the Iowa Caucuses. But, it's politics as usual. The pandering is going into full-blown mode. There is no change. Obama's greatest strength now depends on McSame managing to out-do him in gaffes and flip-flops. I will either vote for Obama or not vote at all. It doesn't seem to make much difference but I can't take the chance that the Neo-Cons will be given the presidency by the spineless Democrats in power.

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